The EV6 is a huge success for Kia. In its second year of production, this all-electric crossover is one of the best with its stylish looks, decent range, sporty handling, comfortable cabin, and plethora of features and tech. Although it costs more than some competitors, the EV6 comes well equipped, making it a good value for the money.
Base Price: $61,400
As Tested: $62,865
Horsepower: 576
Mileage: 85 MPGe city/74 MPGe highway/79 MPGe combined
The Kia EV6 was introduced for the 2022 model year and gets some updates for 2023 including the addition of the new GT performance version and the elimination of the base Light trim. The GT model is the most powerful production vehicle ever made by Kia with a whopping 576 horsepower!
The EV6 shares many similarities with its cousin, the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Both have the same platform and similar powertrains.
The 2023 EV6 comes in three trims: Wind, GT-Line and GT. Starting prices range from $48,700 to $61,600. Rear-wheel drive is standard on the two lower trims and all-wheel drive is available. The GT comes standard with all-wheel drive. There’s room for five passengers in two rows of seating.
The Wind and GT-Line come standard with an electric motor and 77.4-kWh lithium-ion battery that make 225 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The all-wheel drive Wind and GT-Line models get two electric motors that generate 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet. The GT cranks out 576 horsepower and 545 pound feet. All come standard with a single-speed automatic transmission.
Kia says the base Wind model with rear-wheel drive can go from zero to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. The all-wheel-drive Wind and GT-Line trims zip from zero to 60 in 5.1 seconds. The powerful GT rockets from zero to 60 in just 3.4 seconds!
The GT is easily one of the most fun EVs to drive. Acceleration feels instantaneous and there’s also plenty of smooth power for merging and passing at freeway speeds. The GT handles twisty back roads with ease, staying planted when cornering. It’s also pleasant to drive in busy city traffic. Braking is smooth and the adjustable regenerative braking settings let you pick the braking style you prefer. The ride is fairly stiff so you will notice some bumps and rough roads. Visibility is limited to the rear due to the wide rear pillars. All in all, driving the GT is a blast and will definitely put a smile on your face!
The range depends on the model. The rear-wheel drive models have an excellent range of 310 miles. The Wind trim with AWD has a range of 282 miles, while the G-Line rim with AWD has a range of 252 miles. The range of the powerful GT is 206 miles.
EPA ratings are good for the lower two trims, and not so good for the GT. Rear-wheel drive models get 117 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) combined in city/highway driving. The Wind with all-wheel drive gets 109 MPGe combined and AWD GT-line gets 96 MPGe. The GT gets only 79 MPGe, which is below average for an EV.
Charging time is relatively fast. With a Level 2 (240-volt connection), Kia says the EV6 charges in a little more than seven hours. With Level 3 DC fast charging, the battery will charge in just 18 to 73 minutes.
The interior is comfortable and spacious with nice materials and a modern look. Large digital panels dominate the dash. Adults have good leg- and headroom in both rows; however taller adults may need to duck when getting in and out of the second row because of the sloping roofline.
Standard features include proximity keyless entry, rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, synthetic leather upholstery, heated and ventilated eight-way power-adjustable front seats, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, infotainment system with 12.3-inch touchscreen, navigation, 14-speaker Meridian audio system, HD Radio, satellite radio, Bluetooth, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, voice recognition, three front and two rear USB ports, wireless device charging, Wi-Fi hot spot, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
Available features include a surround-view camera system, head-up display, synthetic leather and synthetic suede upholstery, heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, sunroof, universal garage door opener, and automatic high-beam headlights.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-tracing assist, blind-spot monitoring, highway driving assist, front and rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, pedestrian and cyclist detection, driver-attention monitoring, and rear-seat alert.
Available driver assistance technologies include blind-spot camera, reverse automatic emergency braking, remote park assist, automatic lane change, Intersection assist (this system uses sensors to help prevent crashes at intersections), and evasive-steering assist (sensors detect an imminent crash and help steer the vehicle to avoid a collision).
The infotainment system has a learning curve but is easy to use once you get the hang of it. The large touchscreen looks great with crisp grahics and the system responds quickly to touch and voice commands. Below the big touchscreen is a touch-sensitive bank with climate controls and menu shortcut buttons. You tap a button to switch between the climate and the infotainment modes. It’s a little clunky at first, but you quickly become accustomed to it.
The EV6 has less cargo space than many rivals but there’s still a decent amount of room. There are 24.4 cubic feet with both rows of seating in place and 50.2 cubes with the second row folded. There’s enough space for a weekend outing or a moderate Costco run. The EV6 has only a small “frunk” or front trunk, unlike some EVs that boast fairly large storage compartments under the hood.
The good:
Stylish looks
A blast to drive
Decent range
Modern, comfortable cabin
Lots of standard and available features and tech
Standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
Some rivals have better ranges
Not as much cargo space as many competitors
Infotainment system takes getting used to
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $61,400. Carpeted GT floor mats are $170. Destination fee is $1,295 bringing the grand total to $62,865.
Bottom line:
If you want an electric crossover that’s exciting and fun to drive, the EV6 delivers with its quick acceleration, sporty handling and responsive steering. With available all-wheel drive and different power options, you can pick the model that’s right for you. The 2023 EV6 also has decent range, relatively quick charging, an upscale cabin, and lots of standard features and tech. In short, there’s a lot to like about this EV crossover!
