2023 Kia EV6 Review

Electric vehicles are growing in popularity everyday, and the top automakers of the world are trying to launch their own versions. In such a competitive market, Kia EV6 is undoubtedly a powerful contender. The quick acceleration and athletic demeanor are commendable, and so are the comfort levels.

Expect sporty performance, no matter which trim level you choose. The battery packs are reliable, offer a good driving range, and handling is swift.

Engine

The rear wheel drive models run on a battery pack which generates 167 hp. The all-wheel drive models get a more powerful battery pack, producing an output of 320 hp or 576 hp.

Transmission

The battery packs are paired with direct-drive transmission.

Suspension

The vehicle gets front struts and multilink rear suspension, with four-wheel independent suspension available as a standard feature.

Steering

The vehicle comes with a heated and leatherette-clad steering wheel with tilt and telescopic mechanism. Controls for audio and cruise control are located on the steering for quick access.

The 2023 Kia EV6 received a reliability rating of 80/100. The lineup is also a part of IIHS’ Top Safety Pick+ vehicles. There’s a long list of safety and driver-assist features, and most of them are available as standard across all trims.

Brakes

Kia uses 12.8-inch vented disc for front brakes and 12.8-inch solid disc for rear brakes.

Airbags

Besides a pre and post collision safety system, the vehicle is equipped with dual front side-mount airbags and head airbags for front and rear seats.

Electronics

The key electronic safety features are blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, stability control, emergency braking assist, 4-wheel ABS, tire pressure monitoring, anti-theft alarm system, child seat anchors, and child safety locks.

Lights

Some of the standard features include daytime running lights, LED headlamp, dusk sensing headlamps, and auto delay off headlamps.

Traction control

Available as a standard feature, traction control prevents loss of traction in the wheels and helps maintain control in slippery road conditions.

Kia EV6 has an impressive range for the entry-level and mid-level trims, but the numbers are not as good if you choose the performance-oriented top trim.

Battery

This is a fully electric vehicle so it’s powered by electric motors of different sizes, depending on the trim level you pick.

Gas per mileage consumption

Single-motor variants offer 117 MPGe combined, but if you opt for the top-tier GT trim, the number goes down to somewhere around 79 MPGe.

Kia has given a lot of priority to styling and feel, and that’s evident from its interior. The seats are spacious, there is a roomy cargo area, and you get ample storage pockets to store essentials. While Kia’s focus on practicality and design is commendable, we are disappointed with the archaic infotainment—it needs serious improvement to match well with other elements of the vehicle.

Seats

With a legroom of 42.4 inches and leatherette covered bucket seats, the front seat is quite comfortable. The driver gets a height-adjustable 8-way power seat with lumbar support. The passenger seat is also equipped with height adjustment and lumbar support. The seats are ventilated and come with multi-level heating. The reclining rear seats have a 39-inch legroom and a folding center armrest.

Design

The design of this EV is futuristic, both for the exterior and the interior. There is plenty of storage space inside the cabin, which comes in handy when you’re out for long trips.

Infotainment

A few notable standard features include a 12-inch display, voice command, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wifi hotspot, wireless charging, Meridian stereo and speakers, USB, and speed sensitive volume control. The infotainment system is mediocre at best—neither does it have a stylish appearance, nor does at have seamless navigation.

Overall height and space

Kia EV6 is 184.3 inches long, 74 inches wide, and has a height of 60.8 inches. The wheelbase is 114.2 inches.

Trunk space

When all the seats are upright, the base cargo space is 24.4 cubic feet. You can expand it up to 50.2 cubic feet by folding down the rear seats.

It’s no news that fully electric vehicles are on the expensive side. This EV from Kia also comes with a big price tag, but it does offer a plethora of features that are sure to impress even the most skeptical drivers.

Kia EV6 comes in 5 trim levels this year—Wind, Wind AWD, GT-Line, GT-Line AWD, and GT AWD. Even though the base trim starts from a little over $50k, we must admit that the entire lineup is packed with value. If your priority is performance, we would recommend going for the higher trims but if you’re looking for a good driving range, the Wind AWD trim does an amazing job.

Trim Level	Base Price
Wind	$50,025
Wind AWD	$53,695
GT-Line	$54,225
GT-Line AWD	$58,695
GT AWD	$62,925

AWD/FWD

You can get either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive setup, depending on which trim level you choose.

Warranty

The vehicle is covered by a basic warranty of 5 years or 60,000 miles, a drivetrain warranty of 10 years or 100,000 miles, and rust warranty of 5 years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery has a 10-year or 100,000-mile coverage, and you also get roadside assistance for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Despite this comprehensive coverage, Kia doesn’t offer maintenance.

Extras (Cargo, Towing)

When equipped properly, the Kia EV6 can tow up to 2300 pounds.

Awards

Kia EV6 has made it to Car and Driver’s 10Best Trucks and SUVs for 2023 list.