It’s been more than 18 months since we first drove the Kia EV6. Not much has changed since then, although it will soon get some updates – namely a larger battery.
The new model lobbed at the Australian Open earlier this year, of which Kia is the major sponsor and its arrival is imminent.
In the meantime, we couldn’t turn down the chance of another drive of what is surely one of Australia’s pre-eminent EVs — although describing it as a crossover is a stretch.
STYLING
Prices start from $72,590 for the EV6 Air RWD.
EV6 GT-Line RWD is priced from $79,590, while top of the range EV6 GT-Line AWD is priced from $87,590.
The high performance 430kW EV6 GT AWD is a whacking $99,590, taking it well over the $100K mark by the time you add on-road costs.
Our test vehicle, the GT-Line RWD, can be optioned with premium paint ($700) and a second cable that allows the car to be hooked up to a pay-as-you-go charger ($829).
It’s a long, wide car at almost 4.7 metres and 1.9 metres across, with an oh-so-long 2900mm wheelbase.
But the proportions are not what we have come to recognise as ideal, with a short bonnet and boot that brackets a long cabin.
After all, there’s no gas-guzzling ICE to accommodate. The batteries take up a bit of space though, sandwiched and spread out under the floor.
To placate traditionalists, a grille of sorts remains at the front. Unlock EV6 and flush-fitting, body-coloured door handles pop out in welcome.
Gloss black A-pillar, wing mirrors and beltline garnishes complete the look, with full-width tail lights and a stylish rear wing.
Standard kit includes 20-inch alloys with Continental 255/45 tyres, dual zone climate air with rear vents, and power-adjust, heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel and mood lighting with 64 colours.
Trim is a combination of black and white, a mix of artificial suede and vegan leather upholstery with white stitching, with power adjustment for driver lumbar support.
There’s also LED lights, folding, heated door mirrors with integrated indicators, automatic high beam, smart cruise control with stop and go, auto parallel and perpendicular parking, tilt and slide sunroof and a smart power tailgate.
Rounding out the list is head-up display, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, auto lights and wipers, front and rear parking sensors, along with a 360-degree camera.
Like all Kias, the EV6 is covered by a seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty. Unlike others, pre-paid service plans are available.
INFOTAINMENT
Infotainment consists of a 12.3-inch touchscreen, with built-in navigation, with AM/FM and DAB+ digital radio, Bluetooth, together with wired Android Auto and wired Apple CarPlay plus ‘Sounds of Nature’ ambient background noise. The new one will get wireless connectivity.
In the GT-Line the standard six-speaker sound system makes way for Meridian premium audio with 14 speakers.
Connect with three USB Chargers (1 x Type A and 2 x Type C) in the front tray with multimedia connectivity, two USB Charger (Type C) in front seat backs, plus two 12-volt power outlets (1 x boot side/1 x front tray).
Wireless Qi phone charging is also standard, but watch out because our phone got very hot.
SAFETY
Five-star safety starts with seven airbags, a rear-view camera with dynamic guidelines, plus Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with car, pedestrian, cyclist detection (and junction turn assist).
There’s also Blind Spot (including rear cross traffic assist), Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), Lane Follow Assist (LFA), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Driver Attention Warning with lead vehicle departure alert (DAW+), Multi-Collision Braking (MCB) and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
EV6 provides three top tether and two ISOFIX child seat anchors.
ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS
GT-Line RWD with a single electric motor that powers the rear wheels produces 168kW of power and 350Nm of torque.
Drive in single motor versions is to the rear wheels through a single-speed reduction gear transmission.
DRIVING
Air is the more range focused version of the EV6, with 168kW of power and 350Nm of torque and a range of 528km.
RWD GT-Line with the same powertrain is good for 504km. The GT-Line with AWD adds a second electric motor and produces a combined output of 239kW and 605Nm, with a range of 484km.
The real deal, the GT AWD, pumps out 430kW and 740Nm, and dispatches the dash in a Ferrari-like 3.5 seconds — the trade-off is a range of just 424km.
All four versions are powered by the same 77.4kWh battery pack, which weighs 477kg and is located under the floor.
The new EV6, which is expected to lob soon, acquires a larger 84kWh battery pack that should boost driving range across the lineup by up to 8.5 per cent.
Drive in single motor versions is to the rear wheels through a single-speed reduction gear transmission.
Energy consumption is a claimed 17.2 kWh/100km.
There are four selectable drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow which also change the look of the instrument panel.
Adding some drama to the experience is Active Sound Design (ASD) with a choice of artificial engine sounds and a custom setting. They are unique “electronica” rather than engine noise emulations.
EV6 is the first fully-electric vehicle to go through Kia Australia’s local ride and handling program.
With plenty of power and torque under foot, EV6 has plenty of get up and go, even with a single electric motor, with the dash from 0-100km/h taking 7.3 seconds.
