Combining cutting-edge technology with a striking design, impressive performance and sustainability, the Kia EV6 GT-Line is undoubtedly a choice that commands respect as an electric vehicle (EV).
Nicely sized and costing RM319,668 (on the road without insurance), this five-seater sports utility vehicle (SUV) blends practicality, comfort and performance into one comprehensive product.
The EV6 can linger for longer on roads if driven sanely to provide some decent city-going loiter times with its 77.4kWh Lithium-ion battery pack.
Comfort and sporty exhilaration seem to be conjoined here and its performance can be argued as almost heart-stopping.
Design
Turning heads is what this EV6 does best with its sleek futuristic design cues that are infused with modern aesthetics, this SUV certainly stands out among its peers, especially in Aurora Black Pearl which simply appeals in a naughty way.
Flanked by LED lighting with integrated daytime runners, the front grille is bold with crisp lines on the hood that contrast against its wavy sheet metal.
The rear end has a fast-back design to help match its aerodynamics with performance and with plenty of “go” juice to be had with this one, it becomes quite apt, but more on that later.
It quickly becomes clear that the South Korean carmaker has invested a lot of thought and effort to allow both aspects of performance and efficiency to shine through while also integrating its door handles into the bodywork so as not to disturb the overall looks.
Not to worry though, those flush door handles will pop out upon unlocking the vehicle.
Be it the front or the rear, the EV6 presents itself with a wide stance.
The rear, with its unified light bar, enhances this notion while its muscular rear haunches suggest a perpetual readiness to catapult itself forward and a low-down (almost wedge-like) front end seems always at the ready to claw at corners.
Interior
Stepping inside, occupants will be greeted by a spacious cabin that’s anything but shy in showing off a minimalist yet modern design.
Premium best describes the black-out interior that shouts spaciousness with its layout and there’s plenty of attention to detail to help emphasise this through its use of metal surfaces with a brushed effect while the use of grey and white adds contrast during the day.
Once the sun goes down, the interior seems to come alive with blue ambient lighting along the dashboard, door card and centre armrest while white is used to to illuminate the controls.
This includes the two-spoked multi-function steering wheel which harks back to an era of the sixties and seventies commonly adopted by American cars, meanwhile indicating the level of influence from that region of the world.
Overall, there’s an inherent sense of sophistication and technological innovation that’s enhanced with crisp 12.3-inch screens for the touch-sensitive infotainment unit and instrument cluster - the latter being responsive and highly intuitive to use.
Comfort is enriched by the inclusion of ventilated seats that help keep nerves cooled when in “hot pursuit” (excuse the pun) with all controls within easy reach for a high level of ergonomics.
Even the doors provide a wide berth.
Quiet best describes the experience inside and this allows for the premium 14-speaker Meridian surround sound system to shine through with its colourful highs incorporated with well-defined mids and lows.
Wind-noise intrusion comes in somewhere past the 100kph mark thanks to those interestingly designed external mirrors.
Although the driver gets an added memory function, both front-powered seats are practically identical in form and function with both having a massage function as well as lumbar adjustment to promote better spine health.
For those at the rear, shoulder and leg-room are aplenty while hauling large luggage pieces for that weekend getaway and three well-built adults on the rear bench (with adjustable backrest).
Access to USB ports is easy for those at the rear with just an arm’s length away, rather than requiring a peak down low, they are conveniently located on the inside sections of the front seats.
For those who prefer high-end smartphones, wireless charging has been included as well as a handy three-pin plug to help with charging duties if faced with the inconvenience of not having a dedicated AC/DC charger.
Performance
The EV6 will not disappoint when out and about.
Although smooth and docile while in traffic, punching the throttle will reveal the devilishly delectable supercar-like response that’ll suction the body onto the backrest – perfect for those who enjoy a go-fast experience without the guilt of high emissions from a high-powered, high-displacement combustion engine.
The acceleration can be more addictive than sugar and though it can provide an impressive dose of dopamine after a long day at the office, such an experience isn’t recommended for weak-hearted individuals.
The amazing experience has lingered for a long time that this over 2.0-tonne SUV can carve through sparse traffic easier than a hot knife through butter. Simply effortless.
The dual-motor setup simply delivers a superb amount of traction for a confidence-inspiring drive when carving up corners with a system’s output of 320hp and 605Nm of instantaneous torque.
The EV6 will remain relatively flat around corners for an SUV of this size, and the brakes will bite tremendously well when at speed.
