2024 Kia EV6 overview | CarExpert

There was such buzz for the Kia EV6 GT earlier than it launched in Australia in 2023.

Right here was the quickest Kia ever, able to doing the 0-100km/h sprint in simply 3.5 seconds – quicker than some supercars!

It was delayed getting right here and its second within the solar was quick, for sister model Hyundai early this 12 months launched an much more thrilling electrical automobile (EV).

It isn’t actually any faster, and it’s round $11,000 costlier, however the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N provides one of the vital customisable driving experiences of any EV in the marketplace. You’ll be able to even activate simulated gear shifts and pretend exhaust sound you’ll be able to hear from exterior the automobile.

It takes fairly a automobile to make one thing as distinctively styled and searingly fast as an EV6 GT appear much less thrilling as compared.

When you mightn’t have the ability to simulate the texture of a combustion-powered automobile within the EV6 GT, we’ve put it to the check once more to see whether or not it’s nonetheless worthy of consideration in opposition to its petrol-flavoured platform-mate.

A facelift for the core EV6 vary was just lately revealed forward of a fourth-quarter 2024 launch in Australia, and Kia is about to disclose a facelifted GT later this 12 months forward of a launch right here a couple of months later. At this stage, we don’t know the extent of the GT’s upgrades.

We do know the core EV6 has acquired a bigger battery, in addition to revised in-car tech and a contemporary face. However whether or not the GT will get extra efficiency and even among the Ioniq 5 N’s cool options stays unclear.

In case you just like the styling of the present EV6, then the up to date mannequin ought to nonetheless enchantment. Kia could have modified the search for entrance a bit, nevertheless it nonetheless has the identical bulging hips, muscular stance, and dramatic full-width tail lights.

The present EV6 GT is a looker, and there are many neat particulars just like the textured materials under the tail lights, or the little lights on the C-pillar that appear to serve no actual objective apart from to look cool.

Whereas VFACTS business gross sales stories classify it as a “giant SUV”, the EV6 actually appears to blur the road between a medium-to-large crossover and a medium-to-large hatchback or wagon.

Kia has even referred to it because the successor of the dearly departed Stinger GT.

How a lot does the Kia EV6 value?

The GT sits atop the EV6 vary. Rivals embrace not solely the Ioniq 5 N, but additionally the Tesla Mannequin Y Efficiency and Ford Mustang Mach-E GT.

All costs exclude on-road prices

To see how the EV6 GT shapes up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software.

What’s the Kia EV6 like on the within?

The EV6 GT’s inside makes a constructive first impression.

You sit in extraordinarily grippy, supportive and closely bolstered entrance sports activities seats, that are manually adjustable.

They actually hug you in place, although on lengthy drives I discovered them a bit stiff – significantly the headrests, which had my neck hurting. These chunky bolsters don’t get in the way in which when it’s essential climb in or out of the automobile, which is a win for older house owners.

In contrast to the Ioniq 5 N’s entrance sports activities seats or the seats within the cheaper EV6 GT-Line, EV6 GT’s lack air flow.

The steering wheel feels good, and intuitively options buttons for drive mode choice.

The dashboard is rakishly styled, with fascinating patterned inserts. Nevertheless it’s all completed in onerous plastic, which makes the EV6 really feel slightly extra low-rent inside than an Ioniq 5.

The ambient lighting, nevertheless, improves the vibe. It’s colour-adjustable and bathes the footwells, the bottle holders in all 4 doorways, and the 2 ranges of the centre console.

There’s additionally some brushed metal-look trim that gives some neat ornament, whereas gloss black trim is saved to a minimal. We additionally dig the GT-exclusive lime inexperienced accents, which tie in with the lime inexperienced brake calipers exterior.

The split-level centre console consists of each a shelf on the ground and a bridge that juts out however doesn’t hook up with the centre stack.

Switchgear on this bridge consists of the heated seat and heated wheel controls and the beginning button, which falls neatly handy.

There are twin 12.3-inch screens: a digital instrument cluster and an infotainment touchscreen.

The EV6 will transfer to Kia’s newest era of infotainment with the replace, however for now it goes with out options like a voice assistant that may management automobile capabilities, and wi-fi smartphone mirroring.

Although it lacks these options, the infotainment system nonetheless works effectively with typically intuitive menus and fast response occasions.

The digital instrument cluster is fairly normal Kia fare, and whereas the devices are neat and legible they don’t really feel all that particular. We’d prefer to see some extra distinctive themes to pick from, or the flexibility to view maps as in varied Volkswagen Group, Chery, and Jeep merchandise.

One factor these different manufacturers can’t supply, although, is Kia’s Blind Spot View Monitor. This exhibits digital camera footage of your blind spot once you flip in your indicator and, along side the warning gentle within the mirrors, an audible alert and energetic steering help, means you’d must be utterly out of it to wander into one other automobile’s path.