With a burst of speed, overtaking can be accomplished virtually at will, but it’s a weighty device and wants to run wide in corners.
Steering is heavy and for the most part uncommunicative.
EV6 has powerful brakes too, perhaps too strong at times, or more specifically — irritatingly abrupt. It pulls up with a jerk and releases with a lurch, and can be difficult to control in close manoeuvring. One way to avoid this happening is one-pedal driving, using the regenerative brake system that is controlled by the steering wheel paddles normally devoted to gears.
In this way, the car slows when you lift off the accelerator — but not to a complete stop.
An electric parking brake is provided, but instead of being located close to hand in the centre console, it’s relegated to a position to the right and below the dash.
More jerkiness follows. Try releasing the brake and moving off in reverse if you’re parked on a slope.
A dab on the accelerator pedal is required and is liable to result in a sharp intake of breath as the car shoots backwards.
EV6’s space-age design is polarising. Some people like it, others hate it.
Facing the wrong direction the pop-out handles are awkward to use and for a 4.7-metre-long vehicle getting in and out is not as easy as it should be.
The door openings are large, but a low roofline and relatively high seating position compromise access. Watch your head and hold on to your sunglasses.
Ditto for rear seat passengers, with an elevated seating position and low hanging roof, and surprisingly little legroom considering the length of the car.
Getting into the car for the first time I was confronted with a washed-out instrument panel with pale blue lettering on a white background that was difficult to see in sunlight.
I was later able to change this to black after finding the appropriate setting in the infotainment system, but for the first few minutes I was flying blind.
Moving from one Kia to another, the steering wheel switch gear is familiar, but they have been transposed from one side of the wheel to the other.
The dash layout is similar to other Kias, but I found that it has no physical audio volume control.
The luggage area is quite large with a hidden area underneath for cable storage, along with a small boot at the front of the car — but no spare tyre. A tyre repair kit is supplied instead.
And in case you’re wondering, the EV6 is capable of towing a 1600kg load.
Most annoying is the location of the charge port which is cleverly concealed near the driver side tail light.
The location necessitates reversing the car to access power. Nowhere near as easy as a charge port at the front.
As batteries become larger and range increases, the time required to charge an EV also increases. EV6 offers up to 11kW AC charging and a class leading 233kW maximum DC fast-charge rate.
Charging can take up to 33 hours with a standard power point, reducing to as little as 18 minutes for a 10-80 per cent charge with a 350kW DC commercial charger.
Or so we’re told. Try finding a 350kW DC charger — they are as rare as hen’s teeth.
The closest we’ve come is 250kW. It was quick, but it still took just under 50 minutes to add 67 kWh — and the best rate we saw was 93kW.
The fact the EV6 doesn’t come with a Type 2 charge cable can be a major inconvenience. Not all charge points supply the cable, including our nearest charger.
At the end of the day, after more than 900km of mixed driving, including a return trip from Sydney to Canberra, we were getting 17.5kWh/100km.
SUMMING UP
More hatch than crossover, the EV6 is very doable as a daily driver. It’s roomy, comfortable, with good performance and, being electric, doesn’t cost much to run.
But all these fairy tales about 18-minute charging are starting to wear a bit thin . . .
Please.
Others may have had more success, but we haven’t found one EV or charge station that even comes close to achieving this.
Maybe one day, but in the meantime the infrastructure still has a lot of catching up to do and, we’re afraid to say, Tesla looks after its customers a lot better in this respect with Tesla-branded charges in many locations.
RATINGS:
Looks: 7
Performance: 7.5
Safety: 8
Thirst: 7
Practicality: 6
Comfort: 7
Tech: 8
Value: 7
Overall: 7.2
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
EV6 Air RWD: $72,590
EV6 GT-Line RWD: $79,590
EV6 GT-Line AWD: $87,590
EV6 GT AWD: $99,590
Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Kia dealer for drive-away prices.
SPECIFICATIONS (Kia EV6 RWD GT-Line, electric SUV)
POWERTRAIN:
Battery type: Lithium-ion
Battery Capacity: 77.4kWh
Configuration: Single electric motor
Maximum Power: 168 kW
Maximum Torque: 350 Nm
Fuel Type: Electric
Energy consumption: 17.2 kWh/100km
Range: 504 km (WLTP)
CO2 Emissions: 0 g/km
DRIVELINE:
One- speed automatic transmission (Reduction Gear), RWD
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4695 mm
Wheelbase: 2900 mm
Width: 1890 mm
Height: 1550 mm
Turning Circle: 11.6 metres
Kerb Mass: 2000 kg
BRAKES:
Front: 325 mm ventilated disc
Rear: 325 mm solid disc
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Seven years / Unlimited kilometres
