Used Kia EV6 2021-present review

If our What Car? Car of the Year Awards are anything to go by, you can't go wrong with an electric (EV) Kia.

You see, before the Kia EV6 rocked up, we awarded our 2019 top prize to a top-notch electric SUV, the Kia e-Niro. The Korean firm was once again victorious when, in 2022, we handed our number one trophy to, you guessed it, the EV6 – the brand's new flagship EV at the time.

Engines and performance: In entry-level RWD (rear-wheel drive) form, the Kia EV6 has one 226bhp motor driving the rear wheels. The dual-motor AWD (all-wheel drive) version has a second electric motor powering the front wheels, increasing power to 321bhp. A 577bhp GT version joined the line-up in 2022.

On the road, the RWD car can see off the 0-60mph sprint in 6.9sec – faster than the rival VW ID 4 and Nissan Ariya but nowhere near as rapid as the Tesla Model Y Long Range. The EV6 RWD can officially do up to 328 miles on a full charge (depending on the trim level), although 230-270 miles is more realistic in the real world.

Meanwhile, the all-wheel-drive model is even quicker and a match for the Model Y Long Range. At our private test track, we timed one accelerating from 0-60mph in just 5.0sec. You pay for that extra performance with a slightly shorter range, but only by around 15 miles.

The GT is a real rocket: 0-62mph in 3.5sec and a 162mph top speed. On top of that, it gets upgraded wheels, tyres, suspension and brakes. Naturally, its range is reduced in comparison with its siblings.

Ride and handling: In pursuit of building a two-tonne-plus car that handles well, Kia has employed firm suspension – firmer than the mechanically related Genesis GV60, for instance. At low speeds, the EV6 can thump over potholes and the ride can feel a bit fidgety at higher speeds, but these impacts are often met with good cushioning, so it's far from uncomfortable.

And, as we touched upon, the benefit of this suspension set-up is good agility, composure and body control in the bends. You're still aware of the EV6's hefty size and weight, especially on a bendy country road, but it's remarkably sharp for what it is.

Next to an early Hyundai Ioniq 5 – before the suspension was revised in 2023 – the EV6 offers night-and-day better handling. It's also better to drive than the Ariya.

Interior and practicality: Inside, the EV6 has a loftier driving position than the Tesla Model 3 saloon, but you won't find yourself looking the driver of a Range Rover in the eye. Some of our testers also expressed a desire to be sat lower than the driver's seat is able to go – taller people might feel unusually close to the roof in a rather upright driving position.

On the other hand, you'll need really long legs to struggle for legroom in the rear, with the vast majority of people having lots of room to stretch. Head room isn't as generous, but you'll have to be six-foot-plus to take notice.

Considering the EV6's size, its 490-litre boot isn’t all that remarkable. Even so, we managed to fit seven carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf – the same number as we got into the Audi Q4 e-tron, but one less than the Ariya.

All versions come with a curved 12.3in touchscreen positioned conveniently high up on the middle of the dashboard. It’s a relatively intuitive operating system, so it's not too distracting to use while you're driving. Everything looks suitably upmarket inside with plenty of gloss-black and rubberised surfaces, and everything feels well screwed together. All the 'leather' is vegan, rather than the real thing.

Trims and equipment: EV6 Air models are pretty well equipped, with 19in alloys, climate control, rain-sensing wipers, heated door mirrors, adaptive cruise control, a heated steering wheel and heated front seats with driver lumbar support adjustment.

If you upgrade to a GT-Line car, you’ll get some sportier styling details, electronically adjustable front seats, adaptive LED headlights, tinted rear windows and the ability to allow the charging port to double as a 3.5kW three-pin plug socket, which you can use to boil a kettle or even charge another electric car.

GT-Line S models get larger 20in alloys, exterior door handles that automatically pop out, ventilated front seats and heated outer rear seats.

Facelift: The EV6 was given an update in 2024, with revised styling inside and out to bring it in-line with the rest of the Kia range. This means it received new headlights, taillights and bumpers, as well as a new curved dashboard display. A bigger 84kWh (total capacity) battery also lifted the official range to 361 miles for the RWD car and 339 miles for the AWD model.

