The 2022 Kia EV6 is the second of three new all-electric vehicles from parent company, Hyundai. The others being the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Genesis GV60. All of these share the same platform but there are differences. So what does the Kia EV6 bring to the table?
Performance
Motors – Like its brethren, the 2022 Kia EV6 can be equipped with a single motor (RWD) or a dual motor (AWD) powertrain. This GT-Line has the latter. Power and torque figures range from as little as 167 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque (125 kW & 350 Nm) for the entry level trim up to 320 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque (238 kW & 604 Nm) for this top spec trim. There will also be a GT model soon that will have over 570 hp and a 0-100 km/h in the 3.5 seconds range. But this GT-Line still packs a pretty good punch with a 0-100 km/h time of 5.2 seconds. The top speed is limited to 183 km/h (114 mph).
Because this is an electric vehicle, the power delivery is instant. You immediately get pushed into the back of the seat. Compared to a gasoline car with similar power, it will jump off the line but as the speed increases, the gas powered vehicle will overtake and keep the lead.
Range & Efficiency – The least powerful version of the EV6 has an estimated range of 373 km (232 miles). This dual-motor AWD version is 441 km (274 miles) and the long range RWD can drive for an estimated 499 km (310 miles). However, those are just estimates and in the real world, you can get better or worse driving range. After charging the EV6 to 100%, the car notified me that it could actually drive for upwards of 470 km (292 miles). But that number will vary drastically whether the climate control is used, what the ambient temperature is, your driving style and so on.
The 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD is rated for 2.2 Le/100km (107 MPGe) combined. AWD models come equipped with a heat-pump that keeps the cabin warm or cool more efficiently.
Battery & Charging – The Kia EV6 has either a 58 kWh or 77.4 kWh battery pack. They allow for DC fast charging of up to 350 kW. Kia estimates a charging time of 18 minutes from 10% to 80% with a 350kW charger (if you can find one). More realistically, it’ll be 63 minutes & 73 minutes for the same charge with a 50 kW charger for the smaller and larger batteries respectively. From a level 2 charger, it’ll be just under 6 hours for the smaller battery and just over 7 hours for the larger battery.
The 2022 Kia EV6 can also be used to power household items or charge another EV. By using the V2L function, the EV6 can discharge its battery by a certain amount that is set in the infotainment system. So you can go camping and power electrical devices or power your home during a blackout. There is a plug at the bottom of the rear seats or an adapter can be used with the charging port.
Braking – Just like the Ioniq 5, the Kia EV6 has four different regenerative braking modes. It has the standard levels of regen braking that range from 0 (almost no regen braking) to max regen with levels 1, 2, & 3 in between. It has one pedal driving which Kia calls i-Pedal. It has “regen on demand” which is the same as the regen on demand that is found in the Chevrolet Bolt & Volt. As you pull and hold on the left steering wheel paddle, it will provide maximum regen braking and will bring the car to a complete stop. And finally there is Auto regen braking. This system detects the vehicle ahead along with the distance and speed and adjusts the regen braking mode automatically. So if the vehicle ahead is closer and you’re both going at higher speeds, it will provide a stronger regen braking mode. If it’s further away or there is no vehicle ahead, it will provide very little regen braking. This system works just fine but I found it a bit unsettling because it’s never consistent. Personally, I just stuck with level 2 regen braking or used the i-Pedal.
Handling – The 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD tips the scales at 2,059 kg (4,540 lbs). That is a lot of mass that needs to change direction through corners. But unlike the Ioniq 5, the Kia EV6 is a more sporty driving EV. There’s a little bit less body roll through hard cornering maneuvers. The suspension is a little bit stiffer for faster response. The steering – though direct – lacks feels which is the norm in most electric vehicles. All in all, this is a fun to drive EV that can hold its own against the likes of the Ford Mach-E or Tesla Model Y.
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Comfort
Ride Comfort – With the suspension being firmer, it is evident that the Kia EV6 has a stiffer ride than its Hyundai brother. I’m not saying that the ride of the EV6 is uncomfortable down potholed streets but for the utmost in comfort, the Ioniq 5 is better.