The digital camera view did get washed out although, actually, after we had been driving within the rain. In any other case, it’s onerous to fault the array of cameras within the EV6.

There’s loads of storage up entrance. There’s a deep centre console bin, plus the aforementioned giant shelf on the ground.

The lined bottle holders within the doorways can simply accommodate giant bottles, although those within the rear doorways will battle with even a 600ml Coke.

Talking of the doorways, they’re completed in a mixture of soft-touch plastic up prime, plus suede, onerous plastic and high-gloss black plastic trim, although the door tops are onerous within the rear.

The method unlock operate works effectively, unlocking the automobile as you method it with the important thing with out requiring you to press a button or swipe a sensor.

The flush-mounted door handles come out, permitting you to simply seize them and open the doorways. Additionally they make a humorous sound as you drive off they usually pop again into place.

Step into the again and also you’ll discover an virtually fully flat flooring, in addition to air vents (within the B-pillars), two USB-C retailers, and a fold-down armrest with cupholders.

There are three top-tether and two ISOFIX anchor factors for little one seats.

The EV6 has vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, which lets you use each this outlet and an exterior outlet to cost exterior home equipment. This got here in useful whereas road-tripping, as I may cost my laptop computer within the again.

Regardless of the sporty roofline, the EV6 has loads of rear-seat headroom, however issues get rather less sensible additional again.

The rakish tailgate with its slim opening means the load house isn’t as giant as some crossovers, neither is it as simple to entry.

You’ll be able to nonetheless slot in a pair of suitcases, offered they’re not too giant, and there’s a useful baggage internet. However with 480L of baggage house again right here and simply 20L beneath the bonnet, it’s down on the 854L throughout each storage areas within the Mannequin Y.

There’s a complete of 1260L of house within the again once you drop the rear seats.

As is depressingly widespread with EVs, there’s no spare tyre. As an alternative, you’ll discover solely a tyre restore equipment. Below the rear boot flooring is a compartment to securely tuck away your charging cables.

What’s beneath the bonnet?

There’s a small storage space, however the magic of the drivetrain lives deeper beneath the pores and skin.

It has virtually 200kW greater than the GT-Line, reducing 1.7 seconds from the 0-100km/h time. Not that this issues in Australia, however prime velocity can also be bumped up from 188km/h to 260km/h.

How does the Kia EV6 drive?

Moist climate actually put a damper on my time with the EV6 GT.

A weekend getaway in northern New South Wales introduced the promise of loads of winding nation roads, however virtually all had been stricken with potholes. My standard spirited winding street drive at Mount Wonderful was additionally marred by rain, fog and street particles.

It’s irritating to know you might have a automobile with such immense energy and functionality which you can’t totally utilise.

And but, having to make use of the EV6 GT for commuting and cruising duties underscored simply how versatile it’s. You’ll be able to potter round city in Eco mode as if this isn’t packing 430kW and 740Nm, and it’s a wholly nice commuter. Energy is delivered easily, and you may drive your grandma to church with none drama.

In fact, you may also pop it into GT mode, activate max energy mode, and let ‘er rip. From a standstill, the EV6 GT’s acceleration is meteoric, and you may really feel the rear wheels struggling to get the ability down.

Max energy mode is barely accessible when the battery is above 70 per cent, and if you happen to hold doing 0-100km/h runs you’ll burn by way of your cost.

There are a number of ranges of regenerative braking, plus an i-Pedal mode that permits for one-pedal driving. It’s not probably the most aggressive system we’ve skilled, however it’ll convey the EV6 to a halt.

As with many Kias, the EV6 GT has a neighborhood suspension and steering tune.

The EV6 GT dealt with the ravaged roads of New South Wales with aplomb, by no means feeling crashy or lumpy regardless of driving on large 21-inch alloy wheels.

Nevertheless, it’s very agency, and there’s a persistent if slight vibration of types to the experience that by no means goes away. Is it a deal-breaker? Hardly.

The Kia all the time feels flat and planted, and able to storm up a winding mountain street.

Okay, so the EV6 GT isn’t as customisable as an Ioniq 5 N. However there’s nonetheless a bevy of accessible settings to configure, extra so than even an Audi RS e-tron GT I just lately drove.

Maybe probably the most customisable ingredient is the Energetic Sound Design, i.e. the pretend propulsion noise. There’s no approach to make it sound like a turbocharged four-cylinder engine as in its platform-mate, however you’ll be able to select between three preset sounds and even configure your individual.

Moreover, you’ll be able to select between three ranges of sound, or simply flip it off fully and take heed to the usual electrical motor whir.

