Kia EV6 - Interior, design and technology
Kia continues to push upmarket, with the EV6 offering a quality cabin and the latest on board tech
When designing the Kia EV6, the team behind it were challenged to produce a zero-emissions family car with a practical range, ultra-fast charging ability, a stylish exterior design, and a spacious, tech-filled cabin. Has it succeeded? Well, the answer can only be a resounding yes. The EV6’s charging ability is up there with the class leaders, and its sleek, purposeful look should appeal to modern EV buyers.
All EV6s are well-equipped. The entry-level Air model is more than ready for family life with standard kit that includes climate control, heated front seats and steering wheel, dual-screen setup, integrated sat-nav, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, numerous USB ports for connecting devices, front and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera.
For an extra £3,000, GT-Line trim brings sportier exterior and interior styling, and adds blind spot monitoring with a safe exit assist system, electric front seats, wireless phone charging, and adaptive headlights.
The top-spec GT-Line S version offers niceties such as bigger 20-inch alloys, a tilt/slide sunroof, a head-up display, a 360-degree camera system, an upgraded 14-speaker Meridian audio system and a more advanced suite of driver assistance technology.
What is the Kia EV6 like inside?
As with its predecessor, onboard technology remains a standout feature, with the dash dominated by two 12.3-inch curved displays: one digital instrument panel behind the steering wheel and a central touchscreen for all the infotainment. The top-of-the range GT-Line S adds a head-up display that projects useful information, such as speed limit warnings and sat-nav directions, within your line of sight on the windscreen. It also lets you know of vehicles approaching in your blind spot.
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Below the central display is Kia’s touch-sensitive control panel that you can toggle between climate controls and media settings. It’s easy to use, responds very quickly to inputs and makes the cabin look modern without forcing you to dig through numerous sub-menus to change the fan speed. That said, you still have to take your eyes off the road to use the panel, and resting your hand on the ledge of the centre console could result in you activating the heated steering wheel or heated/cooled seats by mistake.
Those features are operated via touch-sensitive controls rather than the buttons of before, and while that might give it a cleaner overall look, they don’t provide feedback, so you’ll have to look away from the road in order to confirm you’ve switched them. You could do it by touch in earlier EV6s.
What is the interior quality like?
The interior feels smart and up-to-date, with cabin materials of sufficient quality for a £45k-plus family car. There’s also a further nod to sustainability by offering artificial leather upholstery as standard. The updated EV6 has replaced the piano black trim used extensively before with a matt-textured finish, which not only looks classier, but is less susceptible to scratches – a real boon to anyone who regularly wears rings or often puts their keys down on surfaces.
Taking a leaf out of Volkswagen’s book, the front door pockets are flocked in order to prevent items from rattling as you drive down the road.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
The twin, gently curved 12.3-inch screens in the EV6 look fantastic, work well and offer clear graphics. Kia’s infotainment system is easy to use, the wireless smartphone links for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and works seamlessly, while the touchscreen display is responsive. It’s all laid out well, and the menus make sense, plus we like the use of black backgrounds, because it reduces eye strain at night. Meanwhile, the driver’s display provides all the information you need.
The standard audio included with Air and GT-Line trims is provided by a six-speaker set-up, while GT-Line S and above come with a 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system. Only the entry-level Air trim misses out on a wireless phone charging pad.
