If you missed Season 2 Episode 1 of Drive on Channel Nine on Sunday afternoon, you can watch it in full on 9Now here. We’ve linked it here for you too.
Is it time to buy that boxy sedan now that baby is on its way? Not necessarily, writes Dilvin Yasa.
Nothing invites well-meaning advice from strangers quite like the sight of a rounded belly. I’m no different of course (sorry) so here’s my contribution: the days are long but the years are short and although you might be tearfully eying up that oh-so-inappropriate convertible right now, it will be yours before you know it.
In the meantime, however, you’re going to need a car that’s suitable for bubs, toddlers and little ones. What does the perfect first family car look like? The following points will help you find your perfect match…
Buy a newish car
At a time when it feels like you’re bleeding money, a cheap second-hand car might seem like the logical choice. Admittedly, provided you find the right car at the right price, it can be, but within reasonable boundaries.
New and newish (cars that are two to three years old) might be pricier than that 2005 model you’ve had your eye on but you need to remember that recent models will come with new and improved safety features such as collision avoidance systems and backup cameras.
Safety is paramount so look for a car that has a five-star rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).
Look for gargantuan boot space
Many a new parent has made the mistake of assessing boot space by checking whether it will fit a pram. What it should fit, however, is not only the pram but an overstuffed nappy bag, a mountain of toys, scooters, beach bags, overnight bags for whichever relative you’ve wrangled to help you out as well as things like shopping bags, snacks, colouring books and random things toddlers love to collect when they’re in the park or beach.
Top tip when you’re shopping for a car? Take the pram you’re planning to use (if you already have it), as well as a few other bags large and small so you can have a play at fitting it all in.
Whether you’re planning to have one child or three in quick succession, it’s important that the car you buy allows you to get little ones (and their car seats) in and out of the back seat easily. Speak with the salesman about your requirements, and if you have your car seat already, practice strapping it in and out of the cars you’re interested in.
The car should – at minimum – have a wide-opening rear door and/or plenty of space between the front and rear seats to help you reach in and carefully scoop your baby out.
Writing about what makes the Kluger such a worthy category winner, Drive managing editor, Trent Nikolic, is clear about what makes this the ‘vehicle of choice for buyers wanting a practical, spacious, well-equipped family hauler’.
“Whether you’re rolling around town or heading off on a long-distance road trip, the Kluger is a high-quality family conveyance. Inside the cabin, there’s space and comfort for the family, with a versatile cabin offering plenty of storage and Toyota’s usual sense of quality and ruggedness,” he writes of the vehicle which has seven-seat capability.
No matter which car you end up going with, never forget the golden rule of driving with a little one in the back seat. Play one children’s song in the car and you will be listening to children’s music behind the wheel for the next decade. Go safe; stick with Bowie.
Kia’s 2022 EV6 electric vehicle has arrived. It’s conquered. And, it’s sold out. Still, we didn’t knock back the chance to test-drive one of the first batch in Australia – a car you can’t buy immediately, but one you’ll almost certainly want to order if you’re looking at a new electric vehicle.
What we love
Styling is eye-catching from any angle
Range remains strong even on long runs
Cabin quality and driving experience are excellent
What we don’t
Sold out until 2025… Boo
No ANCAP safety rating yet
Car can charge way faster than most infrastructure allows
Introduction
At its local launch, Rob Margeit made a bold statement suggesting the Kia Stinger should move over posthaste. According to him, Kia had a new halo car on its hands, and it just so happened to be electric.
Well, we’re going to see more and more of that happening as brands move into the brave new EV future, and after a few weeks, and a few thousand kilometres with the 2022 Kia EV6, he’s almost certainly right.
Looking at the EV6, it’s hard to work out how it’s been called a ‘Large SUV’ according to VFACTS. To the eye, it looks more like a high-riding sports coupe. In any case, and regardless of segment, it cuts a stylish figure either on the move or stationary.
On the road, out to regional NSW to film Drive TV, we spent almost as much time chatting to punters as we did on the road driving. Everywhere we went, someone wanted to take a closer look at the Kia EV6.
The EV6 is 4695mm long, 1890mm wide, and 1550mm high. The wheelbase is 2900mm, and by the numbers, as you’d expect, it’s very similar to its direct rival – and twin beneath the skin – the Hyundai Ioniq 5. The footprint might position it as a Large SUV, but you tell us what you think of the body style and size.
