First-Tests

Is the 2025 Kia EV6 Wind AWD We Tested Still a Standout EV SUV?

admin Posted on 3 months ago 7 minutes read

Pros

Comfortable, distinctive interior
Engaging driving dynamics
Fast charging speeds

Cons

Divisive digital HVAC/media interface
Somewhat uneven brake feel
Limited cargo space

Not that many years ago, the pickings were slim and not exactly compelling in the compact, all-electric SUV space. But these days the segment is brimming with a range of impressive options, with one of the more unique and interesting being the 2025 Kia EV6.

Kia’s mid-size electric SUV has been treated to a handful of updates for the 2025 model year, with changes including a styling nip and tuck, safety and comfort improvements, and in the case of the 2025 EV6 Wind AWD we tested, an upgraded 84-kWh battery pack good for an EPA-rated maximum range of 319 miles.

EV6 at the Track

The Wind AWD’s dual-motor powertrain consists of a front motor making 99 horsepower and 188 lb-ft of torque and a rear motor delivering an additional 221 hp and 258 lb-ft, for a total system power of 320 hp and 446 lb-ft. The rear power bias is part of what makes the EV6 feel lively but planted and drama-free when launching from a standstill, a sense further aided by its low center of gravity due to the battery pack’s placement in the floor and 49/51 weight distribution.

How lively? In our testing the EV6 Wind blew to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and covered the quarter mile in 13.1 seconds—not bad at all for an SUV with a 4,621-pound curb weight. Hauling that poundage to a stop from 60 mph took a respectable 124 feet, and it lapped our figure eight in 26.1 seconds at an average 0.72 g.

No, those numbers can’t match those of its hot-rod EV6 GT sibling, which makes 641 hp and 568 lb-ft for 2025, but the EV6 Wind AWD is respectably quick, and when you compare it to a segment rival with sporting intentions, like the dual-motor 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E we also recently tested, it becomes clear how quietly capable this Kia really is.

Boasting a full 370 hp and 500 lb-ft from its AWD setup, the Mach E posted a 0–60-mph time of 4.1 seconds, a 60–0 braking distance of 120 feet, a quarter mile of 13.0 seconds, and a figure-eight time of 26.3 seconds at an average of 0.70 g. Despite the power deficiency over the Mach-E, the EV6 proved it could hang with the Ford, and had it come equipped with better tires we think the gap would have been even closer.

Range and Charging

As for the test numbers of a different sort, during our MotorTrend Road Trip Range test where we run an EV at a roughly 70 mph on the highway from 100 percent to 5 percent charge, the EV6’s range didn’t quite match up to its EPA 300-plus-mile combined range rating, but in context the 266-mile figure we returned is still pretty good. In fact, it was good enough to beat the EV6’s platform mate, the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD, by 32 miles, which we believe was partly a function of the EV6’s smaller-diameter wheels. That 266-mile number also bested both the 2026 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD and the 2025 Ford Mustang Mach E Premium AWD, each of which returned 252 miles of range.

In our fast-charging test of the EV6, we added 160 miles of range in 15 minutes and 232 miles in 30 minutes, so if that range discrepancy gives you pause, rest assured that the EV6 is still plenty capable of making long hauls with minimal time lost at the charging station. Fast charging is a hallmark of Kia and Hyundai EVs, and the EV6 was no different in this regard.

EV6 on the Road

On the highway, the EV6 is a pleasure to drive, with a ride that’s “comfortable and composed, dispatching bumps without gut jiggle or toss,” according to senior features editor Christian Seabaugh. From the driver’s seat, the EV6 feels smaller than it is, in part a function of its low roofline that made it “feel more like a car than an SUV,” as senior editor Aaron Gold remarked.

It’s quiet, too, with most of the discernible road noise coming from the tires.Steering feel is linear and direct, with feedback and weight that add to the SUV’s general sense of composure and sportiness. Adding to that feel was the right-sized, unique squircle steering wheel, which was universally enjoyed by our editors who tested it. Even better, as senior features editor Scott Evans said, “It seems to be wrapped in the highest-quality materials of the entire car, which is good, since it’s the one thing you touch constantly.”

Inside the EV6 Wind we tested, attractive white seats contrasted nicely with the interesting textures and distinctive dark green color of the interior trim, which added a subtle sense of richness, space, and calm. Rear-seat room and comfort were highly rated, as well, though some testers took issue with the seat height, noting that it was low enough to put their knees at an uncomfortable angle. In addition, an editor banged their head on entry thanks to the SUV’s sloping roofline that also makes cargo space with the rear seats up a bit cramped.

While underway, the Kia offers a great range of useful regenerative braking modes, from neutral to neck-snapping, making it easy to dial in your comfort level. Also notable was the EV6’s excellent highway driving assist, which senior features editor Kristen Lee noted “worked better in this car than in the Hyundai [Ioniq 5].” She reported that in real-world driving the system “braked very progressively and was trustworthy. Nothing surprised it, so nothing surprised me.”

Sticking Points

Underfoot, however, the brakes left something to be desired for most of our test drivers. Although the brakes stopped the SUV effectively, several editors called out their spongy and uneven feel. The consensus was that they offered little in the way of confidence-inspiring consistency or feedback.

Perhaps the least popular feature of all was the EV6’s dual-function climate and media touch panel located below the main center display. Seabaugh summed it up well, saying, “It’s incredibly annoying that the knob used to make you toasty and warm could also blow out your ear drums if you’re not careful.”

EV6 vs. Ioniq 5

The Hyundai E-GMP platform on which the EV6 is built has proved versatile, underpinning vehicles as various as the Genesis GV60, Kia’s EV9 three-row SUV, and the Hyundai Ioniq 5. For buyers interested in ferreting out the best small SUV Korea has to offer for 2025, it’s a race between the EV6 and the Ioniq 5, winner of MotorTrend’s 2023 SUV of the Year. Back then, we praised the Hyundai’s efficiency, sharp performance, and engineering excellence, which made it a standout among SUVs in general, not just those that run on battery power.

Being that the EV6 rides on the same underpinnings as the Ioniq 5, you could be forgiven for thinking the Kia might have trouble distinguishing itself—but you’d be wrong. For one thing, despite identical drivetrain specs, in general use the EV6 seemed the more settled of the two. And although the Ioniq 5 felt livelier, it’s perhaps a bit busier, which could be a plus or a minus depending on your preferences.

Exterior and interior styling differ greatly, and the swoopy EV6 manages the trick of looking longer, lower, and wider despite being slightly smaller overall. The Kia has a slight edge in acceleration, and its range topped the comparable Ioniq 5’s in our testing by a significant margin. If cargo space or rear-seat room are your top concerns, you might be better off with the Ioniq 5, but as buyer’s guide director Zach Gale put it, the Kia is “definitely the driver’s car among the Hyundai-Kia pairing.”

Worth the Money?

All in all, the 2025 Kia EV6 presents itself as a very attractive option among small EV SUVs, with lots to distinguish it and very little to nitpick. Although it isn’t the least expensive compact electric SUV you can buy at $56,435 as tested, it isn’t the most expensive, either. On balance, for the money, you get what you pay for: a top-quality EV. Whether it’s worth it is a matter of personal taste and finances, of course, but considering its solid performance, comfort, and quality, making an EV6 your own is a choice we’d never criticize.