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The Greenest Car of 2024 Isn’t an EV2023 Kia EV6: Doing Electric Right
What do our experts think of the 2023 Kia EV6? We look at powertrain, interior options, trim levels, and more. Find out our thoughts here.
What’s New for the 2023 Kia EV6?
Kia continues to be a strong contender in the all-wheel-drive-capable electric SUV segment, and in its second model year, the 2023 Kia EV6 gives a strong showing with a few changes over the 2022 Kia EV6.
At the top of the lineup an all-new high-performance GT model makes its debut. It is the most powerful production vehicle Kia has ever made with 576 horsepower accelerating to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. The entry-level Light trim has been discontinued from the 2023 lineup making the rear-wheel-drive Wind model the cheapest EV6.
2023 Kia EV6 – kia.com | Shop 2023 Kia EV6 on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Spacious Cabin
Quick acceleration
Loads of standard safety features
Top trim lacking key comfort features
Bumpy ride
Limited cargo space
Great powertrain configurations that maximize battery range
2023 Kia Specs
- 225 horsepower from base engine
- 258 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 3 available trims
- 24.4 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 50.2 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- Standard highway driving assist
- 12.3-inch infotainment display
- 10 year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty
2023 Kia EV6 Powertrain
A single electric motor is mounted on the rear axle for rear-wheel-drive models making either 167 horsepower with the smaller 58.0-kWh battery or 225 horsepower with the larger 77.4-kWh battery. All-wheel-drive models have motors on both the front and rear axles and produce either 320 or 576 horsepower.
The new range-topping GT trim will get you the 576 horsepower, and according to Kia only takes 3.4 seconds to reach 60 mph. For a sporty, thrilling ride, the Kia EV6 is one of the best electric SUVs on the market. Its handling abilities compete with the Tesla Model 3 with a steering wheel that gives plenty of feedback and the ability to take corners with ease. All versions boast instant acceleration with plenty of power for merging and passing on the highway.
The suspension on the EV6 isn’t as comfortable as some of its competitors. Road imperfections are picked up and sent straight into the cabin causing every pothole and bump in the road to be felt by passengers. The cabin is also noisier than many of its rivals, making highway driving more of a chore than it should be.
2023 Kia EV6 Battery Range
Two battery sizes are offered for the Kia EV6: a 58.0-kWh and a 77.4-kWh pack. The smaller, standard battery is rated by the EPA to get a range of 232 miles. The larger, long-range battery is rated up to 310 miles. The range drops to 206 miles per charge on the performance-oriented GT model even though it comes with a larger battery.
When plugged in to a 350-kW fast-charger, the EV6 can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in under 18 minutes and can add 70 miles in less than 5 minutes. The 11-kW onboard charger will charge the battery from 10 to 100 percent in 7 hours when hooked up to a Level 2 outlet.
While the EV6 is compatible with the latest high-powered DC fast-charging stations, it should be noted that these powerful 350-kW chargers are still pretty rare. Most DC fast-charging stations out there can provide 50 kW to 125 kW, but it’s good to know that the EV6 will be compatible on the more powerful chargers of the future.
The single-motor EV6 has a combined EPA rating of up to 117 MPGe. The dual-motor with standard 19-inch wheels is rated at 109 MPGe and at 96 MPGe combined with the optional 2os. The combined estimate for the high-performance GT model drops to 79 MPGe.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
Inside the Kia EV6 you’ll find a nice blend of practicality and futuristic design. A central touch panel that switches between audio and climate functions creates a more simplistic and minimalistic look that keeps everything digital while still maintaining ease of operation. We like the floating center console that allows an abundance of storage solutions with the large bin underneath it.
The two-tone, two-spoke steering wheel and gold accents throughout the cockpit give it a luxury, upscale feel. The wheelbase of the EV6 is as long as the three-row mid-size Kia Telluride, and combined with its flat floor, gives ample room for passengers. The EV6’s sloping roofline cuts down on headroom for taller passengers as well as decreases rear visibility.
The EV6 offers 24.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row. That increases to 50.2 cubic feet with the back seats folded down. Other electric SUVs provide more room but it’s sufficient for everyday use. The front trunk offers a very small amount of storage space—enough for a laptop bag, but not much more.