The low roof line ensures the EV6 cuts a sharp figure, and it looks fast standing still. Sharp styling features abound front and rear, with a short, swoopy bonnet and no traditional grille. It’s interesting to finally see electric vehicles move away – even if it is slightly – from traditional automotive design.
The rear is as sharp as the front, with the tail-lights coming in for equal amounts of like and dislike. I like them. What do you think? The integrated roof spoiler and flush doorhandles work well with the smooth lines of the design overall. I reckon, from any angle, the styling is a winner.
The range comprises three models at present – Air, GT-Line RWD and the GT-Line AWD we’re testing here. Pricing starts from $67,990 for the Air, steps up to $74,990 for the GT-Line RWD, and rounds out at $82,990 for the GT-Line AWD – all before on-road costs.
Standard equipment, as befits a halo model, is extensive. All EV6 variants get two big 12.3-inch screens, while the GT-Line models step up from 19s to 20-inch wheels. LED headlights are standard, along with dual-zone AC, wireless phone charging, and parking sensors front and rear.
Safety hasn’t been overlooked either, with a full suite of active safety tech standard, and there’s a centre airbag. Step up to the GT-Line and you get heated and cooled seats, power adjustment for the driver, an electric tailgate, and combination leather and suede seat trim.
GT-Line further ups the ante with a higher-quality 14-speaker audio system, clear and useful 360-degree camera, heated steering wheel, and blind-spot-view monitor.
Rivals include the Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Polestar 2. Time to get behind the wheel of Kia’s new hero car, then.
A long road trip like those we cover for Drive TV does nothing if not illustrate the good and bad in a car’s cabin. In the case of the EV6, the more time we spent behind the wheel, the more we enjoyed the road trip. New and a little out there it might be, but it’s certainly comfortable.
Despite the design flourishes and the futuristic nature, the cabin reflects a minimalist design ethos. It’s functional, well-executed and the controls are neatly laid out. For example, there’s a huge amount of useful storage throughout, something that still gets overlooked in some instances. Road trips often see you carrying more gear inside the cabin, and there’s always storage for whatever you need to squirrel away.
The front seats have plenty of room for the long haul, no matter how tall you are, and we never felt fatigued out on the open road. Even after longer stints on country B-roads. The second row is likewise spacious and airy with excellent visibility.
Boot space offers storage totalling 480L in the GT-Line we’re testing, losing 10L to the subwoofer that comes with the upgraded audio system compared to the EV6 Air, but we had enough room for luggage and camera gear. The space on offer suggests useful storage for a family holiday, even if there are two parents and two kids.
2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD
Seats
Five
Boot volume
480L seats up / 1270L seats folded – rear
20L – front
Length
4695mm
Width
1890mm
Height
1550mm
Wheelbase
2900mm
Infotainment and Connectivity
There’s no doubt the twin 12.3-inch screens, curved subtly as well, are the centrepiece of the EV6’s cabin, and a nod to the futuristic nature of the new vehicle. They flow like one large screen across the dash, and are easily viewable in any light. We like the graphics that Kia has used, and the control system is a cinch to get familiar with.
That’s the key too. How easy the system is to use. If you’re new to this whole EV thing, there’s a lot to get your head around and work out.
There’s so much going on under the skin in a tech sense, that an extra headache like trying to work out the infotainment system would be a pain in the backside. Kia’s is excellent and it’s genuinely easy to decipher.
We used Apple CarPlay extensively on our trip and it was faultless at all times. The proprietary satellite navigation is also accurate and quick to respond, and a good alternative to the smartphone interface if you prefer.
The wireless charging pad also worked well, but I prefer a regular cabled connection that doesn’t heat the phone up – you’ll need this to pair your smartphone anyway. Four USB-C points are standard, as well as a regular 12V socket for the front of the cabin.
On our drive, I especially liked the inclusion of the bright head-up display. It works beautifully in that you almost forget it’s there, but when you want it, it’s clearly visible. The driver’s screen can also be customised to display what you prefer to look at, and once you get the EV6 set up the way you like it, it really is a clever application of technology.
We’ve mentioned it numerous times now, but the single control panel that can be moved from HVAC to audio/satellite navigation is simple in its appearance, and brilliant in the way it cleans up the lower section of the centre console. What seems initially like a lack of buttons and switchgear is, more accurately, a smarter way of presenting them.
