Martin J drives a Kia EV6 GT Line AWD 77kWh 2021 electric car.

This is Martin’s first 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 5,000-10,000 miles and he achieves 280 miles range from a full charge.

Rate your EV6 out of 5.

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Why did you choose this electric car?

I’d been thinking of changing to an EV since 2020, having driven hybrids from Toyota and Lexus since 2005. The Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2 were on my shortlist until the EV6 was announced in April 2021 and I placed a pre-reservation right away.

I wanted a car with close-to-300-miles range (I have a regular 240 mile journey) but it was the aesthetics of the EV6 which immediately enthused me. It’s a beautifully-resolved design, with terrific surfacing and proportions. The 800V architecture for fast charging and the strong performance, especially in AWD dual motor form, were added benefits.

Also, I was reassured by Kia’s 7-year warranty and their excellent track record of building reliable and efficient EVs with the e-Niro and Soul EV.

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

• The styling (see above)
• Build quality – on a par with Lexus and not a single rattle or squeak
• Performance – the RWD (which I test drove) was good but the AWD takes it to another level
• Handling and ride comfort are nicely judged. The EV6 is surprising fun to punt along a fast, twisty A or B road with well-weighted steering. The ride is firm but compliant.
• Charging speed – at a 350kW charger you won’t have time to finish a sandwich.
• Driving position – the most comfortable driver’s seat I’ve ever had, with 8-way power adjustment and memory.

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

This is difficult, there’s nothing I really don’t like about the EV6. There are however, some very minor irritations:

• Lack of rear wiper (see also several other EVs in this class, such as the I-PACE). At any speed over 30mph the aerodynamics keep the rear window astonishingly clear, even in heavy rain and spray. But at traffic lights the rear window will get wet again.
• The navigation screen graphics could be better and there’s a lack of custom options for screen colours
• Navigation-based battery preconditioning is not yet implemented and means that in cold temperatures the EV6 struggles to get to its maximum charging speed (though even then it’s faster than most other EVs)
• This is a big car, bigger than its svelte looks might suggest and in particular a wide one. You’ll find some parking spaces quite tight.

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

Some early EV6s, including mine, had issues with their heating systems. This was fixed by a replacement part and a software update.

What are the standout tech features of your EV6?

The infotainment system is good and very responsive. I’m aware that Android Auto requires a wired connection at the moment but I don’t use it, relying on the built in sat nav.

The driving assist features on the GT Line are generally unobtrusive and the lane keep and lane follow functions can be turned off quickly from the steering wheel if not required. My grade has Kia’s Highway Driving Assist which includes navigation-based smart cruise control and steering assist. The GT Line S adds HDA2, which includes lane change function with blind spot cameras.

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

It’s a Kia! I’m not being flippant, several people have said “I can’t believe it’s a Kia”, remarking on its size and sleek looks. I’m not susceptible to badge snobbery and glad to own one of the most advanced EVs on the market. More particularly, the EV6, with its looks, refinement, build quality and BMW-bothering acceleration, demonstrates that EVs are changing our ideas about what ‘prestige or ‘premium’ mean.

What electric car are you interested in next and why?

A Kia EV4 or EV5 could be a compelling proposition in a few years if they’re as good as the EV6. I may not need such a big car indefinitely and a smaller car on the Kia e-GMP platform, with 800V electrics, sounds like a winner.

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

E.ON Innogy eBox Smart – it’s robust and neat and has been completely reliable. I haven’t used its smart capabilities much as E.ON have currently withdrawn their cheap EV overnight tariff.

Rate your home charging unit out of 5.

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

E.ON flexible tariff – in the current energy market I’m not sure there’s much to choose from and it’s currently cheaper than the available fixed tariffs. But I hope E.ON will reintroduce an EV tariff soon.

Rate your electricity supplier out of 5.

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

1. IONITY – Kia offer 12 months discounted charging and the EV6 will charge at up to 230kW on them. I’ve yet to encounter a non-functional IONITY charger too but we do need more of them.

2. InstaVolt – mostly good experiences, though they often use standard-size car park bays which can be problematic.

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

1. IONITY

2. InstaVolt

3. Osprey.

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

LV – yes, pleased by very competitive premium given the EV6’s performance.

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.

£160

See other owner reviews here