Kia EV6 Air review: The entry-level EV put to the test

Until very recently, the words “cheapest” and “Kia” would invariably mean some value-packed city car that could be yours for around $15K. Well, the times they are a changing, because the entry-level Kia EV6 Air will cost you a not-insignificant $67,990, plus on-road costs.

That’s not chump change, is it? But you do get a very big battery, the longest possible driving range, and plenty of in-cabin kit.

TESTED: Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD review

So is the Air the pick of the new EV6 bunch?

Value 

Calculating value in the EV world is a tricky thing to do. The EV6 Air isn’t cheap, by any stretch, but it is cheaper than the GT-Line models that sit above it — $74,990 for the single-motor RWD, and $82,990 for the twin-motor AWD — and it’s cheaper than the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which starts at $71,900 and shares much of the EV6’s underpinnings.

For that money, you get some impressive tech — like the twin 12.3-inch displays, sat-nav, dual-zone climate, wireless phone charging and a traditional powerpoint positioned below the backseat to power anything from your laptop to a portable espresso machine.

You also get 19-inch alloys (compared to 20-inch wheels on the GT-Line models), LED lighting inside and out, hidden door handles and oodles of USB charging points.

So that’s the good news, what about the bad? Well, at $67,990 – once you add dealer delivery – it will not qualify for the $3000 in state government rebates in NSW, Victoria and South Australia, though it will qualify for stamp duty exemptions where available. 

Inside

It’s a clean, uncluttered and modern-feeling cabin, filled with cool technology and EV-friendly eco-materials — though there are some slightly weird elements, too.

While not as premium-feeling as the more expensive GT-Line, the Air’s double-screen infotainment setup is like a page pulled straight out of the Mercedes-Benz playbook, and it’s a seriously solid addition to the Kia cain experience.

Better still, the screens don’t have to control everything, meaning no clunky pawing through menu options to control simple functions like the air-con or the media player.

Instead, a semi-digital control bar sits just below the screens – complete with two actual dials – that can adjust the key settings in a second, and without troubling the bigger screens.

Weirdly, despite the abundance of USB-C charging points, the solitary USB-A point is the only connection that unlocks Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there’s no wireless connection either. 

The EV6 is big, measuring in at 4695mm in length, 1890mm in width and 1550mm in height, with a 2900mm wheelbase.

That space is best felt in the back seat, where there is ample legroom, space for three passengers across the rear pew, and a general sense of airiness. 

The boot will deliver between 490L and 1270L of luggage space (the latter with seats folded), while the storage space under bonnet will add 52L in storage.

Performance and efficiency

The Air gets the EV6’s 800-volt architecture, and is fitted with a 77.4kWh Long Range battery that will deliver the biggest driving range of any EV6 model.

The Air is equipped with a single electric motor at its rear axle which produces 168kW and 350Nm, which is enough for a 7.3-second 100km/h time.

Energy consumption is listed at 16.5kWh/100km, with the Air delivering a 528km (WLTP) range between charges. 

Charging 

How fast you top up depends on what you’re plugged into.

A typical home wallbox will take some 11 hours to take you from 10 per cent charged to full. A 50kW public charger will see you go from 10 to 80 percent charged in one hour and 13 minutes. A 350kW fast-charger will drop that time to just 18 minutes, although the EV6 only draws a maximum of 240kW.

Ride and handling

The EV6 Air has undergone Kia’s usual — though shortened, thanks to Covid — ride and handling localisation program, and the results are pretty strong here.

The EV6 is a big and heavy car, but most of the time, and on most roads, it doesn’t feel like it, managing to feel connected and confidence inspiring, yet not overly firm or uncomfortable. 

But here’s the deal — unless yours is an insatiable need for speed, the Air will produce all the power you’ll need, or want. 

Sure, it’s not as urgent as its twin-motor sibling, but the way the EV powertrain delivers its power (immediately, and in this thick, unbroken flow that never really seems to taper off), makes it more than a match for most of the ICE powertrains we’ve grown accustomed to.

Push the Air too hard and you’ll find moments of weakness, with the front tyres eventually losing their grip battle with the two-tonne weight of the vehicle. And the steering feels a little unnatural in places, too.

But keep it even vaguely within its limits and the Air is a seriously solid performer, whether in the city or on a twist rural road.

Talking point

This is an EV with serious ownership credentials. 

A seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty (150,000km on the high-voltage parts), and a seven-year servicing package that averages out at around $225 per year.

Confidence inspiring, no?

The only hiccup is with the battery warranty; it’s one year less than most EVs on the market.

Safety

The Air is equipped with suite of high-tech safety kit, such as autonomous emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, active cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and Lane Keep Assist with Lane Following Assist.

Kia is targeting a five-star ANCAP rating, but the Air is yet to be independently crash tested.

Verdict

While not overly cheap, the cheapest member of EV6 family delivers plenty of value in the areas that count, all in a car that’s both fun to drive and easy to live with. 

Kia EV6 Air specifications

Price: $67,990, plus on-road costs

Basics: EV, 5 seats, 5 doors, SUV, RWD

Range: 528km (WLTP)

Battery capacity: 77.4kWh

Battery warranty: 7 years/150,000km

Energy consumption: 16.5kWh/100km

Motors: 1 rear 168kW/350Nm

AC charging: 10.5kW, Type 2 plug

DC charging: 240kW, CCS combo plug

0-100km/h: 7.3 seconds