Kia EV6 hatchback - Interior & comfort

Kia has done a sterling job of keeping mechanical noises from the suspension and electric motor out of the interior, so the EV6 is near-silent at lower speeds. In the single-motor version, it helps that the motor is located far away from the driver, under the boot. There's still just a very faint motor whine in the all-wheel-drive version, but it isn’t likely to be an issue for those coming from a petrol or diesel car. 

Once speed picks up, the most noticeable noise is from the tyres – especially on the GT version thanks to its wider wheels. The EV6 is tuned for a sportier feel and the suspension is reasonably firm, so sharp bumps can be felt in the car. The trade-off, however, is sharp handling; this is one of the most engaging electric cars on sale.

Kia EV6 dashboard

The dashboard is focused around a pair of 12.3-inch curved displays, both of which are easily legible thanks to sharp graphics. One houses the instrument displays, while the second is a touchscreen for media, settings and navigation, with a ledge beneath it that comes in useful for steadying your hand while interacting with the display. Below this, there's a neat touch-sensitive controller that can be switched between the climate control and audio system with a swipe.

Its design and materials also feel in keeping with a car costing more than £40,000. Fabrics, gloss-black trim and chrome all look the part and, in keeping with the environmentally friendly theme, the seat upholstery uses the equivalent recycled material of 111 plastic bottles per car. A large, augmented-reality head-up display is also available to project useful information ahead of the driver's line of sight.

Equipment

Standard equipment levels are generous, with LED exterior lighting, 19-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, folding door mirrors and automatic wipers from the off. There's also artificial leather seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, ambient lighting and dual-zone climate control. 

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GT-Line adds front parking sensors, tinted glass, upgraded front seats which can fully recline, aluminium pedals and wireless smartphone charging. Upgrade to GT-Line S, and 20-inch wheels are added, as well as a powered tailgate, a panoramic sunroof, heated rear seats, a 14-speaker Meridian stereo and the head-up display.

Above this sits the EV6 GT, which not only brings a chunk more power, but some extra kit too. This mostly centres around performance parts; the GT gets bigger brakes, re-tuned suspension and an electronic limited-slip differential. UK buyers don’t get the option of a panoramic roof like on cheaper EV6s, either, in an effort to reduce weight and improve performance.

One interesting feature on the EV6 is called vehicle-to-load (V2L), which makes it possible for the EV6 to act like a giant battery charger on wheels. Items like phones and laptops can be charged using a three-pin plug, or owners can even use the EV6 to power a 55-inch TV and air-conditioner for around 24 hours, which could be handy in a power cut, or for off-grid camping.​