Say hello to…
…the Kia EV6 is an all-electric, large family hatchback which has just been updated for the 2023 model year. Available in rear and all-wheel drive, with a 77.4kWh battery, the EV6 has an official range of up to 328 miles (for the rear-drive version with optional heat-pump).
Fleets can choose from three trim levels of EV6:
- Air
- GT-Line
- GT-Line S
As standard, Air specification includes 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, vegan leather upholstery, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, auto dimming rear-view mirror, smart cruise control, 60:40 split fold rear seats, four USB sockets, 12.3-inch driver display screen, 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, brake assist, city safety assist, speed limiter and lane keeping assist.
GT-Line adds GT exterior trim, rear privacy glass, adaptive headlights, powered seats with memory, vehicle-to-load, wireless phone charger, front parking sensors and blind spot sensor with cross traffic alert.
GT-Line S adds 20-inch alloys, uprated exterior trim, rear heated seats, cooled front seats, powered tailgate, uprated sound system, highway driving assist and parking assist.
Is The Kia EV6 Suitable For My Fleet
There’s a reason the waiting times for the EV6 are so long, they’re very popular with company car drivers. There are some obvious reasons for this fleet suitability. Firstly, an official range of more than 300 miles is still something special. Even in cold winter temperatures, using the heating available, we still saw a test range around 250 miles and an efficiency average of 3.2 miles per kWh. Sticking with the electrics, the EV6 also has a fast charge speed of 350kW which is as fast as anyone will need.
Secondly, the Kia is a usefully large car. There’s plenty of room for four adults thanks to impressive rear-seat legroom. The boot is also a decent size at 490 litres although it is quite shallow due to underfloor batteries and motor. And there’s an extra storage area under the bonnet that’s good for charge cables and the like.
Leasing A Kia EV6
Demand and a stylish design mean residual values are strong for the EV6 and that translates into a competitive lease rate. Intelligent Car Leasing is offering the EV6 at £644 a month on a 3+36 contract with 10,000 miles a year. Gensen Reports also claims maintenance costs will run to £53 a month.
Driving A Kia EV6
Step inside the Kia EV6 and you’re presented with a roomy cabin that’s very well constructed and laid out. Kia has kept enough buttons to give drivers physical access to the most frequently used controls, which must me welcomed.
The main infotainment touchscreen is also quick to respond and almost everything is logically located in the operating system. The only negative is that switching in and out of Apple CarPlay could be simpler. But at least it has Apple CarPlay.
Drive the Kia and it’s a similar story. Overall ride comfort and driver involvement are excellent.
While ride comfort is for the most part great, at town speeds over potholes and even smaller imperfections the car feels a little stiff and can be jiggly, however, the suspension is quiet. At motorway speeds and smoother surfaces, the ride is better.
That stiffer ride, and minimal body roll, translates into good handling, good body control and a fun drive if you want it to be.
For those that like one-pedal driving, the EV6 has one of the best systems available. It has a totally smooth final stop and imperceptible transition between regen and real brakes. This is something even more premium rivals struggle with. And for those that don’t like one-pedal driving, you can switch it off.
Kia has also clearly thought about the way electric cars are charged. To this end it’s great that the charge port is at the back of the car so easy reach from left and right sides. It also means you have to reverse into a charging bay – a good thing to do whenever parking. However, if the EV6 has a negative, it’s that the rear visibility is limited thanks to large rear pillars. Yes, there’s a good reversing camera, but it would be nice to have actual vision too.
FleetandLeasing.com Verdict On The Kia EV6
Well worth the long wait. The Kia EV6 is both a winner on the practical and business aspects of company car ownership and also the business driver emotional aspects.
Kia EV6
- Model: Kia EV6 GT-Line
- Power: 226hp
- Torque: 350Nm
- Max speed: 114mph
- 0-62mph: 7.3s
- Official range: 328 miles
- Test range: 248 miles*
- CO2 emissions: 0g/km
- BIK tax band 2022/23: 2%
* ambient temperatures 0-10degC
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