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.
- Styling is eye-catching from any angle
- Range remains strong even on long runs
- Cabin quality and driving experience are excellent
- 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.
| Key details | 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD |
| Price (MSRP) | $82,990 plus on-road costs |
| Colour of test car | Moonscape |
| Options | Matte paint – $1000 |
| Price as tested | $83,990 plus on-road costs |
| Rivals | Tesla Model 3 | Hyundai Ioniq 5| Polestar 2 |
Inside
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 four wheels 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.
The post 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD review appeared first on Drive.
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