First Impressions: 2022 Kia EV6 GT

For as long as I’ve been in the world of automotive journalism, it has always seemed that Kia have been at the top of the EV family car game, with parent company Hyundai walking in-step as a kind of South Korean EV powerhouse, offering EVs that offer far better bang-for-your-buck than competitors, all whilst being genuinely usable for virtually all but the most extreme use cases thanks to their impressive range, even lower down the model ranks.

What they haven’t always been good at, in my view, is styling. The Soul was always deliberately divisive and ‘funky’ but the previous-generation Niro was... bland looking at best.

So, having got the engineering figured out, it was only right that Kia would then turn their attention to aesthetics, matching function with form... and, boy oh boy, did they deliver.

The EV6 - Kia’s first bespoke EV-only model from the get-go - is nothing short of absolutely stunning. Angles where there should be angles, flowing lines where there should be flowing lines, great proportions and a genuinely unique appearance, the designers of the EV6 deserve a thorough pat on the back.

The cabin is equally cutting-edge in its appearance, maximising occupant space and making the most of the bespoke EV-only platform, with features such as the ‘island’ shifter, the two-spoke steering wheel (now a common feature on Kia’s latest models) and a general ambience of fresh, open-air design making the interior of the EV6 as worthy of a design award as the bodywork.

It’s not just pretty either; it works. Often unusual design can come at the expense of everyday usability, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here. With Kia once again proving why they are one of the best brands for those looking for an EV with useable range (the EV6 as tested boasts a quoted range of 328 miles) there is no reason why 80% of the population wouldn’t be able to use the EV6 for all of their motoring requirements, subject to having access to charging facilities, though that’s an entirely different discussion entirely.

During the short stint that I had with the car at the WGMW day in 2022, the performance of the EV6 on-road was genuinely impressive, though the get-up-and-go of the GT model does come at the cost of a slight range drop compared to the non-GT models. Unusually, I didn’t notice any feel of sitting ‘on top’ of the car as is often the case with EVs due to the weight of the battery pack, whilst the rapid acceleration paired well with impressive agility, all whilst remaining fantastically practical, easy to drive and with plenty of luggage space, making it the ideal everyday EV for the style-conscious, eco-minded motorist.

I’m hoping to get to spend some more time with the EV6 in 2023, so watch this space for a more in-depth review...