Kia EV6 review

Is the Kia EV6 a good car?

Now, more than ever, the Kia EV6 confirms that you can kick your petrol or diesel habit and go for an electric car. With a larger battery size, the latest EV6 has more than 300 miles of range, while ultra-rapid charging speeds make pit stops on long trips a breeze. There’s plenty of standard equipment, and even though the EV6 is a few years old, its updated styling is still radical enough to turn heads.

However, while it charges faster than most of its competition, there are more efficient rivals, like the Polestar 2, which can go further between charges. There are also more comfortable and practical alternatives such as the Skoda Enyaq to consider, which offers a more compliant low-speed ride along with a much larger boot.

How much does the Kia EV6 cost?

Pricing for the latest Kia EV6 starts from around £45,500 for the entry-level Air, before rising to a little over £48,500 for the well-specified GT-Line trim. Those wanting four-wheel drive will need to stump up around £52,000, while the top-of-the-range GT-Line S with four-wheel drive and a heat pump costs over £58,000. A high-performance GT version is also available for over £62,500.

Kia has been an important player on the electric car scene for some time, largely thanks to the massive success of the original Kia e-Niro. The South Korean brand plans to establish itself as an all-electric car company by 2040, and launch nine new pure-electric cars in the UK by 2027. 

The Kia EV6 is a key part of that plan, and it uses a bespoke electric-car architecture called Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), which currently serves as the underpinnings for the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Genesis GV60, and the Kia EV9.

The EV6 sits above the Kia EV3, the Kia Niro EV (the e-Niro’s sharper-looking successor) and the quirky Kia Soul EV in the firm’s electric car line-up, but below the seven-seater EV9. While the Niro and Soul EV are cheaper, they don’t use the E-GMP platform and don’t charge as fast as the EV6. Nor do they go as far on a charge.

Every non-GT version of the EV6 in the UK uses an 84kWh battery, but buyers are given a choice of rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The less expensive rear-wheel-drive models feature a single 225bhp electric motor, while all-wheel-drive versions get an electric motor on each axle, which, combined, puts out 320bhp. The EV6 has a maximum range of 361 miles in rear-drive form, with all-wheel-drive versions delivering 324 miles of range.

Then there’s the Kia EV6 GT model, which also gets a dual-motor set-up but turns the dial up to 11, producing 577bhp and 740Nm in total. With a 0-62mph time of just 3.5 seconds, this is the version you want if you fancy embarrassing some supercars while on the school run. 

The core line-up consists of the Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S trim levels. There’s also the performance-focused GT, but this is technically a standalone model. Throughout the range, Kia has been generous when it comes to kit, and even the entry-level Air specification comes with 19-inch alloys, LED headlights, artificial leather upholstery, heated front seats and steering wheels, twin 12.3-inch curved displays, integrated sat-nav, front and rear parking sensors with a reversing camera, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. 

Mid-range GT-Line adds a healthy dose of extra tech for a fairly minimal extra cost over the Air. These additions include adaptive headlights, blind spot detection, safe exit assist, heated rear seats and fully-electric front relaxation seats, plus wireless phone charging. Go for the top-of-the-range GT-Line S and you’ll receive an electric tailgate, larger 20-inch alloy wheels, a 360-degree camera system, a customisable head-up display and a 14-speaker Meridian sound system.

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Even though the Kia EV6 is based on the same architecture as the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Genesis GV60, the EV6 feels the sportiest out of the three. That does mean the ride is firmer than those siblings, but it isn’t so firm that it becomes uncomfortable. The EV6 is a big car, so it isn’t the easiest to pilot around a small village, but it can still be fun once on a B road – even in entry-level rear-wheel drive form. The top GT model is a blast to drive with 577bhp, its fancier adaptive suspension and limited-slip differential. Read more about the Kia EV6's electric motors, performance and drive here…

A large 84kWh battery pack and impressive efficiency means the Kia EV6 should have plenty of real-world electric driving range between charges. What’s more, it has incredibly quick charging times, making the EV6 a breeze on longer trips. Like most EVs, insurance costs are higher than a traditional petrol or hybrid car, but low running costs and respectable resale values should soften the blow. Read more about the Kia EV6's range, charging and running costs…

There’s plenty of high-end technology aboard the Kia EV6 to fulfil the brand’s push upmarket. Two 12.3-inch digital screens dominate the interior, and a neat touch-sensitive control panel below the central screen can flip between multiple functions. The entry-level Air comes with everything you’d need, while the high-end GT-Line and GT-Line S trims have sportier styling touches. Read more about the Kia EV6's interior, design and technology

You get lots of useful storage cubbies inside the Kia EV6, plus there’s no shortage of charging spots for passengers to keep their devices topped up. Despite being longer than a Skoda Enyaq, the EV6 isn’t as spacious inside, with its swept-back styling limiting rear headroom for taller passengers. The boot isn’t as big as the Enyaq, but it’s still a useful size, and the EV6 has a separate space under the bonnet to store the charging cables. Read more about the Kia EV6's boot space, comfort and practicality…

Safety experts Euro NCAP awarded the maximum five out of five star rating for the Kia EV6 when tested in 2022, and the EV6 comes loaded with standard safety assistance features to (hopefully) prevent you from getting into a collision in the first place. As per all Kias, the EV6 has a long seven-year or 100,000-mile warranty. The EV6 ranked highly in the 2023 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, coming in seventh place out of 75 cars, so you’re unlikely to encounter difficulties with an EV6. Read more about the Kia EV6's reliability and safety…

Kia EV6 alternatives

The Kia EV6 is more of a sporty family EV crossover than a traditional SUV, but it still stands against plenty of capable competitors. Not only does it have its own Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Genesis GV60 siblings to contend with, but there are also the likes of the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Nissan Ariya, Renault Scenic E-Tech, Skoda Enyaq, Toyota bZ4X, and Volkswagen ID.4.

This competition is already strong, but Kia also has upmarket ambitions for its EV6, which brings additional rivals like the Audi Q4 e-tron, Polestar 2 and Tesla Model Y into the mix.