Safety and Technology
Kia’s EV is, as it has been since launch of course, still untested by ANCAP. There is the aforementioned full suite of safety technology that includes autonomous emergency braking (with car, pedestrian and cyclist detection, as well as intersection assist), adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane-follow assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and traffic sign recognition.
Family buyers will use the ISOFIX points on the outer rear seats, and there are three top-tether anchor points. The full complement of airbags included a centre airbag, which is the new standard in safety, and prevents the heads of driver and passenger coming into contact with each other in a nasty collision.
2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD
ANCAP rating
Untested
Value for Money
This is a tough one, and I’m reminded of it every time we speak about EVs and affordability on the radio shows we do around the country. We’ll immediately get calls and messages from people who claim that currently no EV is ‘actually affordable’ to the average person.
That may be true. However, plenty of Australian buyers spend a lot more than the cost of an EV6 on a new car. And, in that sense, with that fact on the table, the EV6 does indeed represent solid value for money.
At a glance
2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD
Warranty
Seven years / unlimited km
Service intervals
12 months or 15,000km
Servicing costs
$594 (3 years), $1089 (5 years)
Energy cons. (claimed)
18.0kWh/100km
Energy cons. (on test)
19.5–21.5kWh/100km
Battery size
77.4kWh (484km range – WLTP)
It’s right up in the same realm as its main competition listed above, with the industry-leading seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty that not every manufacturer offers. What Kia calls ‘high-voltage’ components are covered by a seven-year/150,000km warranty.
Another smart move by any manufacturer is to offer clear and upfront capped-price servicing. EV6 buyers can access pre-paid servicing, locking in the cost of ongoing maintenance that delivers real peace of mind. Three years will set you back $594, while five years cost $1089.
Driving
A long road trip, out of the city and into country areas, is as far from the natural environment of an electric vehicle as you can possibly take it. Electric cars are usually in their element on and off the brakes around town at city speed, while long highway runs sap the battery of energy and reduce range in quick time.
There’s no harvesting to be had on prolonged highway runs. And yet, the more advanced electric vehicles become, the more comfortable they become with this kind of drive. Our best-case highway run indicated 396km in the real world, while the heaviest usage indicated 360km in the real world.
You will need to factor in around an hour-and-a-half at a 50kW fast charger to get back to 100 per cent from 25–30 per cent, but as we keep finding, that provides a good excuse to head into town and do some exploring. Out on the open road, the inherent quality of the EV6 platform becomes evident, but so too does the local ride and handling additions that have been made to the suspension.
You don’t necessarily ‘need’ to step up to the dual-motor AWD version for the EV6 to feel fast. Even the most affordable EV6 feels fast. The dual-motor AWD we’re testing is, of course, faster again.
Boasting 239kW and 605Nm, the dual-motor EV6 is able to get its 2105kg cranking rapidly on any road. In its sportiest mode, the EV6 is a relentlessly accelerating SUV capable of sailing well past the posted speed limits with ease. Our concern, though, was more with how the battery range translated to the real world.
Still, the immediacy of the drive to the wheels and the seamless way that it happens delivers intoxicating acceleration. Drive is channelled to all fourwheels through a single-speed transmission, but Kia’s Disconnector Actuator System can shift the power to either the rear wheels only, or all four wheels, depending on your driving style and the road conditions.
Kia has once again made a masterstroke in ensuring the EV6 gets a local touch for the ride and handling hardware. As such, the quality of the bump absorption, the way the suspension takes in even the nastiest surfaces, and the comfort within the cabin, are first-rate and beautifully aligned with our road surfaces. Kia does plenty of its testing out on country roads, too, so it’s no surprise the EV6 is as effortless as it is out of the urban environment.
Without the traditional engine and driveline noise, you will hear tyre and wind noise in the cabin at highway speed, but it’s insulated well enough that it doesn’t become headache-inducing. With the battery pack down low in the chassis, there’s a nice balance to the way the EV6 rolls along too.
While we didn’t hook it hard into too many corners, it is capable of doing exactly that if you’re in the mood. If you’ve got the family on board for a longer road trip, that’s probably not something you’re likely to be doing either.
