Rick O drives a Kia EV6 GT Line S AWD 2022 electric car.

This is Rick’s second electric car, he’s owned the EV6 from new and drives between 5,000-10,000 miles annually. The current mileage of the car is between 500-1,000 miles and he achieves 260 miles range from a full charge.

Rate your EV6 out of 5.

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Why did you choose this electric car?

We needed a family car to replace our fossil-burning Volvo. As soon as I saw the pre-launch pictures and specification of the EV6 I was pretty sure it would fit the bill. Inside there is plenty of space for 5 adults, although the middle rear seat isn’t quite as comfortable as the rest, despite the flat floor.

The boot is plenty big enough for daily use and the car looks really good too. Performance is amazing for a 2 tonne car and a real-world 250+ mile range is great, especially as it can charge on a DC rapid charger at over 200kW (if you can find one that fast). The 7 year warranty on all Kia cars is also a big bonus and was a major factor in my decision making process.

Positives – List 3 or more reasons why you love this electric car.

• Performance – no lag when you need to get past a slower vehicle. Just put your foot down and it takes off like a scalded cat.
• Looks – subjective I know but I really like the design both outside and in
• Range – claimed range for the AWD model is over 280 miles. You could achieve that (and more) if the conditions were right but realistically with a mix of different road types and speeds, 250 to 260 miles (in summer) between charges is more like it. I’m expecting around 200 to 220 miles in winter (the heat pump helps), still plenty though.
• Tech – plenty of tech to keep you entertained. It has everything as standard that many cars costing much more only list as options
• Quiet – I know EVs are quiet but the EV6 seems to be on another level. The road noise at 70mph is not really noticeable
• Towing – the EV6 can tow up to 1,600kgs, more than enough for my needs.

Negatives – List 3 or more things that you really don’t like about this electric car.

• Steering – it doesn’t have a very good turning circle, well, not compared to my wife’s Honda e anyway. It’s OK though.
• No leather – the UK gets no choice of interiors. I’d have liked a light-coloured interior with leather seats but the GT Line S is dark. The sunroof helps with light but the choice is a bit disappointing.
• Paint colours – again, the UK gets a very limited colour palette. I’d have liked the green but that’s not an option in the UK.
• This is a very wide car – OK most of the time but it doesn’t leave much room to get in and out of the doors in a standard UK parking space.

Have you experienced any faults with the car? If so, what have they been?

None so far.

What are the standout tech features of the car?

• V2L – the ability to run electrical devices from the car initially seemed like a gimmick but it’s actually very useful. No more extension leads needed when hoovering it out.
• The sat nav is really good, better than in any other car I’ve owned
• Charging speed – I don’t know of any car in this price bracket (apart from other Kia/Hyundai cars) that can charge at over 200kW.

Surprise us! Tell us something people wouldn’t readily know about this electric car.

It gets a lot of attention. Nearly every time I park it people come up to me wanting to know what it is and what I think about it.

What electric car are you interested in next and why?

Microlino – I love the retro looks of the Isetta-inspired design but with modern running gear and EV power. Ideal for running around town.

What home charging unit do you use? Would you recommend it to others and why?

We have a myenergi 3-phase zappi. It’s been good so far. What I really like is its ability to integrate with solar so you can charge the car for free on a nice day but you can schedule charging during cheap rate hours when the weather’s not so good.

Rate your home charging unit out of 5.

What home electricity supplier & tariff do you use? Would you recommend it to others and why?

Guernsey Electricity Economy 12 it’s good but only available here in Guernsey I’m afraid.

Rate your electricity supplier out of 5.

What public charging networks would you recommend to others and why?

The only one I have successfully used so far was Pod Point. That was a 7kW AC charger at a hotel in Basingstoke that I stayed at last month. They had something like 10 stations in the car park and they all worked. Better still, they were free to use!

List your top 3 favourite public charging networks (in order of preference).

Pod Point – I’ve not used any other than Pod Point so far so can’t really comment.

Who do you insure your electric car with? Would you recommend them to others and why?

NFU Mutual – I’ve been with them for over a decade. Pricing is reasonable and they pay up when you need to claim. They also include free breakdown cover for any vehicle up to 10 years old.

Rate your insurance provider out of 5.

Estimate how much money you save per month owning and running an electric car compared to a petrol/diesel car.

£120

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