Kia EV6 2022 review

• For: Style inside and out, front-seat comfort, apparent range
• Against: Not so roomy in the rear, visibility issues, hard to match claimed range
• Verdict: Stylish, desirable and good to drive – one of the finest EVs on sale

‘Tension for Serenity evokes the tension between opposing forces and creative contrasts
and recognises the design equilibrium that comes from two opposing forces.’

This is just one of the grandiose pronouncements from Kia intended to convince someone – well, anyone ‒ that its new EV6 is something very special indeed. While hard to decipher what on earth the company is on about, this new electric car has already impressed critics sufficiently to win numerous awards.

The EV6 is certainly stand-out stylish, combining swooping curves with a rakish, almost
coupe-like profile that marks it out as a properly bespoke EV. This is a family-sized Kia,
bang on target for those looking to go electric for the first time.

Taking on Tesla

There’s the suggestion of a potential range beyond 300 miles, combined with space and practicality that targets the EV heartland occupied by the Tesla Model 3, Volkswagen ID.3 and Hyundai Ioniq 5.

First things first, though. Don’t take the mindless option and dismiss this car simply
because it is a Kia.

It’s fascinating how the far-from-flawless Tesla brand has become accepted without question, yet it’s Kia that has been building fine cars for many years, backing them up with an industry-leading seven-year warranty.

Style and space

You only need to step inside the EV6 to realise it’s not simply a street show car. The interior is one of the most impressive you’ll find anywhere: structurally solid and with a fluid design that can take your breath away.

Intricate lighting and masses of space set the EV6 apart from any petrol-powered Kia. Even Tesla owners should be impressed.

The EV6 is a bigger car than it looks in the pictures. Rear legroom is generous and there’s decent luggage space, although both are comprised by the high floor behind the front seats: necessary to accommodate the big battery. It’s oppressively gloomy for those in the rear, not helped by tinted privacy glass.

All versions of the EV6 come with a reversing camera, and higher-spec cars feature a 360-degree surround-view camera, which is a big help when manoeuvring. The suite of standard equipment is impressive even on the cheapest £40,945 version, but you need to spend £50,000+ for the
complete package.

Targeting 300 miles

Power? In trad EV fashion, there’s loads of it: 226hp in rear-wheel-drive versions and 321hp in the AWD model. It’s thus an enticing drive on an open road, although the Kia does feel SUV-wide around town, without the benefit of an elevated driving position.

The battery for the EV6 has a 77kWh capacity, with a claimed range of 300-328 miles. As with every electric car, though, you are unlikely to manage that mileage in the real world. We struggled to get 75 percent of the quoted range in mild weather, driving fairly carefully.

While it still doesn’t compare with Tesla’s Supercharger network, the ‘Kia Charge’
package gives access to many different charging stations with just one card. Find an 800-
volt ultra-fast charger and a 10-80 percent battery boost can be achieved in 18 minutes –
although such devices are pretty thin on the ground right now.

The Kia EV6 is a very fine electric car that should certainly be on any premium EV buyer’s list. Just don’t think of it as punching a knock-out blow to its rivals – they are equally good in their own ways.

KEY INFO

• Launched: 2022
• Facelifted: TBC
• Due for replacement: TBC