What the supple ride does do, especially on bumpier country roads, is deliver a premium cabin experience that makes the EV6 feel like a luxury vehicle. It’s composed and comfortable, and that makes for a high-quality long-haul road tripper.
Our test showed that range isn’t the concern it’s made out to be – with one caveat. You need to plan ahead, as 360–390km in the real world is more than enough to get from one town to another, but you need to know where the fast chargers are. And, it’s a reality that you can’t simply divert off your planned drive to explore a remote area on a whim. Take those factors into account, and the EV6 is a genuinely enjoyable country tourer.
Key details
2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD
Motor
Dual permanent magnet synchronous
Power
239kW
Torque
605Nm
Drive type
All-wheel drive
Transmission
Single-speed automatic
Power to weight ratio
113.5kW/t
Weight (tare)
2105kg
Tow rating
1600kg braked, 750kg unbraked
Turning circle
11.6m
Conclusion
It’s tough on one hand to advocate for a vehicle that is sold out until some time in 2025. And yet, the EV6 is a fantastic EV that does everything asked of it with quality and ease. It’s comfortable, efficient even on the highway, and a joy to drive long distances.
I find myself writing it in every review now, but EVs aren’t for everyone right now. However, if they suit your usage case, the EV6 is up at the top of the pile. If you’re in the market, make sure you lock one in for a test drive when they are available again.
Want to stay up to date in the world of automotive news? These are the biggest stories from the past week.
Each week we’ll keep you up to speed and bring you the ‘watercooler’ information of what has happened in the world of cars and motoring with the five-biggest stories we’ve covered. Here’s what you need to know…
Ugly pick-up turned SUV gets a power boost
As what could be one of the world’s ugliest cars, the Aznom Palladium has received a power upgrade – with the SUV now packing a twin-turbo 6.4-litre V8.
Just 10 examples of the Palladium are reportedly due for production in Italy each year, with a staggering starting price of €1 million ($AU1.5 million). You can read the full story here.
BMW another brand reluctant to phase out petrol and diesel engines altogether
BMW has joined host of global car companies, including Toyota and Jeep, who have cautioned against completely eliminating petrol and diesel engines.
While electric car sales will continue to grow globally in the coming years, some in the industry believes that electric cars should continue to be an option alongside ICE vehicles. Read all about it here.
Apple CarPlay gets a run in world-first police trial in Australia
Police in Western Australia are testing in-car entertainment to assist the way they respond to incidents.
Manufactured in conjunction with American multinational telecommunications, Motorola, the software is based on Apple CarPlay and will reportedly direct police to accidents, provide live crime scene updates, and communicate with other devices. You can read the full article here.
Toyota Australia recalls thousands of popular SUVs
A potential software fault has seen Toyota Australia recall 26,000 of its top-selling vehicles in Australia.
Hyundai has converted its new people mover into a campervan, named the 2022 Hyundai Staria Lounge Camper. The Camper can transform into a portable holiday home for the road and comes complete with its very own retractable awning. Check it out here.
These are the biggest stories of the week. You can read all the car news covered by Drive on our news feed here.
A new Porsche 911, Bentley Continental or BMW 7 Series is sold with less half the warranty of Australia’s cheapest car.
BMW, Bentley, and Porsche are among the last luxury marques in Australia to offer only a three-year warranty, following this week’s announcement that Alfa Romeo is increasing its guarantee.
Alfa Romeo confirmed on Tuesday: “[Our] vehicles will be delivered with a five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty, replacing the previous three-year or 150,000km offering.
“In addition, all new vehicles will also be covered by a five-year roadside assistance package as standard, which has been extended by two years.”
A spokesperson for BMW in Australia told Drive: “We have no plans to change our warranty offering at this point.”
Drive reached out to Bentley and Porsche for comment, and this story will be updated with the responses. Maserati also offers a three-year warranty, along with BMW’s Mini sister brand.
These premium brands are backed by less than half the warranty of Australia’s two cheapest cars, the Kia Picanto and MG 3, which both offer seven years of coverage.
The vast majority of manufacturers in Australia now offer five-year warranties, and several – including Kia, Haval, MG, and SsangYong – offer seven.
Mitsubishi claims a 10-year warranty, however the terms guarantee five years – and the availability of another five, only if the vehicle is exclusively serviced within the Mitsubishi dealer network.
