Pros and cons
Kia EV6 pros and cons — the honest buyer's verdict (2023)
4 min read·Last updated: 2023-01-01·By ev.care editorial team
TL;DR
5 pros, 4 cons. The Kia EV6 is best for affluent early adopters who want the absolute best ev tech — within that envelope it is one of the strongest picks in its segment.
Buying decisions narrow down faster when you can see strengths and weaknesses side by side. For the Kia EV6, Kia has built a real platform with real wins, but also real compromises. Here are 5 on the plus side and 4 on the minus, with enough context on each to know which matter to you.
Kia EV6 — the pros
Across reviews, owner interviews, and ev.care's service history, these are the Kia EV6's consistent strengths. Strength 1 — 800V — fastest charging EV globally (18 min). On the Kia EV6 specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Strength 2 — 708 km range — nothing else comes close. On the Kia EV6 specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Strength 3 — AWD with 605 Nm — supercar acceleration. On the Kia EV6 specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Strength 4 — Premium cabin with cutting-edge tech. On the Kia EV6 specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Strength 5 — V2L — power your house from the car. On the Kia EV6 specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Anchoring all of this: a 84.4 kWh battery, 663 km range, and a starting price that defines the Kia EV6's value envelope.
Kia EV6 — the cons
Where the Kia EV6 loses ground to rivals — and why that matters or doesn't, depending on your use case. Weakness 1 — + Lakh — luxury car pricing. On the Kia EV6 specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Weakness 2 — Limited Kia service network. On the Kia EV6 specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Weakness 3 — Low ground clearance (160mm). On the Kia EV6 specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Weakness 4 — Heavy (2,090 kg). On the Kia EV6 specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. For a electric crossover weighing 2090 kg with 185 km/h top speed, these trade-offs are within segment norms but worth pricing in.
Who the Kia EV6 is for
Kia pitches the Kia EV6 at "Affluent early adopters who want the absolute best EV tech", and that framing holds up. If your driving fits that shape, the pros above land hardest and the cons fade fastest. 663 km of range is enough for most weekly profiles, and 10-80% in 18 min (350kW DC) of fast charging keep occasional long trips practical.
Practical next steps
Ask a current Kia EV6 owner what they'd buy again. Owner regret is the cleanest signal — far better than reviews from people who drove the car for an afternoon.
Related Kia EVs
If the cons above are dealbreakers, look at byd atto 3, mercedes eqa 250 — each makes a different set of trade-offs. The Kia EV6 wins more often than not in its tier, but cross-shopping protects you from buying the wrong shape.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the most common Kia EV6 complaint?
- Look at the first item in the cons list above. That's the one owners mention first when ev.care surveys them at the 12-month mark. If you can live with it, the rest tends to fade.
- Should I wait for the next Kia EV6 refresh?
- Only if a specific con is a dealbreaker and you have reason to believe the next version fixes it. Otherwise the cost of waiting (lost EV running-cost savings, opportunity cost of an extra year on petrol) usually outweighs the upgrade.
- How does the Kia EV6 compare to its segment rivals?
- The Kia EV6 sits in the middle of its segment on most axes — not the cheapest, not the fastest, not the longest-range. Its win is balance. Rivals that beat it on one axis usually lose on another, so the comparison comes down to which axis you care about most.
- Will the Kia EV6 hold its value?
- The Kia EV6 depreciates in line with the segment. The pros above are the ones that resale-buyers will also notice, so a well-maintained Kia EV6 with documented service history holds value about as well as any EV in this band.
Read this side-by-side, the Kia EV6 is a strong choice for affluent early adopters who want the absolute best ev tech. The cons are real but mostly knowable; the pros compound the longer you own the car.