"The regenerative braking system in the EV6 is one of the best I've tried. The steering wheel-mounted paddles make it a doddle to use." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

Interested in buying a used Kia EV6? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

Prices for a used Kia EV6 start at around £16,000 for the RWD version in Air trim, with GT-Line rising to around £17,000 and around £21,000 for GT-Line S. The full-on GT starts at around £32,000 – earliest examples are 2023 models. Spend between £26,000 and £32,000 on cars from 2024 and over that for 2025 models.

Check the value of a used EV6 with What Car? Valuations

Find used Kia cars for sale

Charging

The EV6 RWD can officially do up to 328 miles on a full charge (depending on the trim level), although 230-270 miles is more realistic in the real world.

All versions of the EV6 can charge at speeds of up to 238kW, but because of the fairly low number of super-fast public chargers in the UK right now, you’re more likely to be charging at 50-100kW. At the lower end of this range, a 10-80% charge will take around 70 minutes.

Road tax

As of writing, the EV6 is subject to the standard flat rate fee of £195 per year. For cars registered on and after 1 April 2025 with a list price of more than £40,000 when new, they'll also be subject to the £425 luxury car tax from years two to six of the car's life. Check out the latest road tax details here.

Insurance and servicing

Insurance groups range from a quite high 34 to 40 for the top-spec cars.

Servicing costs in year two or after 20,000 miles will be £250 at a Kia main dealer. After four years or 40,000, the cost rises to £360. In year six, the costs are the same as in year two, and in year eight the costs will be the same as in year four.

Warranty

From new, every EV6 comes with a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty that covers most components, including the drive battery. The Ioniq 5 gets eight years of cover on the battery but only five years (and unlimited mileage) on the rest of the car.

Safety

The EV6 achieved a five-star rating for safety when it was appraised by Euro NCAP, not least because it comes with plenty of active safety kit to help you avoid accidents in the first place.

All models have automatic emergency braking (AEB) that can recognise pedestrians and cyclists as well as cars, along with lane-keeping assistance, intelligent speed-limit assist and a system that monitors the attentiveness of the driver.

If you avoid entry-level Air trim, you’ll also get blind-spot collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic alert. GT-Line S models have more safety aids, including a blind-spot camera feed displayed behind the steering wheel.

You get a reasonable number of active safety aids to help you avoid an accident in the first place, though, including automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance.

As for security, you get an alarm, deadlocks and locking wheel nuts as standard from new.

Reliability

The Kia EV6 has shown reasonable reliability in our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, based on real-world feedback from owners.

Many drivers reported a fault-free experience, even after years of use. However, others faced minor but recurring electrical issues – most commonly with the infotainment system, 12V battery and charging ports. These often led to dashboard warnings or unexpected breakdowns. Faults with the keyless entry system were also mentioned.

Most owners found Kia’s dealer service helpful, but some said electrical problems took more than one visit to fix.

Discover more about used Kia EV6 reliability on our dedicated page.

Motor and battery

We'd stick with the entry-level RWD version, because it's the most affordable one to buy, yet sports the most range. Performance is good, too.

Specification

We'd go for GT-Line trim. It's similarly priced to entry-level Air on the used market, but adds sportier styling details, electronically adjustable front seats, adaptive LED headlights and tinted rear windows. That's on top of an already generous kit list, which includes adaptive cruise control, a heated steering wheel and heated front seats with driver lumbar support adjustment.

Whichever trim you do go for, we'd advise looking for one that's been specced up from new with the optional heat pump for more efficient warming of the interior in colder temperatures.

Our favourite Kia EV6: RWD GT-Line

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is mechanically similar to the EV6, just missing out by not being quite so good dynamically and also not as spacious.

You could try the VW ID 4. It handles with more composure, but isn't as plush or huge inside. Used prices are roughly on a par.

The Skoda Enyaq is a better bet. It's roomier than the ID 4, although not as big as the EV6, and it's a good buy used.

For decent electric range and performance, but less comfort, there's the Ford Mustang Mach-e. Have pockets that are deep if you're considering one, though.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter here

If you're interested in finding a used Kia EV6 or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.