If more cargo space is what you need it could be worth waiting for the 2024 EV9, Kia’s midsize all-electric SUV that made its debut this spring at the New York Auto Show.
Entertainment & Technology
The EV6’s infotainment system is controlled through a 12.3-inch touchscreen that is responsive but will take some practice to master the menus. While having the audio and climate functions controlled through one screen creates a clean look, it does require navigation through multiple menus and can be harder to operate while driving.
The system includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, voice commands, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The 14-speaker Meridian stereo system will be just fine for your daily podcast fix, but when you switch to the tunes it can’t compete with the Bose system that many of its rivals are equipped with.
Safety Features
The Kia EV6 was named a Top Safety Pick+ and received the highest rating of Superior for its standard front crash prevention systems by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
All EV6 models come standard an impressive list of features including forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, front and rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, highway driving assist, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, lane-tracing assist, driver-attention monitoring, automatic high-beam headlights, rear-seat alert, front and rear parking sensors, and a rearview camera.
Available driver-assistance features include a surround-view parking camera system, remote park assist, a blind-spot camera, reverse automatic emergency braking, head-up display, intersection assist, evasive-steering assist, and automatic lane change.
2023 Kia EV6 Trims & Pricing
Wind – $48,700
The Wind trim comes standard with a 225-horsepower electric powertrain and rear-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available and adds a second motor producing 320 horsepower.
Standard features include synthetic leather upholstery, heated and ventilated eight-way power-adjustable front seats, and dual-zone automatic climate control.
The Wind trim also includes a 12.3-inch touch screen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, navigation, HD radio, Bluetooth, satellite radio, voice recognition, a 14-speaker Meridian stereo,
You can keep your smart devices powered up and connected with standard tech includes wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, three front and two rear USB ports.
Convenience features include a hands-free power liftgate, proximity keyless entry, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
The all-wheel drive EV6 Wind starts at $52,600 and comes standard with heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel. For $1,500 more an optional Technology package adds a blind-spot camera, a surround-view parking camera, remote park assist, and reverse automatic emergency braking.
GT-Line – $52,900
The GT-Line trim also comes with standard rear-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive. In addition to the Wind trim features, it adds everything in the Technology package as well as a head-up display, a universal garage door opener, a sunroof, automatically deploying and retracting door handles, intersection assist, evasive-steering assist, and automatic lane change.
20-inch wheels are an option on the all-wheel drive model. There are two upholstery packages available for the GT-Line—either synthetic leather seats with a synthetic suede trim, or synthetic suede seats with a synthetic leather trim.
GT – $61,600
The GT trim comes standard with a 576-horsepower powertrain and all-wheel drive. In addition to its stronger powertrain, GT adds an electronic sport-tuned suspension, adaptive suspension dampers, an electronic limited-slip differential, 21-inch wheels, and larger brakes.
The GT trim gets a bit of a downgrade with only manually adjustable front seats available and faux suede and synthetic leather upholstery. For a more in-depth look, check out our hands-on impressions of the all-new Kia EV6 GT trim.
Before you begin your search for a new Kia EV6, be sure to check out our New Car Incentives article for a comprehensive list of all the leasing options, finance offers, and other specials being offered.
Warranties
Every EV6 comes with Kia’s competitive limited warranty that covers five years or 60,000 miles and a powertrain warranty that covers 10 years or 100,000 miles. There is no complimentary scheduled maintenance.
What we think
2023 Kia EV6 – kia.com | Shop 2023 Kia EV6 on Carsforsale.com
The Kia EV6 is a great EV option for those that want the extra leg room of an SUV matched with the quick get-up and go of a sports car. The handling of this electric beauty is top notch and while we wish the suspension was more up to snuff, it’s still worth considering for an everyday car.
While It’s tempting to go with the more powerful GT, for an EV, driving range wins out over horsepower for us. Save a little and go with the dual motor, all-wheel drive Wind trim with standard 19-inch wheels. You’ll get all-weather traction, 320 horsepower, and a driving range of up to 282 miles per charge.
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