Battery size: 77.4kWh
Miles per kWh: 4.24
E-Rating™: A+
Max charge rate: 232 kW
Range: 328 miles
Performance
It truly is a Kia like no other, especially if you go for the higher spec versions. The upcoming EV6 GT is a 577bhp Kia crossover – one that’ll hit 60mph quicker than some recent supercars. Whether it’s relevant or not, you can’t deny it makes the jump into EV ownership more exciting. You’ll need an AWD EV6 if you want the punchiest performance – the entry-level RWD car takes a more modest 7.3secs to hit 60mph, but that’s still more than enough in the real world. Trust us.
And staying in the real world, you can choose from a slightly dizzying six levels of brake regen via the steering wheel paddles, depending on how vigorous you want the braking power to be and how vital it is you’re clawing back range. With such impressive claimed range figures as standard, it might not be as crucial here as in rivals. If you select i-Pedal mode you get pretty effective one-pedal driving and if you select auto, the car works out the most efficient regen based on the kind of roads you’re on.
Drive
So it’s undeniably fast, but is it fun to drive? Well, it kind of depends on what your definition of fun is. We can’t help but feel that Kia has tried a little bit too hard to make the EV6 feel sporty. If you press the Sport button on the steering wheel, you get a different driving mode that makes the accelerator much more sensitive and changes the steering feel. We’d argue Sport mode doesn’t really do the EV6 any favours. It’s a lot harder to drive smoothly and it just seems to make it feel more fidgety and on edge. Put it back into Normal or Eco and calmness is restored.
See, while the ride is somewhat firm on those big, bold alloy wheels, it’s rarely uncomfortable and Kia has done a decent job of keeping the road noise out. It’s perhaps not quite as sharp to drive as it looks, then, but it’s still satisfying.
9
