Kia EV6 GT Line AWD 2022 Review

EV6 GT Line AWD – Lately it seems I’ve been driving a few electric cars, the Kia EV6 GT Line AWD amongst them. There are three models in the range with the AWD being the top of the range.

The EV6 is Kia’s first all electric car and they got it right first up

You immediately notice that this is a beautifully designed car, both visually and functionally.

It’s a crossover SUV design with a sleek sports bonnet and practical hatchback that has a huge opening.

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Inside the flat floor allows a different thinking and Kia has made the most of it with clever and practical storage areas, plenty of room for occupants front and back and all the usual comfort and luxury features buyers seem to want in cars today.

Driver ergonomics are excellent and the Australian tuned suspension is compliant yet firm.

The AWD dual motor version has measured outputs of 239kW/605 Nm and hitting 0-100 in approximately 5.2 seconds. The AWD comes with 20” alloy wheels, a range of 484km.

Driving an all-electric car can require a change to your habits, especially if you use the full extent on the one pedal style. Brakes can almost be forgotten.

The Kia EV6 GT Line AWD is priced from $82,990 plus the usual costs

This is a Motoring Minute’

I’m Rob Fraser

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*MLP Includes GST and LCT but excluding statutory charges, dealer costs and dealer delivery. See your dealer for RDAP. Does not include price of options. Some features mentioned in the article are options. RDAP means Recommended Drive Away Price (without options but including all other charges)

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More Kia EV6 notes

Kia EV6, built on the same platform as the Hyundai IONIQ5, is a major play for the Korean brand. It’s the first dedicated electric vehicle built on the groups Electric Global Modular Platform.

That’s important as we will see later, in the designer’s freedom to explore new parameters in design.

The EV6 is the first of seven dedicated BEVs to be built on the E-GMP Platform and displays a future-oriented EV design characterised by high-tech details.

The EV6 is available in two grades; the range focused EV6 Air in rear-wheel drive only (RWD) and top trim GT-Line with RWD or all-wheel drive (AWD) options.

The performance EV6 eGT with follow in late 2022 or early 2023. Can’t wait for that one!

What does the EV6 look like?

Kia EV6 looks good in photos and even better in the flesh. Kudos to the designers.

Electric vehicles can afford some license to stylists and the ‘Digital Tiger Face’ style embodies this freedom.

It looks sleek, wide and modern. The crossover SUV, hatchback style with a body forward profile really works.

The frontal view shows almost a smiling face with LED headlights, DRLs and lower air intake. Part of the optimisation of air flow from the front, the air is channelled through and under the car’s flat floor for optimum aerodynamics. At the rear is a prominent rood spoiler that combines with another one on top of the rear light cluster.

The profile really accentuates the freedom designers have had. It’s highly unusual and stunning at the same time.

In Kia’s own words “. A swept-back windshield provides dynamism and purpose, while bold rear haunches add volume. A character line runs along the bottom of the doors curving upwards towards the rear wheel arches, visually elongating the profile of the car.”

From the rear the bulbous hatch lid completes the aerodynamic design and also allows excellent access to the boot space.

The flat battery underfloor and minimal front and rear overhangs all add to the styling.

The Kia EV6 Air is available in six colours with Glacier White being new to the Kia pallet. EV6 GT-Line is available in five colours, including the striking Moonscape matte paint exclusive to the GT-Line trim, also new to the Kia range.

What is the EV6 like inside?

A blank sheet of paper with a flat floor platform again allowed designers to be bold. And it shows, it’s impressive.

Words that first come to mind are open, minimalist, functional and roomy.

Premium materials are used throughout the EV6 cabin for a welcoming feel and durability.

The cabin is trimmed in a range of sustainable materials, with seats that are slim, lightweight and contemporary.

Sections of the dashboard and centre console are clad in recycled plastics, equivalent to 107 plastic 500ml water bottles per car.

Front seats are particularly comfortable with a slim line design. They are electronically adjusted and heated and ventilated. Plenty of headroom even for taller drivers.

They are trimmed in “Artificial Black Suede/Vegan White Leather with White Stitching”.

In front of the driver is a flat bottom conventional steering wheel housing the usual controls.  This frames the digital driver instrument binnacle that allows a degree of individualisation.

Driver ergonomics

Driver ergonomics are excellent. The wide high-tech curved high-definition audio visual and navigation (AVN) central screen flows seamlessly across the dash.

Below the AVN screen sits the car’s new multi-mode display. This replaces physical buttons with a dedicated capacitive touchscreen, providing easily accessible shortcuts to control HVAC and the infotainment and navigation system.

Instead of delving into sub-menus, the multi-mode display allows quicker access to the car’s most often used features, such as changing the temperature or adjusting the audio volume.

Between the front seats is a practical storage area that shows the benefit of a flat floor platform. Storage areas in general are cavernous and well laid out, but the front USB access is poor.

Rear seats have huge legroom as well. This is even behind the seat for my driving position. They are soft but not sculptured so you tend to sit on them not in them.

Boot space is adequate, but the high opening boot lid is excellent.  

Kia EV6 Features

No matter which EV6 model is chosen, it comes with a long list of standard equipment, generous interior space and premium levels of refinement.

A comprehensive infotainment system consists of a dual 12.3-inch driver display and touchscreen navigation system, together with wired Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay^®.

The EV6 Air features six speakers and a separate USB port for media connection.