Chassis control is well-managed with pitch and roll kept relatively minimal for an SUV of this size.
Steering control has a decent amount of heft for that added stability along with a sharp response when at speed before lightening up when in tighter confines.
Lane changes are aided through a camera feed that allows the driver to peek down at the instrument cluster.
Combining this with the adaptive cruise control function (with Stop-Go function) makes for a safer and more convenient drive.
Over uneven road surfaces, the EV6 will soak it all up, even if it does roll on 20-inch wheels wrapped by 255/45 series tyres with a noticeable lack of vibrations invading the cabin.
Although the battery will drain the more one dwells on its peak performance, as will all EVs and internal combustion engine vehicles do, there was plenty of charge to go around.
Covering almost 300km, with light and heavy-footed prods, the EV6’s battery pack was drained down to about 20% state of charge and if driven more responsibly, we would wager that this EV would be able to provide comfortably over 300km of range.
The cons
The EV6 is fantastic in its provisions to a point where it could be deemed “complete”, but yes, there are a few niggles to its seemingly bullet-proof disposition.
For starters, the pop-out door handles – after a considerable amount of usage, will seem somewhat lost in fitment – a definite point for Kia to address.
With a sport-back design at the rear, for obvious aerodynamic purposes, it ate into headroom considerably.
Furthermore, the centrally located placement of the front USB ports - almost at the bowels of the dashboard, wasn’t too difficult to access compared to some brands, but there was some difficulty at the end of the day.
Although the EV6’s size may be daunting at first, the in-cabin experience seems to magnify it further as it struggles to fit contently within a parking spot, but that’s just a problem for those who aren’t as well versed with handling large vehicles.
Thankfully, there’s Remote Smart Park Assist for the less confident.
Conclusion
The EV6 may have some niggles to contend with, but with its plethora of equipment coupled with safety, practicality and outright performance and efficiency, it becomes an all-in-one deal that makes this battery-powered SUV a delight to have.
Relieving possession of the EV6 was a difficult moment in that it had all the necessary amenities that made it such a joy to review, and this will undoubtedly be the same for many as they appreciate its on-road abilities.
From its smooth, docile and quiet-natured ways, the EV6 can swap it all instantly to become a power-hungry hooligan that’ll drain power as quickly as the foot desires.
But drive it more responsibly and the EV6 will reward you with a good amount of efficiency for those memorable long-haul moments with friends and/or family.
The EV6 will not only get the deed done but also do so with safety in mind with its long list of safety equipment that’s further bolstered by the inclusion of advanced driver assist systems.
If you’re considering an electric vehicle, then look no further than the EV6 GT-Line which provides not only all that’s necessary but also the wow factor that the heart desires.
SPECIFICATIONS
Kia EV6 GT-Line (AWD)
Electric Motor: Permanent Magnet Synchronous
Front motor: 74kW and 255Nm
Rear motor: 65kW and 350Nm
Combined systems output: 320hp and 605Nm
Battery: 77.4kWh Lithium-ion
Range: 506km (WLTP)
Brakes: Front ventilated discs; rear solid disc
Suspension: Front MacPherson struts; rear multi-link
Kerb weight: 2,105kg
Features: Seven airbags, anti-lock braking system with multi-collision braking system, electronic stability programme, traction control, electronic brakeforce distribution, hill descent control, electric parking brake system, tyre pressure monitoring system, 360-degree camera, auto-hold, adaptive cruise control with stop-go functionality, front collision warning, lane-keep assist, remote smart park assist, automatic emergency braking system, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot view monitor, driver attention warning, forward collision-avoidance assist, lane follow assist, keyless-entry with push-start button, one-touch power windows with anti-pinch, automatic dual-zone climate controls with B-pillar rear air vents, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, USB Type-C and USB-A ports (front and rear), automatic adaptive LED headlights with high beam assist, LED daytime running lights with integrated dynamic turn signals, LED rear light cluster with dynamic turn signals, three-pin charging cable, Vehicle-to-Load power supply function, flat-bottom dual-spoke multi-function steering wheel, powered front seats with lumbar adjustment, ventilation and massage function, driver-memory seat function, wireless charger, dual-zone automatic climate controls, 14-speaker Meridian sound system with 12.3-inch colour touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice assist, 20-inch wheels with 255/45 series tyres and tyre-repair kit
Price: RM319,668 (on-the-road without insurance)
Vehicle warranty: Five years or 150,000km (whichever comes first)
Battery warranty: Seven years or 150,000km (whichever comes first)