Then there are the settings that truly change the way in which the EV6 drives. You’ll be able to select between Regular, Sport and Sport+ modes for the suspension, steering, digital limited-slip differential and electrical motors, with the latter additionally providing an Eco mode.

You’ll be able to tailor these settings to your tastes and press the GT button on the steering wheel to name up your customized drive mode.

Moreover, you’ll be able to toggle the digital stability management between Regular, Sport (which permits some oversteer) and off.

Whereas I fiddled round with many of those settings, I saved the suspension in regular after I programmed my customized drive mode, however put the steering in Sport+.

By default, the steering already has a pleasant weight to it, and communicates what’s happening on the street. However Sport+ mode provides some good heft to it which makes the EV6 really feel even sportier.

When it comes to braking, the EV6 GT has 380mm entrance and 360mm rear ventilated discs, as a substitute of 325mm discs entrance and rear as in lesser EV6s. You can even select between Regular and Sport modes for the brakes.

The EV6 GT makes use of Kia’s older site visitors signal recognition system, which suggests it makes use of navigation information as a substitute of studying indicators. However this additionally means it doesn’t bing and bong each time the velocity restrict adjustments, so there’s that.

The cabin is so quiet that I commented the raindrops hitting the sunroof had been surprisingly loud.

The EV6 GT is nice on the freeway, with its Lane Following Help protecting you neatly centred in your lane and the adaptive cruise management protecting you at your set velocity.

When the solar goes down, the matrix LED headlights present wonderful illumination.

The EV6 GT options Kia’s Distant Sensible Park Help, which lets you use the important thing fob to maneuver the automobile ahead and backwards. It would sound like a gimmick, however we did find yourself utilizing it to get the automobile out and in of a decent automobile port at an Airbnb.

What do you get?

The GT sits atop the EV6 vary, nevertheless it does miss out on some options discovered within the GT-Line one rung down – specifically power-adjustable entrance seats with air flow.

Normal gear on the GT consists of:

• 21-inch alloy wheels
• Tyre stress monitoring
• Tyre restore equipment
• Matrix LED headlights
• Energetic Sound Design
• One-pedal drive mode
• Adaptive suspension
• Digital park brake
• Auto maintain
• Fingers-free energy tailgate
• Rear privateness glass
• Distant Sensible Park Help
  • Key fob parking operation
  • Semi-autonomous parking help
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• DAB digital radio
• 14-speaker Meridian sound system
• Wi-fi cellphone charger
• Head-up show
• Suede/leatherette upholstery
• Six-way guide entrance sports activities seats
• Heated entrance seats
• Heated rear seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
• Electrochromic rear-view mirror
• 4 x USB-C retailers (two up entrance, two within the rear)
• 1 x USB-A outlet (entrance; for information switch)
• 64-colour ambient lighting

Is the Kia EV6 secure?

The Kia EV6 Air and GT-Line have a five-star ANCAP score, however the GT stays unrated.

Normal security gear consists of:

• Autonomous emergency braking
  • Pedestrian detection
  • Bicycle owner detection
  • Car detection
  • Junction turning help
  • Reverse AEB
• Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
• Blind-spot help
• Blind-Spot View Monitor
• Clever velocity restrict help
• Lane-keep help
• Lane Following Help (lane centring)
• Rear cross-traffic help
• Rear occupant alert
• Protected exit help
• Entrance and rear parking sensors
• Encompass-view digital camera with 3D mode
• Entrance, front-side, front-centre and curtain airbags

How a lot does the Kia EV6 value to run?

Kia backs the EV6 GT with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre automobile guarantee, plus a seven-year, 150,000km guarantee for the high-voltage electrical parts just like the battery.

Servicing is required each 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.

The corporate provides three-, five- and seven-year pre-paid service plans, priced at $835, $1561 and $2309, respectively – barely pricier than the identical plans on extra reasonably priced EV6 fashions.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Kia EV6 GT

The EV6 GT is bloody quick, handles effectively, and but is usually a snug and calm commuter.

By any measure, it’s a wonderful automobile. So why is it not my electrical automobile of alternative at this finish of the market?

The EV6 GT is very adjustable, however its Hyundai sibling simply provides that little bit extra and is a extra partaking automobile to drive consequently. It additionally has an inside that feels nicer.

After which there’s the EV6 GT-Line. In case you don’t need the outright tempo of the GT, the GT-Line continues to be far faster than you arguably want, whereas being extra reasonably priced and comfy.

There’s additionally the looming replace for the EV6 GT, which guarantees to incorporate some worthwhile enhancements together with the most recent know-how from Kia.

The EV6 GT is a good automobile, no bones about it. However we’d advocate rigorously evaluating what you need in a high-performance electrical automobile earlier than signing on the dotted line.

Click on the photographs for the complete gallery

MORE: Purchase a Kia EV6
MORE: All the pieces Kia EV6