All EV6 models come with:

• five seats, feature remote-folding 60:40 split rear seats, with cupholders
• a luggage area load cover, luggage board, luggage net
• Two USB-C charge ports up front, two additional USB-C ports located in the front seat backs for the rear passengers.
• One 12-volt accessory socket in the front tray with another integrated into the boot,
• LED lights for the front and rear luggage areas.
• LED interior lighting
• Storage features include front seatback pockets, front and rear door storage, and a glovebox with illumination.

EV6 Model walk.

The EV6 Air features:

• 19” alloy wheels,
• LED headlights with daytime running lights,
• electrically folding, adjustable and heated door mirrors with integrated LED indicator lights,
• automatic headlight control,
• LED tail lights with rear fog light,
• Rain sensing wipers and an innovative rear spoiler.
• Body coloured exterior flush door handles feature alongside a high gloss black A-pillar garnish, wing mirrors and beltline.
• Seats are trimmed in black cloth and artificial leather upholstery, with power adjustment for the driver’s lumbar support.
• engine start/stop button with smart entry,
• all-round electric windows with driver and front passenger auto up and down functionality and an
• automatic windscreen defog system,
• tilt and telescopic steering wheel
• auto-dimming rear-view mirror,
• dual zone climate control air conditioning,
• electronic park brake (EPB) with auto hold function,
• smart cruise control with stop and go functionality,
• paddle shifters with brake regen control, and
• Steering wheel mounted Bluetooth/audio controls.

The GT-Line models feature:

• larger 20” alloy wheels,
• automatic folding door handles,
• heated & ventilated front seats,
• smart power tailgate
• Meridian premium sound system with 14 speakers and active sound design (ASD)
• augmented reality HUD,
• Remote Smart Park Assist (RSPA),
• 360-degree around view camera system with 3D mode, and
• Blind-Spot View Monitor.

GT-Line AWD option comes with:

• Wide sunroof with tilting and sliding functionality. 

EV6 Motor and drivetrain

The RWD single motor EV6 entry-level Air starts the range off, producing 168kW power and 350Nm of torque and a single charge driving range of 528km, with 0-100 acceleration being reached in approximately 7.3 seconds on 19” alloy wheels.

The RWD single motor is also available as a choice in the GT-Line line-up with 20” alloys as standard, a driving range of 504km.

The optional AWD dual motor really lifts the bar in the GT-Line range, producing 239kW/605 Nm and hitting 0-100 in approximately 5.2 seconds. The AWD comes with 20” alloy wheels, a 484km range.

 Charging

All EV6 models come with a Type 2-to-domestic three-pin plug trickle charger. When using a 350kW charger, the 800V charging capability means the EV6 can go from 10-to-80 per cent battery charge in just 18 minutes.

The range also comes with the EV6’s interior vehicle-to-load (V2L) function that drastically improves charging flexibility. An Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) enables up to 3.6kW of power to be discharged from the vehicle’s battery.

Inside the cabin, a handy charging port located under the rear seats allows passengers to charge devices from the vehicle’s battery without the need for additional adapters. The EV6’s own battery is preserved by ensuring state of charge does not fall below 20 per cent, at which point V2L is disabled.

GT-Line models come with the EV6’s exterior vehicle-to-load (V2L) function. The adapter plug enables the EV6 to charge anything from external domestic appliances to other EVs (with a trickle charger).

Ride & Handling

Kia prides themselves on tuning the suspension of every car to localised Australian conditions.

The result is worth the effort.

EV6 incorporates an advanced frequency dependent damper technology by ZF Sachs’ termed Selective Damping Control 3 (SDC3).

Kia is the first mainstream brand to utilise this technology following on from prestigious makes AMG and Maserati. SDC3 is able to optimise damping forces dependent on frequency to offer both comfortable ride comfort and excellent body control.

EV6 is compliant with absorbent rough road ride, with rounded feel in urban environments.

Handling is balanced and flat with excellent grip and mid corner response. Excellent power delivery with confident and engaging driving dynamics.

Sound absorbent materials in the floor, wheel arches, doors, boot lid and tyres reduce road and wind noise, creating a quiet and serene space for all occupants.

Acoustic windshield and door glass further on GT-line models improve the on-board experience giving the EV6 a sound rating equal to higher-class premium models.

Towing

The EV6 with the 77.4kWh battery pack is designed to tow up to 1,600kg with trailer brakes in RWD and AWD configurations, 750kg unbraked and has a 100kg downball weight.

Kia EV6 Safety

The EV6 comes with a five star ANCAP safety rating.

A suite of safety devices feature on the EV6, including:

• Full suite of airbags
• Front and rear parking sensors
• reversing camera system with dynamic guidelines,
• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with car, pedestrian, cyclist detection with junction turning assist,
• drive mode select system,
• Hill-start assist control (HAC),
• Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA),
• Lane Follow Assist (LFA),
• Lane Keep Assist (LKA),
• Driver Attention Warning with lead vehicle departure alert (DAW+),
• Multi-Collision Brake (MCB),
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and a
• Tyre Mobility Kit (TMK).
• Two child seat ISOFIX anchor points and three top tether anchor points for the rear seats,
• Headrests are all individually adjustable

Kia EV6 GT Line AWD final thoughts

Yep like it heaps.

It looks great, with a practical layout inside and room for four in comfort.

The feeling of space cannot be overstated.

Driving the EV6 requires a change to driving habits as does planning to recharge. Range isn’t bad though.

This car could almost convince me to buy an EV, almost