2022 Kia EV6

Pros: Sleek exterior styling; ride/handling balance; generous passenger room; satisfying acceleration

Cons: Styling compromises cargo volume somewhat; some competitive EVs offer more driving range

CG Says: The 2022 Kia EV6 debuts as Kia’s first dedicated pure-electric vehicle, and the first of 11 new EVs the company says it will introduce by 2026. The EV6 is a rakishly styled 5-passenger compact crossover that is built on the same basic architecture as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (which is also new for 2022). Three EV6 trim levels—Light, Wind, and GT-Line—are available initially; a performance-oriented GT model arrives later in the model year, and there’s also a limited-production 1st Edition version of the GT-Line. The EV6 Light comes only with rear-wheel drive and has 167 horsepower and 232 miles of range. The Wind and GT-Line RWD models have a stronger motor and a larger battery for an output of 225 hp and 310 miles of range. The AWD versions of the Wind and GT-Line add a front motor for all-wheel drive, with 320 horsepower and 274 miles of range. The GT model comes only with all-wheel drive and has 576 horsepower. Kia says a fast charger can give the EV6 around 217 miles of range in 18 minutes. A Level 2 charger will top off the larger-battery models in 7 hours and 10 minutes.

All trim levels have 12-inch infotainment touchscreen, Wi-Fi hotspot, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and wireless phone charging. Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane following and lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitor, and rear cross-traffic alert. In addition to several 12-volt and USB charge ports, the upper trim levels have interior and exterior outlets to charge or power electric devices. A head-up display and semi-autonomous driving aids are available. Unlike some electric vehicles, the 2022 Kia EV6 is available in all 50 states. For the first three years from purchase, Kia is including 1000 kilowatt hours of charging at Electrify America locations, which equates to 3500 to 4000 miles of driving. The Kia EV6 doesn’t really break new ground in terms of driving range, but its dynamic styling, nicely balanced driving demeanor, and roomy cabin make it a fine EV choice nonetheless.