The Kia EV6 competes in the compact electric crossover segment against competitors such as the Tesla Model Y, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the Chevrolet Equinox EV, the Volkswagen ID.4, and its platform sibling, the Hyundai Ioniq 5.
After the Ioniq 5, the EV6 is the second vehicle built on Hyundai Motor Group’s Electric Global Modular Platform. While both vehicles benefit from ultra-fast charging and vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, there are clear reasons why potential buyers would choose one over the other. The EV6 has a more coupe-like profile and a driver-focused cockpit with a firmer, sportier suspension, whereas the Ioniq 5 has more of a futuristic vibe with an open interior design and a more comfortable ride.
One of the biggest things the EV6 has going for it is its wealth of premium features, including the fast-charging 800-volt architecture, dual digital displays, a ton of standard safety features, and available all-wheel drive. It will suit buyers looking for something sporty and fun-to-drive, who don’t need more than 300 miles of range, and want a high-tech interior for an affordable price.
Kia EV6 Buying Guide: Cost, Reliability, and the Best Years to Buy
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Kia EV6 years are the best?
For those whose budget extends to near-current MSRPs, the 2025 model year is hands down the best. It benefits from a mid-cycle refresh with a larger battery, better tech, styling updates, and a North American Charging Standard (NACS) port. The 2025 EV6 also has the highest predictive reliability ranking from Consumer Reports and the fewest recalls and consumer complaints reported to the NHTSA. For better value, we think the 2023 model year is a good alternative, because most of the early production problems had been addressed by this point, and it has relatively few complaints. Buyers just need to be sure that all four recalls for this year have been addressed and pay particular attention to any repairs made to the integrated charging control unit (ICCU)—the biggest recall that plagued the 2022 to 2024 model years. We've omitted the 2024 model year because it has the lowest predictive reliability score we’ve seen recently from Consumer Reports, with owners reporting battery, charging, and electrical issues.
Which Kia EV6 years are the worst?
The 2022 Kia EV6 is best avoided. In addition to the low predictive reliability score from Consumer Reports, this is the year with the highest number of consumer complaints and recalls on the NHTSA website. As the first model year for the lineup, it's subject to all the squeaks, rattles, and bugs often found in the first examples of a new generation. In addition to the ICCU recall, early 2022 models had problems with the charge port overheating on Level 2 chargers, and these models also lacked automatic battery preconditioning when routing to a DC fast charger.
Is a used Kia EV6 a good deal?
The Kia EV6 experienced steep depreciation, so can be a very good deal. The 2023 and 2024 models come with standard battery pre-conditioning and a lot of great tech features for 30%–40% off the original MSRP. As long as it has been properly maintained and has the records to back it up, the 2022 model year has the potential to be a great deal, with an average price on CarGurus of about $23,000. Shoppers should ensure all recalls have been carried out, especially the ICCU recall, which can cause a sudden loss of power while driving. The good news for any used Kia EV6 is that the 10-year/100,000-mile warranty transfers to the second owner as a five-year/60,000-mile limited warranty. As with most EVs, the cost of routine maintenance is typically less than a conventional gas car due to the absence of oil changes, belts, and emissions testing. The biggest expense will be new tires, which are EV-specific and often need to be changed more frequently.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Stylish design
- Impressive technology
- Premium interior materials
Cons:
- Unimpressive electric range
- Not much cargo space
- Aggravating safety features
Kia EV6 Generations
Kia EV6 First Generation (2022-Present)
Launched for the 2022 model year, the EV6 was Kia's first ground-up EV and was built on Hyundai Motor Group’s global Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). Though the Kia Niro had an EV option, it was adapted from an existing gasoline platform. This platform was significant for the EV6 because it made it one of the first mainstream EVs to have 800-volt electrical architecture, which meant it could charge up to 80% in less than 20 minutes under ideal conditions. It also offered vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, allowing the vehicle to power external equipment.
At launch, the EV6 had two battery packs with either 58.0 kWh or 77.4 kWh. The former was only available on the base Light rear-wheel-drive trim, delivering 167 horsepower and an EPA-estimated 232 miles of range. The latter was available on the Wind and GT-Line trims with both rear- and all-wheel-drive options. RWD models delivered 225 hp and got up to 310 miles of range, while AWD models had an output of 310 hp and an estimated 274 miles of range.
Though the base 2022 EV6 Light trim only came with the smaller battery pack, it was well-equipped and included the likes of dual 12.3-inch screens for the gauge cluster and infotainment screen, navigation, LED headlights and taillights, heated front seats, wired-in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and Wi-Fi hotspot capability (subscription required). It also has 19-inch wheels, a manual liftgate, and cloth seating surfaces. In addition to the bigger battery pack, the Wind trim added ventilated front seats, a power liftgate, leatherette seating surfaces, a V2L external power port with connector, and a Meridian audio system. To top it off, the GT-Line added features such as body-colored wheel arches, a power sunroof, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, suede and vegan leather seating surfaces, a head-up display, rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system.
The 2023 EV6 received the high-performance GT trim, which delivered 576 hp and included an electronic limited-slip differential, drift mode, neon green brake calipers, and sport bucket seats. Even though it had the bigger battery pack, the massive power output diminished the range to an estimated 206 miles.
Though the 2024 model year didn’t see any major changes, the 2025 EV6 got a mid-cycle refresh. This included larger batteries, a standard NACS port on non-GT models, refreshed interior and exterior styling, and a big tech upgrade, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Production of non-GT models shifted to Kia’s West Point, Georgia, plant at this time. With the bigger battery, all models benefited from extra range, with EPA estimates starting at 237 miles for the base Light RWD model to 319 miles for the RWD models with the long-range battery. The GT even got a slight range boost, with an extra 25 miles.
The EV6 is dripping with standard safety features. Even the base Light trim has automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a driver-attention monitor, a lane-departure warning, and safe-exit assist. Features such as blind-spot monitor displays in the digital cluster, a surround-view camera, front parking sensors, or remote smart park assist are reserved for higher trims. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration didn’t crash test the 2022 model year, but did give every other EV6 model year a five-out-of-five-star safety rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2022 and 2023 model years a Top Safety Pick+ designation, but after the organization updated its crash testing, the EV6 fell out of TSP+ status due to a Marginal result in the new moderate front overlap test.
The biggest known issue with the EV6 is the Integrated Charging Control Unit failure, which causes the 12V battery to drain and a sudden loss of power while driving. This affects 2022 through 2024 model years, and is under recall. Another big issue affecting the 2022 to 2023 models is the Level 2 charge port overheating. Though not a recall, Kia issued a technical service bulletin calling for a software update to slow the charging speed when high temperatures are detected. Other known issues include rear driveshaft failure in 2023 AWD and GT models, a software bug that increased rollaway risk in early 2022 production builds, and heat pump failures in 2022 and 2023 models.
The average price of a used Kia EV6 is about $29,000 and the 2022 model year is by far the best deal, with an average price of around $23,000. The 2023 and 2024 model years average around $29,000, and the 2025 EV6 jumps up to about $32,000.
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