Used Kia EV6 (Mk1, 2021-date) buyer's guide: classy EV is a superb family car

Verdict

The number of electric cars on the market has exploded in recent years, in terms of the number of models as well as volumes, and the bar has risen quickly very high. The Kia EV6 is proof of this, because it’s not just a great electric car, but a superb family hatch too. It’s so highly regarded that values have held up better than for some rivals. The earliest cars have just celebrated their third birthdays, which means a lot of extra EV6s are likely to hit the used market soon as their PCPs and leases come to an end. That’s likely to soften values a bit, which will only make the EV6 even more appealing.

Kia has made enormous strides over the past decade or so, leaving many big-selling brands trailing in its wake thanks to the introduction of one excellent car after another. Whatever the segment, Kia made something well worth buying. And when the world’s car makers were forced to go all-out to develop EVs, again Kia came up trumps. 

Admittedly the e-Niro was good rather than exceptional, but once Kia had got the bit between its teeth and it came up with the EV6, we all sat up and took notice. Here was an EV with a long range, fast charging, an eye-catching design and a spacious hi-tech cabin. Even better, it was good to drive and well equipped. But as you might expect, all of this came at a price – is it one worth paying?

History

The first EV6s were delivered to owners in October 2021. Prices started at £40,895 for the rear-wheel- drive 226bhp entry-level Air, above which sat the GT-Line and GT-Line S in rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive forms (226bhp and 321bhp respectively). From the end of 2022 there was a new range-topper in the form of the 577bhp EV6 GT, which came only with 4WD. Like all EV6s, this used a 77.4kWh battery which could be charged at up to 240kW. 

However, an revised EV6 has gone on sale and Kia has upped the ante with an 84kWh battery, capable of
up to 361 miles to a charge. The GT retains the old 77.4kWh battery.

On the road

The EV6 has plenty of performance and it’s a great car to drive, with strong brakes (featuring three levels of regeneration), accurate steering and excellent body control. 

There are three driving modes, but Eco feels sluggish while Sport feels unruly, leaving you with Normal as the best compromise. Kia claims that the 77kWh EV6 has a range of up to 328 miles – and even in the winter on the motorway, around 250 miles per charge is achievable.

Which should I buy?

Even the entry-level EV6 has all you need in terms of equipment, power and performance. With so much torque, we’d be inclined to go for a four-wheel-drive model for added security in slippery conditions. About a third of the EV6s for sale are 4WD, but there’s a small penalty to pay when it comes to range. 

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However, it’s a part-time four-wheel-drive system for increased efficiency, so it’s usually rear-wheel drive until it detects a wheel slipping. 

Even the EV6 Air comes with LED lights, vegan ‘leather’ trim, 19-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, heating for the front seats and steering wheel, a rear camera and adaptive cruise control. 

The GT-Line adds adaptive headlights, front parking sensors, privacy glass and extra safety kit. The GT-Line S has 20-inch wheels, a glass roof, heated outer rear seats, head-up display, ventilated front seats, a powered tailgate, 360-degree camera, and a 14-speaker hi-fi.

Alternatives to the Kia EV6

Since it sits between a hatchback and an SUV, the EV6’s rivals are plentiful. The most obvious is the Kia’s cousin, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which looks great and is very roomy. If a long range is your priority, the Polestar 2 should be in focus, while the Renault Scenic also scores highly. The Tesla Model 3 and Model Y also have an impressive real-world range, while the BMW i4 is great to drive but costly. 

The Volkswagen ID.4 and Cupra Born are practical and have a decent range, while the Toyota bZ4X is highly usable in terms of range and cabin space. Or for something different, try a Genesis GV60, with its hi-tech cabin and engaging dynamics.

What to look for

Pump it up

A heat pump was optional on the GT-Line S. This recaptures heat lost from the motor, and can apparently reduce winter range loss by up to 19 per cent.

On the pull

Many EVs aren’t homologated for towing, but the single-motor EV6 can pull a 1,600kg (1,800kg for the twin-motor model) braked trailer, or 750kg unbraked.

Air time

All EV6s come with over-the air software updates. There are two of these each year, and for the first seven years they’re free, through the Kia Connect app.

It’s a steal

Quite a few EV6s have been stolen; Google ‘Game Boy hack’ for details of how easy it is to do this. That’s why it’s worth fitting a physical lock on the steering wheel, and also switching off the keyless entry.

Interior

Kia hasn’t held back with the EV6’s cabin, which looks high in quality and hi-tech. The recent facelift looks even better inside, thanks to the use of matt trim rather than the piano black fitted earlier, which scratched easily. 

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The twin 12.3-inch digital displays look great and work well, in terms of graphics and finding options within the menus. All EV6s come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Equipment levels are generous and include a V2L three-pin plug socket, which allows you to power items from the car. 

Rear-seat space is ample, with masses of legroom, a flat floor and decent headroom. Boot space is good at 490 litres, or 1,300 litres with the back seats down, while versatility is boosted by the variable-height floor.

Running costs

The service schedule is set at every two years or 20,000 miles. Services alternate between Minor and Major
at £311 and £452 respectively, but the bigger fifth service costs £530; the extra is because the coolant is due to be changed at this point, while brake fluid is replaced every other year. 

All EV6s were priced at more than £40,000 when new, so while they’ll be subject to £190 road tax from April 2025, they’re also subject to £410 luxury tax up to year six.

Recalls

For such a hi-tech car, having three recalls so far isn’t too bad. The first was issued at the end of May 2022, because most EV6s made up until the start of that month featured a software glitch that could allow the electronic parking brake to disengage when the car was left. 

The second was in April 2024, after a few EV6s built between January and April 2023 left the factory with sub-standard driveshafts that could break under harsh acceleration. The most recent recall came in May this year, this time because the Integrated Charging Control Unit could become faulty, leading to the 12-volt battery failing to charge. EV6s made up to February 2024 were affected.

Driver Power owner satisfaction

Kia has plenty of cars in our New Car surveys. This year it had three (in 11th, 12th and 30th); last year there were four, with the EV6 seventh. There were top-10 ratings for the cabin, practicality and refinement. Owners like the handling, comfort and safety, but not the infotainment or ventilation. 

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