Kia EV6 review – Electric motor, drive & performance

The Kia EV6 shares a platform with the Hyundai Ioniq 5, a model that scooped our Best Family Electric Car for 2022. Like the Hyundai and rivals such as the Cupra Born, it comes with a few power options to suit different customers – including a bonkers 577bhp EV6 GT.

But the good news is you don’t need to spend upwards of £60,000 to get one of the sharpest handling EVs on the market. Even the entry-level EV6 drives well, feeling slightly more engaging than the Hyundai. The EV6 can cover ground quickly, with firm suspension keeping everything under control. The Kia's lower roofline also gives it a sportier feel than the slightly taller Ioniq 5.

We weren’t overly enamoured with Sport mode for most situations, though, with its increased throttle and steering response making the car feel a little unruly.

Kia EV6 electric motor 

There's currently a choice of three power options on the EV6, which are unchanged since the facelift, although the larger, heavier batteries mean performance is slightly affected – still, all versions remain more than punchy enough. The range kicks off with a single-motor version with 225bhp and rear-wheel-drive, while spending a bit more gets you a second motor on the front axle for all-wheel-drive – boosting power to 320bhp. Finally, at the top of the range, sits the 577bhp EV6 GT – the flagship EV6 but also the most powerful production Kia ever.

Our most recent test was the facelifted version of the dual-motor GT-Line S with 320bhp, plus a 0-62mph time of just 5.3 seconds and a top-speed of 114mph. Like before, it features direct, accurate steering which makes driving through urban areas a breeze for the most part. The thing is, it’s only when you need to carry out tighter manoeuvres that you realise just how big the EV6 really is – despite its rakish looks, the EV6 is almost as long as the Kia Sorento, which is a seven-seat SUV.

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The brakes feel good to use, with the transition between mechanical and regenerative braking almost imperceptible, giving it a natural feel. There are three levels to choose from which can be easily adjusted via the paddles on the steering wheel, and full one-pedal driving is available via an i-Pedal mode, which works well in stop-start traffic.

Hit a twisty country B-road and it’s the Kia EV6’s time to shine. Thanks to its stiffer suspension setup in comparison to the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the EV6 is nimble and well composed in its Normal driving setting, and we think it’s one of the best EVs to drive on the market. Change into Sport, though, and it’s overkill – the throttle is sharpened and steering response is increased, but that makes it feel too skittish and unkempt. Put it into Eco and the EV6 feels considerably more sluggish – we’d recommend keeping the Kia EV6 in Normal.

As a result of its driver-focused setup, the EV6 isn’t quite as comfortable as an Ioniq 5, but the ride improves at higher speeds where most of the road’s imperfections are nicely smoothed out. We think the rear-wheel drive model is maybe a little more comfortable thanks to its lighter weight, although the difference is almost imperceptible.

The EV6 does a good job of being a competent cruiser at motorway speeds because the ride feels settled and it’s very quiet from inside the cabin with very little wind and road noise, and hardly any whine from the motors.

We tried the entry-level rear-wheel drive version in pre-facelift guise, which is hardly slow, getting from 0-62mph in a respectable 7.3 seconds. That’s since been increased to 7.7 seconds, though we still reckon it’s more than fast enough for most buyers and the trade-off for longer range is more appealing. 

If performance is your number one priority, then take a look at the Kia EV6 GT. Using the same hardware as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N hot hatchback, the flagship Kia boasts a frankly astonishing amount of power and torque, plus plenty of performance add-ons – including bigger brakes, retuned suspension and a unique GT drive mode. It’s lightning fast with 577bhp and a 0-62mph time of 3.5 seconds and really good to drive, too, though its shorter range (263 miles) means it doesn’t quite live up to its ‘Grand Tourer’ billing. The big wheels and tyres affect refinement, too.