Interior Space – Just like the Ioniq 5, the Kia EV6 provides a lot of passenger space… in most dimensions. Legroom in the front seats is more than plentiful even if you’re as tall as Dennis Rodman. But headroom is not as generous. With the driver’s seat at its lowest position, I have just millimeters of space between the headliner and my hair.
The story is the same in the back seats. Legroom is plentiful even behind my 6’4” driving position. But headroom is limited. As well, foot room is extremely tight under the front seats if they’re at their lowest point.
In the truck, the 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line has one of the smaller cargo capacities among other EVs. It has 690 L (24.3 cu-ft) of space with the 2nd row up and 1,322 L (46.6 cu-ft) of space with the rear seats folded. There is a small cargo area under the hood but it is really small. I couldn’t find exact measurements of the “frunk” but in the Ioniq5, it has 24 L (0.84 cu-ft) of space.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – The Kia EV6 makes some interesting noises. They are all pumped through the audio system and you can choose between Stylish, Dynamic, and Cyber. Each sound is different and you can even customize the sounds to be a mix of the three depending on the accelerator pedal position. Wind and tire noise are kept at a minimum when driving on highways.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2022 Kia EV 6 starts at $44,995 CAD ($40,900 USD) for the RWD standard range with this fully loaded AWD GT-Line 2 costing $61,995 CAD ($55,900 USD). The 2022 EV6 is eligible for government rebates so check your local dealership for details.
Gadgets – The base trim of the EV6 has the bare necessities such as heated front seats, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto integration (not wireless on any trim), automatic climate control, Bluetooth, satellite navigation, and keyless entry with push button start.
Upgrade to this GT-Line and it’ll add on ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, head-up display, sunroof, surround view cameras, power liftgate, synthetic leather with suede inserts, and memory driver’s seat.
Interior Design – Where the Ioniq 5 had an “angelic” and bright interior, the Kia EV6 is the exact opposite. Everything is dark from the headliner to the seats to the screen bezels. However, it works. Personally I prefer the floating console of the EV6 that houses the rotary drive selector, the push button start, cupholders, and wireless phone charging pad. There’s a large storage bin below it with USB ports. The dual screens on the dashboard are curved a little bit around the driver. But the steering wheel looks odd with the large dual spoke design. It doesn’t invoke a feeling of sportiness like the rest of the car. Also, the climate controls and quick access menu buttons are displayed on the same screen but need to be switched to use them. To me, it’s not a big deal but I hate the fact that it’s a capacitive touch screen rather than physical buttons.
However, the worst feature of the interior is the extensive use of gloss black plastics. When it is new and clean, the gloss black looks great and premium. But after a few uses, finger smudges, dust, and scratches all stand out like a sore thumb. The worst place that Kia could have put this gloss black material was around the door handles. It can make some people’s skin crawl when they see how greasy the door handle gets after a few uses.
Exterior Design – The 2022 Kia EV6 is a sleek looking crossover SUV. The low roofline and intriguing design cues not only turn heads wherever this car goes but it also looks fast standing still. Unfortunately the down side is that rear visibility is limited and just like the Ioniq 5, the EV6 does not have a rear wiper.
Safety – The Kia EV6 is equipped with the basic advanced driver and safety aids such as forward collision alert with automatic emergency baking, lane keep, hill assist, adaptive cruise control, and rear occupant alert to name a few. For more features, you have to move up to the GT-Line 1 trim which will add blind spot sensors, rear cross traffic alert, advanced forward collision avoidance, and highway drive assist.
Warranty – The 2022 Kia EV6 is covered by a 5 year / 100,000 km new vehicle warranty and an 8 year / 150,000 km electric vehicle component warranty. The new vehicle warranty is the same in the United States (only it’s 60,000 miles) but the battery warranty is 10 years / 100,000 miles. For more information on Canadian warranty, click here. For information on American warranty, click here.
Conclusion – The 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line is the sporty option of the three from the Hyundai Motor Company. It is a good to drive EV with enough driving range and it is reasonably priced. But it’s not the most practical EV with others such as the Ford Mach-E offering more interior space.
Thank you to Kia Canada for providing the vehicle. www.Kia.ca
2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line Gallery
