Kia's first bespoke electric car, the EV6, hits a sweet spot.
It's big enough for a family's needs yet small enough to calmly negotiate the UK's tight, busy roads and it has real, unique character, courtesy of a dramatic, enigmatic silhouette that doesn't feel like an SUV, or a saloon or a hatchback. Even better, it's now available from less than £10,000-with warranty remaining.
Built on the E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform) also used for the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the EV6 is a sporty and techy alternative to staid EVs like the Nissan Ariya, Volkswagen ID 4 and Tesla Model Y.
It has been a hit from the get-go too, winning the 2022 Car of the Year award and selling in good numbers by virtue of its appeal with company car drivers, families and cabbies alike.
Fast forward to 2026; a couple of waves of ex-lease cars have hit the used market and prices have dropped considerably. A well-specified EV6 GT-Line would have set you back nearly £50,000 when new. Today, the same car with fewer than 50,000 miles is £20,000.
There's a lot of car for the money here and it still feels modern next to the hordes of more recent rivals.
That's partly because the EV6 has an 800V architecture, which in theory allows it to replenish its battery from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes with a rapid charger-as fast as almost any newer EV.
In reality, it achieved a weighted average of 125kW in our road test-slower than claimed but still quicker than we recorded for contemporary rivals such as the Tesla Model Y and Skoda Enyaq.
The line-up starts with 226bhp rear-wheel-drive models. They offer the best range - up to a claimed 328 miles-and a 0-62mph time of 7.3sec, which is more than quick enough for most. We would avoid the smaller-battery Standard Range (SR) car since it's only a little cheaper as a used buy.
Be aware, too, that the twin-motor AWD powertrain can incur a penalty of up to 50 miles per charge compared with a RWD car.
