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Pros
Cons
The Kia EV6 was already one of the more compelling electric vehicles (EVs) in its segment, combining an excellent powertrain with a wild design that stands out.
The funky, futuristic 2025 Kia EV6 has been refreshed in some meaningful ways to make it even better than before.
Styling 9 / 10
Regardless of how it's powered, the EV6 is one of the most interesting-looking vehicles out there right now, period. While Kia calls it a crossover, it could just as easily be a hatchback. Whatever it is, the EV6’s unique design is refreshing in a sea of sameness. The boldness won’t be for everyone, but if you want something that stands out, the EV6 gets a lot of looks.
Some design updates were part of the recent refresh, so it looks even more futuristic and cohesive than before. The new lighting is a highlight, with angular LEDs giving the EV6 a strong presence, especially at night. And it looks even better from the rear, with dramatic body panels and a sporty stance combining to make a strong impact.
It would be a waste if the interior didn’t match the striking exterior style, but luckily the cabin has an interesting, futuristic design, too. A new dashboard finish with a textured fabric adds visual interest, hides dust, and makes the cabin feel cozier, while ambient lighting, an asymmetrical layout, and optional brown leather upholstery classes up the cabin and makes it feel warmer and higher end.
Practicality 9 / 10
While the rear design is visually stunning, the liftover height for the trunk is a bit high, requiring more effort to load and unload cargo. The trunk itself is decently sized at 690 L, which expands to 1,322 L with the 60/40 rear seats folded flat. A tiny frunk is located under the hood, but it doesn’t have much room for stuff — it would be a good place to hold adapters and cables, which could also be stored in the rear underfloor storage compartment.
The interior makes great use of the extra flexibility an EV platform provides, with a wide open floor divided by a large storage compartment under the gear selector that has enough room for a takeout box or handbag. The door pockets are big enough for water bottles, and the storage bin under the console armrest is also huge.
Fuel Economy 9 / 10
The most meaningful change to the refreshed 2025 Kia EV6 is the improvements to the battery pack. It now measures 84 kWh, up from the previous iteration’s 77.4 kWh, which translates into more range. The Land AWD trim tested here is rated for 475 km in ideal conditions, while the rear-wheel-drive trim gets 515 km on a single charge.
After about 500 km of mixed driving, the EV6’s indicated efficiency was 16.9 kWh/100 km — better than this version’s combined rating of 21.5.
Power 9 / 10
With an electric motor on each axle, total system output for the 2025 Kia EV6 Land AWD is 320 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque. The EV6 has ample power, making it easy to pass slower traffic swiftly or get up to speed with its instantaneous, slingshot-like acceleration.
The EV6 can accept charging speeds as fast as 350 kW — the fastest currently available — and it’s enough to get the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in a claimed 18 minutes in ideal conditions. Hooked up to a 150 kW charger, the EV6 tested here went from 59 to 88 per cent in about 20 minutes.
Another big update comes to the charging receptacle: it’s now a Tesla-style North American Charging System (NACS) port, giving drivers access to the brand’s newest Supercharger stations and enabling plug-and-charge capabilities that simplify payments. An adapter is available to connect to other stations that use the Combined Charging System (CCS).
The Kia EV6 also offers bi-directional charging, turning it into a mobile generator with the right adapter to power anything up to 1,900 watts, which might come in handy at a campsite or tailgate party.
Driving Feel 9 / 10
The Kia EV6 feels composed and even a bit sporty without compromising comfort. The ride is smooth and soaks up rough roads, but the suspension is firm enough that it feels solid in a corner, likely thanks to the low centre of gravity. One-pedal driving can bring the EV6 to a complete stop without the need for the mechanical brakes, but drivers can customize the regenerative braking force to their liking. Even in the most aggressive setting, the one-pedal driving is easy to get used to.
The steering feels more direct than many other EVs out there — a refreshing change from the complete numbness that’s the norm, and in general, the EV6 feels comfortable, composed, responsive, and refined. This is one of the better driving EVs on the market.
Features 7 / 10
The base EV6 is a bit light on standard features, and most of the desirable ones are available with upgrade packages, which is a bit of a shame considering the price. The cargo area has a power outlet, but it would be more useful as a 110-volt AC household outlet and not a 12-volt DC outlet, especially because the EV6 doesn’t come standard with the adapter to enable vehicle-to-load capabilities for the NACS port. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, along with wireless phone charging.
Safety 8 / 10
Every Kia EV6 comes standard with a long list of safety features that includes front and rear parking sensors, lane-keep and tracing assist, forward collision avoidance, rear occupant alert, driver monitoring, and adaptive cruise control.
Optional packages upgrade the systems and add blind-spot collision avoidance with rear cross-traffic alert, highway driving assist, side parking sensors, surround-view monitoring, blind-spot cameras, and more.
Comfort 9 / 10
The EV6’s cabin is roomy for all occupants, especially without a sunroof taking up space, and the rear seats can recline to provide more headroom. The suspension provides a comfortable ride that’s not jarring over rough roads, and most creature comforts are available, with heated front seats and USB-C ports for every passenger as standard, and a heated steering wheel standard in all but the base trim. A heat pump is now standard for more efficient heating in the chilly months so you don’t have to sacrifice too much range to stay toasty.
User-Friendliness 8 / 10
The EV6 is approachable and user-friendly, and even if you’re new to EVs, you should be able to get used to the layout and functions easily enough. The touchscreen is logically laid out with menus that make sense and clearly labelled icons, making it easy to complete simple tasks without much friction.
The only part that needs fixing is the dual-purpose touch-capacitive control panel that doubles for infotainment and climate functions, but not at the same time. Drivers must toggle between the two, an annoying and extra step to do a simple task. As an example, if you’re in the climate control menu and want to change the volume, you must first toggle the functionality, then the temperature adjustment knob turns into a volume knob.
Value 8 / 10
The base 2025 Kia EV6 Light RWD is $52,176, with the Land AWD trim going for $58,495 plus the non-negotiable $2,150 destination fee. For a vehicle that’s this well-rounded with great range and a unique style, that is decent value for the money, though I wish Kia included more features as standard without needing upgrade packages, which push the price higher. This one was equipped with the Premium package ($1,500), while there are GT-Line ($3,000) and GT-Line Limited ($6,500) packages that are more expensive still.
The Verdict
The 2025 Kia EV6 could be one of the most compelling EVs available because it’s so well-rounded. It checks a lot of boxes and doesn’t make too many sacrifices to get there. In a world where most cars kind of look the same, the EV6 is a refreshing sight. The fact that it has a great powertrain, lots of range, great features, and also drives really well makes it even better.
