Kia EV6 GT-line: A Comprehensive Review
Kia EV6 GT-line is sold in India as CBU (completely built-in unit). In India, we do not get the KIA EV6 GT which is more powerful with 576 HP. It is an EV crossover that has a good range and comfort. It is built in the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) same as Hyundai Ioniq 5. In this article, we will go through each and every aspect of the vehicle from performance to range, comfort to features and of course the safety this car provides. So let’s dive into the comprehensive Review of the Kia EV6 GT-line.
Exterior
Let’s start with the looks of the car. The EV6’s exterior design is a departure from Kia’s traditional aesthetic, featuring a sleek, aerodynamic silhouette that is both modern and stylish. The car’s bold lines, sharp angles, and distinctive LED headlights give it a futuristic look. The EV6 also features a unique ‘Digital Tiger Face,’ a design evolution of Kia’s ‘Tiger Nose Grille,’ which adds to its striking appearance. The charging port is smartly integrated into the rear of the vehicle, which would not feel out of place.
The dimension of the KIA EV6 GT-line six makes it like an SUV, but it is categorised as a crossover. Length of 4695mm, Width of 1890mm, Height of 1570mm and a wheelbase of 2900mm which is 100mm less than the Hyundai Ioniq 5. The ground clearance is 178mm which is good. Kerb’s weight is around 2 tons.
The side profile of the KIA EV6 GT-line looks quite similar to Jaguar I Pace, I noticed it when I first saw KIA EV6 GT-line. The sloping roofline gives these two cars a very similar stance from the side. Also, the Tail lamp and spoiler are quite similar to Aston Martin DBX. What do you think?
Interior
Inside, the EV6 is equally impressive. The cabin is spacious and comfortable, with high-quality materials throughout. The cabin uses a lot of recycled and durable materials just like Ioniq 5 and also the upholstery is made out of sustainable suede and vegan leather. The car features a minimalist dashboard design with two 12.3-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment system. These have wired Andriod auto and Apple car play, and plenty of other features. The climate control and radio controls are separate at the bottom, though they have touch-sensitive buttons rather than physical buttons, which can be difficult to use on the go.
You get a wide sunroof, augmented reality heads-up display, relaxed seat just like Ioniq 5, 60:40 rear seat split, through loading, Vehicle to load, which allows you to charge or use other home appliances out of your KIA.
The seats are comfortable and supportive, with a powered function, and ventilated/heated front seats. You also get plenty of legroom and headroom for both front and rear passengers. Taller people will have tight headroom. The front seat sits low and with the batteries on the floor, you don’t have enough space below them to stretch your legs. The EV6 also offers a generous amount of boot space (520 Litre) and when fold the rear seats you get around 1300 Litre of boot space, making it practical for everyday use and long journey.
Performance & Driving
The KIA EV6 GT-line delivers excellent performance for an electric vehicle. It comes in two versions: The RWD variant with 225 HP and 350 NM of torque and the AWD variant with 320 HP and 605 NM of torque. The RWD will do 0-60 in 7.3 secs and the AWD will do in 5.2 Secs. Both variants have a 77.4 kWh battery. And the claimed range is 708 Km/ per charge. But in the real world, you can get around 450-500 km of range with decent driving.
The driving experience is amazing the car feels planted and with the stiffer suspension, you get a sporty ride, though that doesn’t mean the ride is harsh on the rough surface. Though the tyre size of 19 inches the ride will be a bit harsh on broken roads.
While I was driving the headrest in the front seats were quite forward than usual and were not laterally adjustable, which made me sit quite upright and not relax my head to have a comfortable position. Also, the rear visibility is quite poor, as there is a small rear window area and the rear pillars are huge, thankfully you have a great camera for reversing, 360 camera and blind spot cameras.
The regen mode has 4 levels, in 0 it coast just like your normal ICE car, and in Max, you have one pedal driving which is very useful in city conditions. You can set the level of regen according to your driving style because not all of us have that habit of car braking on its own as we let go of the accelerator pedal. Though you also have an option of Auto regen mode where the vehicle decides according to your driving style, how much regenerative braking it needs to do.
Battery Capacity and Range
The EV6’s battery capacity and range are impressive. It has a 77.4 kWh battery pack with a claimed range of 708 Km per change. As I said earlier you can expect a real-world range of 450-500 Km. It supports 350 kWh fast charging which allows it to charge from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes. You get an 8-year warranty on your Lithium-ion battery pack.
Safety Features
You get 8 airbags, ABD with EBD, ESC, and TSC all as standard. You also get an ISOFIX child seat mount, hill assist and knee airbags. KIA EV6 has Level 2 autonomous driving with ADAS features. These are the advanced safety features Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Automatic emergency braking, Blind-spot collision – avoidance assist, Forward Collision Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Auto High Beam, Safe Exit Assist, Driver Attention Warning and more.
Conclusion
Though I would prefer the sister car Hyundai Ioniq 5, as it is similarly practical and spacious, with good tech and range, is around 15-20 lakhs cheaper. Though this car does have an AWD option with more power, and the interior feels more premium. I still feel the Ioniq 5 is a very good deal for money. But if you want more power and a premium crossover EV you should buy KIA EV6 GT-line.
Hope this comprehensive review of the KIA EV6 GT-line will answer your questions and help you make the choice of buying it or not, If you have any questions do let us know in the comments below.
