Review - 2023 Kia ev6

The EV6 is a coupe-style SUV that blurs the lines between your typical SUV package and an outright supercar in the case of the range-topping GT variant, but how practical is it inside, and how does it stack up as a daily driver?

Let’s find out by taking a closer look at the 2023 Kia EV6 lineup.

Kia EV6 Competition

Starting Price: $72,590

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How Much Does It Cost?

Prices for the Kia EV6 range start from $72,590 for the entry-level EV6 Air, with prices rising up to $79,590 for the EV6 GT-Line and up to $87,590 for the GT-Line AWD.

The range-topping EV6 GT AWD is priced at $99,590.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

How Much Can OnlineAuto Save You?

You could save money by using one of OnlineAuto’s car agents to assist you in finding the best car for you. As one of the leading car buying services in Australia, our team have access to a range of dealerships across the country to help find you the best deal.

Kia ev6 (GT AWD) Specifications

What Features Does the Kia EV6 Have?

The entry-level EV6 Air comes riding on a set of 19-inch alloys and receives LED head & tail lights with LED daytime running lamps, cloth and leatherette upholstery with power-adjustable driver’s seat, LED interior lighting, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry & start, adaptive cruise control, a rear-view camera with parking sensors, V2L power outlets and a pair of curved 12.3-inch displays for the infotainment system and digital instrument cluster.

Stepping up to the EV6 GT-Line adds a set of 20-inch alloys, a panoramic sunroof, GT-Line styling package, 64-colour ambient lighting, an augmented reality head-up display, heated and ventilated relaxation seats, a powered boot lift and a 3D surround-view monitor.

The range-topping EV6 GT comes riding on 21-inch alloys wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres and picks up adaptive suspension, upgraded LED headlights with sequential indicators, an electronic limited-slip differential and some sporty touches inside and out.

Range Features:

• 19-inch alloys 

• LED head & tail lights with LED daytime running lamps 

• Cloth & leatherette upholstery 

• LED interior lighting 

• Adaptive cruise control 

• Rear-view camera with parking sensors 

• 2 x 12.3-inch curved displays

• Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

• 20-inch alloys (GT-Line)

• Panoramic sunroof (GT-Line)

• Heated & ventilated relaxation seats (GT-Line)

• Powered boot lift (GT-Line)

• 3D surround-view monitor (GT-Line)

• 21-inch alloys (GT)

• Adaptive suspension (GT)

• Electronic limited-slip differential (GT)

Is the Kia EV6 Comfortable to Drive?

The driving experience on offer in the Kia EV6 lineup ranges from impressive in the base model to near ludicrous in the case of the range-topping GT-Line performance flagship.

The base model picks up a rear-mounted electric motor pushing out 168kW of power and 350Nm of torque, while the GT-Line AWD pushes out 239kW of power and 605Nm of torque thanks to an extra motor sitting over the front axle.

Both of these powertrains offer some seriously impressive performance off the line thanks to the instantaneous injection of torque, making the EV6 quite a dynamic little package with a heap of power at your disposal for everyday driving.

For the ultimate driving experience, though, the flagship EV6 GT comes packing a pair of electric motors producing 430kW of power and 740Nm of torque that give it acceleration figures of 0-100km/h in 3.5 seconds that match modern supercars.

On the road, the EV6 feels far nice and agile, even while lugging around a hefty battery pack, with town driving made relatively simple thanks to its nimble nature and the lightweight steering rack.

Around town, the adjustable regenerative braking system offers one-pedal driving that captures energy otherwise lost during braking, and is super comfortable and relaxing on a daily commute.

Leave town and you’ll be pleasantly surprised with just how well the EV6 can handle the rough and tumble of Australian road conditions, largely thanks to the company giving it a specific suspension tune for Aussie road conditions.

Opting for the performance-focussed EV6 GT does impact the ride quality, due to the sportier suspension tune and the larger 21-inch alloys, but it remains relatively well-behaved on a mix of surfaces.

All up, the Kia EV6 is fantastic on pretty much every road surface, driving situation and mundane daily commute you can throw at it, remaining confident and premium on Australian roads that make it a very comfortable EV package.

How Far Can the EV6 Drive on a Single Charge?

Every member of the Kia EV6 range sold here in Australia comes powered by a 77.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack that offers between 424 - 528km of range, depending on the variant.

Kia’s entry-level EV6 Air RWD offers the largest range figures of the family, with 528km of range on a single charge, which drops to 504km in the case of the EV6 GT-Line RWD.

Opt for the GT-Line AWD and range figures drop to 484km on a single charge, while the range-topping EV6 GT can drive 424km per charge.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

It’s difficult to gauge just how practical the EV6 is inside from the outside, but we can assure you that you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the amount of space and practical touches inside.

Kia’s new electric vehicle platform has resulted in some clever packaging details that have helped extract more space from the cabin layout, with just enough space on offer to accommodate five people.

Up front, there’s a decent amount of headroom for tall drivers and a sleek design that keeps things clean and uncluttered, with the ergonomic layout positioning all the important functions without arms reach.

The centre console sits above another storage level just above the floor, offering up a healthy mix of storage options and comfortable touchpoints, while the large door bins can swallow up large water bottles without a problem.

Move to the second row of the cabin and there’s no issues with legroom for rear occupants, with the EV6 happy to welcome adults in the rear, though taller adults might feel a little bit cramped under the coupe-style sloping roofline.

Having said that, the rear of the EV6 is a comfortable place to sit, with air vents, USB chargers, cup holders and power outlets for electronics, as well ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts for child seats.

Finally, the EV6 has a boot measuring 490L, expanding to 1260L with the rear seats folded (1270L for the EV6 Air) while the added storage area underneath the bonnet offers 52L of volume in the Air and GT-Line RWD, dropping to 20L in AWD variants.

Is it Safe?

The Kia EV6 has been awarded ANCAP’s maximum five-star safety rating, scoring 90% for adult protection, 87% for child protection, 64% for pedestrian protection and 88% for safety assist.

As standard, the EV6 receives a long list of safety equipment that includes AEB with pedestrian, junction and cyclist assist, blind-spot monitoring,lane-keep assistance, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alerts, multi-collision braking, a rear-view camera with parking sensors and lane centring.

Upgrading to the EV6 GT-Line adds a 3D surround-view monitor and a blind-spot view monitor.

Our Verdict: Is the Kia EV6 Worth it?

Kia has knocked it out of the park with its first bespoke electric vehicle which not only acts as a promising sign of what’s to come from Kia’s future EVs but also a viable, real-world option for here and now.

While it doesn’t come cheap, the base model comes super well-equipped and offers the largest range figures of the bunch, while the sportier members of the family offer buyers some serious thrills for the money.

As a result, we can’t help recommend you add it to your EV shortlist, and if you’re sorting through your best options, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying specialists who can help find the best possible price.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty 

2. Five-star ANCAP safety rating 

3. 424 - 528km range figures 

4. 490L boot space 

5. 0-100km/h in 3.5 seconds for flagship EV6 GT