Kia EV6 Air review: Large electric SUV's makeover brings longer range and better tech

Following a delay – it’s been on sale in South Korea for nearly two years – the updated Kia EV6 has arrived, with a larger battery, updated technology inclusions and a very mild price increase. EV6 is available in four model grades – Air RWD, GT-Line RWD, GT-Line AWD and GT AWD – with the entry-grade Air RWD the one we’re driving this time.

How much does the Kia EV6 Air RWD cost to buy?

With a starting price of $72,660 before on-road costs, it’s the most affordable way to park an EV6 in your driveway. And, with 168kW and 350Nm on tap, EV6 Air has more capability than you’ll need, justifying the entry-grade as the one to buy.

Within the four-model grade range, there’s RWD and AWD with standard equipment increasing as you step up through the range. Next step up from the Air RWD we’re testing is the GT-Line RWD price from $79,660, then there’s the GT-Line AWD priced from $87,660 and finally the GT AWD priced from $99,660. All prices are before on-road costs are factored in.

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On paper at least, as is often the case with expensive electric vehicles, the entry point to the range looks to be the smart purchase decision, doing everything you need it to do, without any of the extras you don’t really need. EV6 features a revised front end design, sharper, and more in keeping with current Kia design philosophy, while there are new wheel designs, a new LED tail light signature and redesigned rear bumpers. Subtle changes, certainly, but park the new EV6 next to the old model, and it’s obvious there’s a new kid in town.

Despite the high price tag, competition in this segment is strong, with the most obvious standout being the popular Tesla Model Y. Sibling Hyundai has the Ioniq 5 (riding on the same platform as the EV6, while there’s also a few left-field options including Polestar 4, BYD Sealion 7 and Toyota BZ4X. If you’re considering an EV6, you should definitely take the Model Y for a test drive.

How fast is the Kia EV6 Air RWD?

The key to the appeal of the Air RWD comes in the form of the larger (84kWh thanks to improved energy density) battery, which brings with it an increased driving range. Generating 168kW and 350Nm, the Air can now cover a claimed 560km, up from the previous model’s 528km claimed range. The single electric motor is situated at the rear axle, which is why RWD is the result.

Speaking of capability and functionality, the interior household power outlet also adds vehicle to load capability, something that’s becoming more and more common in EVs, and makes sense, too. Kia claims a 0-100km/h run of 7.7 seconds.

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Another factor in the Air’s favour is the fitment of 19-inch alloy wheels, rather than the 20 or 21-inch rims available further up the model line. Allowing the provision of chubbier 235/55R19 Nexen N Fera Sport tyres, the 19s assist the EV6 to iron out nasty road surfaces with ease, ensuring comfortable bump absorption on any road. It’s still firm, but with an emphasis on comfort, which is valuable when you’re negotiating the inner-city patchwork of dodgy road surfaces.

Make no mistake, the EV6 is a big car and initially, you’ll notice that physical size from the driver’s seat. Its less a fact that it feels heavy through the steering wheel and brakes, more so that it’s a large vehicle you have to move around and negotiate through tight streets. The payoff is the cabin space, but if you’re looking for something that feels compact, the EV6 isn’t the EV for you.

Only the GT variant gets an Australian-specific steering and suspension tune, but the Air RWD remains an excellent EV around town, with the response, composure and chassis control we expect of Kia product.

This facelift doesn’t transform the way the EV6 drives, and it wasn’t meant to. It was, however, meant to bring the styling in line with newer Kia models, and add technology that is now expected. A slightly longer range is a bonus. Therefore, it remains as competent to drive as it ever was without a huge price increase from the model it replaces. Key for mine with Kia EVs, is they don’t require a complete reset in the way you approach driving as some electric vehicles can. This is very much a Kia, it just happens to have an electric powertrain.

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How fast can the Kia EV6 Air RWD charge?

First up, efficiency. Against the 15.9kWh/100km claim, we achieved 15.8kWh/100km over 300km of testing, with approximately 20 percent of that testing on a 100km/h highway stretch. Impressive use of its available charge in other words.

Based on Hyundai and Kia’s global electric modular platform called E-GMP, the EV6 features the same 800-volt charging capacity, and can accept 240kW when connected to a 350kW charger. Plugged into a 150kW Ampol fast charger during our test, the EV6 zipped up to 120kW and stayed there until it tapered down toward the end of the charge session.

Kia claims 10 to 80 per cent charging in as little as 18 minutes, and it is ready for 11kW home charging if you have access to to three-phase power.

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Is the Kia EV6 Air RWD practical?

Inside the cabin, EV6 now runs Kia’s latest ccNC infotainment software suite, which brings with it wireless smartphone connectivity and Kia Connect telematics. There are additional USB-C charging ports, updated lane-following assist and a new steering wheel – which is a two-spoke design in the Air we’re testing. Gone is the finger-print and grease-attracting gloss black material on the centre console, which to our way of thinking, is a smart change.

The other cabin change of note is the absence of cloth, now replaced with synthetic leather across the range. You do miss out on electric seat adjustment, for example, in the base grade, with the Air getting manual seats, although there is electric lumbar adjustment for the driver. Do you need electric seat adjustment? Wheels doesn’t think so. And it’s another reason this most affordable variant is a smart choice.

The EV6 cabin is a good one, even in base trim, with excellent visibility, a broad glasshouse and genuine comfort across all four major seating positions. The flat floor and legroom in the second row mean it’s a legitimate four-up adult cruiser, with long drives an option too, thanks both to the driving range, and the space on offer. Even with tall occupants up front, there’s comfort in the second row for tall adults. It’s a big crossover, but it actually is inside the cabin.

Even in its most affordable guise, EV6 features a big 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, which is clear, responsive and easy to use, and while wireless CarPlay worked seamlessly for us on test, we preferred the cabled connection, which was also faultless. There’s a second 12.3-inch screen for the driver, and if you like tech gizmos, the EV6 won’t disappoint.

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What warranty covers the Kia EV6?

Kia covers the EV6 – as it does it’s whole range – with a seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty for private buyers. The battery pack is covered by an eight-year/150,000km warranty.

Service intervals are 12 months or 15,000km, and you can cap your servicing prices up to seven years, and also prepay if you wish to. Plans are available for three or five years, too, if you’d prefer a shorter prepaid plan. For seven years, then, the total servicing cost is $2055. The cost for three-years is $728 or five-years for $1391.

What’s the verdict on the Kia EV6?

This facelift doesn’t transform the way the EV6 drives, and it wasn’t meant to. It does bring the styling in line with newer Kia models, and add technology that is now expected. A slightly longer range is a bonus. It remains a good thing to drive, too, without a huge price increase from the model it replaces.

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Specs: Kia EV6 Air RWD