The new Kia EV6 offers comfort, technology, and fast charging! Our test of this electric vehicle.
The Kia EV6 after the upgrade is the first “pricier” car I’ve had in my hands. Theoretically, it was created as a competitor to the TMY (or at least that’s what many people think), but in my opinion, there’s nothing to compare between the two cars – they’re completely different, designed for different customers with distinct creative intentions. And how was driving this car? You’ll find out in a moment! For now, I’d like to thank Kia GAM from Długołęki for providing the car for testing.
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Kia EV6 Specifications
The model I tested is the Kia EV6 GT-Line 325 HP 84 kWh 4WD, which is a quite premium version with a decent battery and an enjoyable driving power output. It also features an 800V architecture that allows for charging at 258 kW with a pretty good charging curve (checkable on EKOEN). It comes equipped with a sunroof, active driving assistants (automatic lane changing, automatic parking, and parallel parking), as well as a truly comfortable interior. For those who want the dry specifications, they are as follows:
Battery: NMC, 84 kWh
Power: 325 HP
Architecture: 800V
Drive type: AWD
Max speed: 188 km/h
Weight: 2085 kg
Dimensions: 4695 x 1890 x 1550 mm
WLTP fuel consumption: 17.7 kWh/100 km
EV6’s exterior design
This is where the issue I mentioned at the beginning comes in. This car bears no resemblance to the Tesla Model Y, which many people compare it to. The Kia EV6 has a much more distinctive, sporty appearance, which my son even described as “rocket-like.” The body lines are sharp and aggressive.
The front end is truly massive, with an LED strip running the full width of the car and nicely shaped curves on either side, inside which the daytime running lights are also located.
The rear end immediately evokes the look of crossover vehicles. It features a light strip running the full width, ending with tail lights on each side. Additionally, there’s a small, truncated rear window along with a spoiler that is said to affect the overall aerodynamic resistance of the car.
Interior
The car inside is very luxuriously equipped. Once you get in, you truly feel like you’re not dealing with a budget version. The seats are comfortable, made from a very pleasant material, and the ride is completely hassle-free.
There’s also plenty of space in the back seat. Two child seats fit easily, and there’s enough room between them to squeeze in someone really slim for a short trip. However, you can forget about a third seat, as well as longer trips with this configuration for 5 people.
Everything inside is finished to a very high standard. The materials feel pleasant to the touch, and we don’t have the impression of getting into a plastic, modern car. No creaking, no squeaking.
Control Center
Once we sit behind the steering wheel of the EV6, it truly feels like we’re piloting a modern spacecraft. We start the car using the console on the center panel. There, you’ll also find a gear shift knob along with control buttons.
In front of us is a long screen divided into two sections:
In front of the driver are driving-related information such as speed and range.
In the middle lies the entire infotainment system, which works very responsively (just like in the EV4).
A huge advantage of this trim level is that the car comes equipped with plenty of cameras. When turning on the turn signal, an image of the blind spot appears on the screen in front of the driver. There’s also a HUD display, though we get the most information from the factory-installed navigation system rather than Android Auto / Apple CarPlay (which fortunately work wirelessly).
Exceptional Capacity
Although the Kia EV6 doesn’t appear particularly large in size, its trunk space really impressed me. A big box containing lidlomix fit in without any problem, and there was still plenty of room for other items. You can easily pack enough for a family trip.
The frunk, on the other hand, could be slightly larger. In this regard, I’m spoiled by the TMY. You can fit a charger in there, but it’s not amazing—this is due to the second engine at the front. The RWD version allows for more space.
Driving the Kia EV6 – Comfort, Power, Charging
I’ll mention this again—driving the EV6 is definitely more comfortable than driving the 2023 TMY. The steering wheel feels better to touch, there’s less air resistance, and the noise level is excellent.
While driving on the highway, there’s no lack of power to overtake dynamically and without worry. The same holds true for driving on other roads (of course, always staying within the speed limit constraints). My average consumption on long trips (late autumn) on the expressway was around 19-20 kWh/100 km, while in urban areas or during slower driving, it was 16-17 kWh/100 km.
The only issue during testing in Wrocław was the lack of an 800V charger nearby to test its full capabilities (one became available a month later near A4 near Brzeg). Still, I’m impressed by the charging curve. The car can maintain a power output of over 100 kW even with 80% battery charge. That’s amazing. Additionally, it has the V2L feature, giving us a 3.6 kW portable power source in the car.
Who is this car for – summary
The Ten model, although it doesn’t look like it, is quite spacious. It’s also a agile car with decent power and a large battery. I think the Kia EV6 is an ideal choice for families (up to 2+2) as well as users who need a comfortable vehicle for longer trips.
It won’t be the perfect car for a fleet, but if your priority is comfortable travel with a quick stop for coffee and extremely fast charging with high power, then the EV6 will perform excellently.
Once again, thank you to Kia GAM in Długołęka for providing the car for testing!