Ever since it first aired as a Super Bowl commercial back in 2022, I was instantly hooked on the Kia EV6 because of its futuristic design. It’s exactly the kind of aesthetic that EVs need to convince people to upgrade from traditional all-gas powered vehicles they’ve been so used to driving.
So, you can imagine my enthusiasm when I got into the driver’s seat of the 2025 Kia EV6 for the first time. From its speedy driving style to the piercing strips of lights on the inside, it really feels like I was in Tron. In fact, it’s exactly what I imagine what it’d be like driving a car on the grid.
While the Light AWD base trim starts at a modest $42,900, the 2025 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD I drove for a week jumps the price up to $58,900. That’s a staggering amount when I look at comparable models like the Genesis GV60 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, so it begs the question if it has merit in being a best electric car contender. Here’s what I found.
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2025 Kia EV6: Specifications
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
2025 Kia EV6 Light RWD |
2025 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD |
|
Battery |
63 kWh |
84 kWh |
|
Motor |
Permanent Magnet AC Synchronous |
Permanent Magnet AC Synchronous |
|
0 to 60 mph |
8.3 seconds |
5 seconds |
|
Range |
237 miles |
270 miles |
|
Horsepower |
167 hp |
320 hp |
|
Wheels |
19-inches |
20-inches |
|
MSRP |
$42,900 |
$58,900 |
|
Price Tested |
N/A |
$60,740 |
2025 Kia EV6: Testing summary
In my week’s worth of testing, I drove a total of 298 miles with the 2025 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD. What surprises me the most is how it maintains an average efficiency of 3.7 mi/kWh from its 84 kWh battery. I wasn’t expecting that from this compact crossover SUV, seeing that other models came up way shorter — like one of my favorite EVs, the 2025 Mini Cooper Countryman SE All4.
Even more impressive is that if it were to sustain this efficiency, it means it could get about 310 miles of range from a full charge. That’s better than the manufacturer’s own EPA-estimated claim of 270 miles. However, you should know that I drove it mostly in ECO mode and set its regenerative brake to its maximum setting to preserve its battery as much as possible.
The Kia EV6 is also more future proof than other EVs because it adopts Tesla’s NACS (North American Charging Standard) port for charging — which opens up more opportunities to charge it on the road with faster Level 3 charging. At home, though, it charges pretty fast with an average speed of 3.74 mi/hr. With 8.55 hours of charging it overnight on a 120V outlet I have outside, it added back 32 miles of range to the battery.
While that’s more than plenty for my commute, you might want to install a Level 2 charger to get way more.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
2025 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD |
2025 Genesis GV60 Performance AWD |
2025 Mini Cooper Countryman SE All4 |
|
Price tested |
$60,740 |
$69,900 |
$45,200 |
|
Total miles driven |
298 miles |
246.7 miles |
298.3 miles |
|
Average Efficiency |
3.7 mi/kWh |
3.1 mi/kWh |
3.2 mi/kWh |
|
Best long distance driving efficiency |
3.8 mi/kWh |
3 mi/kWh |
3.5 mi/kWh |
|
Best short distance driving efficiency |
4.1 mi/kWh |
4.2 mi/kWh |
N/A |
|
Level 1 charging rate |
3.74 mi/hr |
1.41 mi/hr |
2.96 mi/hr |
2025 Kia EV6: What I Like
Tron-like lights everywhere
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Part of the reason the Kia EV6 feels like something from Tron is due to the strips of light just about everywhere. On the outside, its distinctive LED projector headlights and tail lights make a cool statement with the way they look. The front in particular is interesting because it looks more like strips of light emanating from it.
However, the interior ambient lights are what truly make the Kia EV6 dazzling. Just about everywhere I look, there’s a strip light of some kind that adds just the right amount of glow to the inside worthy of being a Tron car. Plus, I’m able to customize the colors to my liking — like blue to fight for the user, or red to control the system as a program.
Sporty meets futuristic design
As a compact crossover SUV, the EV6 would be ready to rock and roll on the grid in Tron with its sporty meeting futuristic design. From the front, it looks an awful like a sports car with its sleek hood and — while the back has a dramatic LED light bar that curves over, mimicking a spoiler.
It’s a stark contrast to the boxy, hard angled lines of the Hyundai Ioniq 5, plus I really love its flush door handles and fast sloping roofline. All of this makes the Kia EV6 look more like a sports coupe than an SUV.
Tight response, thrilling acceleration
Just like those light cycles in Tron, the Kia EV6 is a thrill to drive — but specifically the GT-Line AWD trim I tested for a week. Backed by a 320 horsepower performance, in contrast to the 167 horsepower with the base trim, the GT-Line is fun to drive with its tight handling and speedy acceleration.
The drive button embedded on the steering wheel lets me quickly switch into sport mode. Not only does it offer sharper acceleration, but it firms up the steering as well. This combo allows it to take tight corners a breeze, while getting to cruising speed is no problem at all.
Spacious interior
For a compact crossover SUV, the Kia EV6 feels spacious no matter where I sit. In the driver’s seat, the sports style bucket seats are actually quite plush. It also helps that there’s plenty of legroom in the front, while the back seats can easily accommodate taller individuals with the sheer amount of legroom they offer. I would say it’s almost as spacious as the Lucid Air.
At the same time, its smart power liftgate gives way to a spacious trunk that fits my electric scooter. However, the only downside is that there isn’t as much clearance because the roof’s on the shorter side.
Tons of premium features
Kia’s pretty generous at giving a ton of premium features with its EVs, like what I found with the EV9. When it comes to driving assistance features, the 2025 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD comes with lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and lane change assist. I’ve found it to work pretty well on the highway, but I really love how Kia’s vehicles in general can engage lane keep assist to keep it centered in a line with a simple button on the steering wheel.
Other premium features that come included with the GT-Line include a head-up display, heated steering wheel, panoramic glass sunroof, blind spot cameras, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
2025 Kia EV6: What I Don’t Like
GT-Line is pricey
The only downside to the 2025 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD is that it comes at a cost. At $60,740 it’s a pricey cost that certainly intrudes on luxury pricing. And while the base trim is priced more modestly at $42,900 starting, it does come with its trade-offs — like having fewer premium features, less powerful performance, and less range.
At the same time, it has a tougher time convincing me it’s a better value than one of my favorite crossover SUVs — the Mini Cooper Countryman EV — which offers nearly the same thrilling driving experience at under $46,000.
Short range with base trim
I’m also surprised by the low amount of range offered by the base trim. Nowadays, I find many other similar crossovers getting about 300 miles on a full charge. With the EV6 Light RWD base trim, it gets a paltry 237 miles of range. That’s way less than what the base trim of the 2026 Subaru Solterra, which is even more surprising when this crossover costs about the same.
2025 Kia EV6: Bottom Line
Kia has something special with the EV6. It blends the utility of an SUV with the performance of a sporty coupe that’s a lot of fun to drive — and gets plenty of attention with its sporty meets futuristic design. I can definitely see it being a primary car for a family, especially when it has the roomy interior space to comfortably seat everyone.
You’ll also look cool driving it on the road, while the interior ambient lighting makes a strong statement that it’s still youthful. The only downside in my opinion is that it’s a bit pricey compared to other similar EVs I’ve tested.
For much less, the Volvo EX30 has the same sporty driving performance and one of the slickest looking interior cabin spaces around at $48,385. There’s also the Mini Cooper Countryman EV, which at $45,200 tested, has one of the best values in all compact crossover EVs.
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