Meet Our Lengthy-Time period 2022 Kia EV6: 4,000 Mile Replace

Kia’s first devoted electrical car, the 2022 EV6, impressed us significantly at launch and once more when it arrived within the CNET storage early final yr with its sturdy steadiness of efficiency, vary and, most significantly, worth. And I wasn’t the one one. The EV6 went on a veritable award tour final yr, racking up a number of automobile and SUV of the yr awards, together with the North American Utility Automobile of the Yr. (Full disclosure, I’m a NACTOY juror.) 

So, it ought to come as no shock that when selecting our subsequent long-term check car — a automobile that I would need to log 1000’s of miles driving over the course of the subsequent yr — we went with the EV6. In fact, on the time we spec’d our tester, the red-hot EV6 GT had solely simply been introduced and was not but accessible, so we might need to make do with lower than its 576 horsepower. Nonetheless, the extra conservative trim ranges nonetheless have a lot to supply.

We went with the 2022 mannequin yr’s EV6 Wind e-AWD mannequin, partially as a result of we have already evaluated the highest trim GT-Line mannequin and partially primarily based on a hunch that that is the candy spot within the lineup. Our alternative nets us a dual-motor, all-wheel drive system with a mixed 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. Mated with Kia’s Lengthy Vary 77.4-kilowatt-hour battery pack, the EPA estimates I will common round 274 miles of vary per cost, which works out to three.125 miles per kilowatt-hour taking elements like battery reserve under consideration.

Skipping the full-fat GT-Line means I’ve needed to do and not using a sunroof, bigger 20-inch wheels, color-matched GT-Line physique trim and some different bells and whistles. Up to now, the 19s have confirmed to be the marginally better option for vary and luxury, whereas the remainder of the variations are purely aesthetic. Going with the cheaper Wind e-AWD allowed us to maintain round $2,000 of our hypothetical funds in our pocket; the electrical SUV arrived with a $55,105 sticker value together with a $1,500 Know-how bundle, the $1,295 vacation spot cost, $495 for the off-white Glacier paint and $415 value of flooring mats and cargo covers.

Organising the Kia Entry smartphone app upon supply, I gave our Kia the nickname Linka after the Japanese European, wind-themed Planeteer. The app permits me to remotely monitor the EV6’s location and cost state, in addition to ship distant instructions to lock and unlock the doorways, open the hatch or activate the local weather controls. It is also a useful hub for maintaining a tally of the EV6’s service cycles, not that it wants a lot upkeep in any respect.

Instantly, I bumped into the largest nit I’ve to choose with the 2022 EV6. Not like its HMA E-GMP cousins, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Genesis GV60, the Kia EV6 doesn’t ship with an included dwelling charging cable. The EV does embody the automaker’s useful V2L adapter that permits you to get juice out of the battery to energy home equipment or electronics in an emergency or off-the-grid, however you are by yourself relating to sourcing an answer to get energy into the darn factor.

To be honest, I would suggest that any potential EV proprietor contemplate having a everlasting charging station put in anyway to streamline each day charging comfort. Nonetheless, an included 110-volt or 240-volt charging cable and brick would turn out to be useful as a transitional charging answer throughout the first weeks of possession after which for emergency charging on the street. New homeowners can make the most of the included Kia Cost Go, which incorporates 1,000 kW of Electrify America DC quick charging, however that is extremely depending on really being close to a station. Happily, I stay close to fairly just a few.

Sadly, I am merely the EV6’s steward for the yr, not its precise proprietor, so I am not in a position to make the most of the free Kia Cost Go charging. As a substitute, I’ve paid for each kilowatt-hour consumed out of my very own pocket. It is a bit of a bummer, but it surely has allowed me to look at the price of frequent DC quick charging.

I took supply of Linka in late November 2022 and have pushed round 4,120 miles during the last seven months. Round two-thirds of these miles are round city on floor streets and b-roads, with the remaining being freeway miles in average site visitors with just a few longer street journeys blended in, as properly. Sadly, an uncharacteristically wet winter season has left my favourite dynamic roads closed as a result of landslides till solely very not too long ago, so most of my testing to this point has been in Regular or Eco mode, with solely rare dipping into the Sport program. Over its lifetime, I’ve averaged effectivity round 3.3 mi./kWh, a contact higher than the EPA reckons, with particular person journeys sometimes stretching as excessive as 4.0 mi./kWh.

I nearly by no means cost the EV6 past the 80% mark — quick charging will get a lot slower and dearer for that final 20% — and by no means let it drop beneath round 20% for security. Meaning I get round 150 to 160 real-world miles between fees. Electrify America fees round $0.48 per kWh and, on common, my 20% to 80% DC quick cost classes price me round $20. At across the 1,800 mile mark, I smartened up and opted into EA’s Go Plus program. For $4 monthly, the plan reduces the per-kWh value to $0.36, dropping my common 20-80% session to only $16 and principally paying for itself after only one cost. 

I’ve additionally been in a position to complement DC quick charging with the occasional slower degree 2 charging included with long-term parking on the San Francisco and Oakland airports and totally free at sure retail institutions, which is a pleasant bonus. General, I’ve spent $414.55 on charging for the yr to this point, understanding to round $0.10 per mile not together with insurance coverage prices, which have been coated by Kia at some stage in this long-term check. (Insurance coverage prices for EVs are typically greater than combustion vehicles, which you may need to issue into your individual calculations.)

Lastly, there’s the matter of upkeep, or reasonably, the shortage thereof. Most trendy automobiles, EV or ICE, most likely should not want critical upkeep inside the first couple hundred miles, however the EV6 seems to be to be notably simple to take care of for years to come back, requiring solely occasional coolant and brake service each few years. The primary main scheduled upkeep occasion is not due till 24,000 miles, when the EV will want a tire rotation and inspection of its brakes, air conditioner, 12-volt battery and suspension parts. The subsequent main alternative, brake fluid, is not till 48,000 miles or about two years, whichever comes first. 

In fact, there’s routine upkeep that wants tending to. Up to now, I’ve solely needed to keep watch over tire stress because the temperature fluctuates (for security and optimum effectivity) and high off the washer fluid as wanted. With the entire rain, I’ve additionally needed to commonly preserve the rear digicam clear. (Kia ought to actually contemplate including a washer for this, too.)

The most important takeaway at this primary milestone confirms what I already know: Quick charging is probably finest reserved for charging when removed from dwelling — on street journeys or when out and about. To make the EV6 actually price efficient, I will have to get at-home charging sorted, ideally utilizing cheaper off-peak energy, which we’ll deal with within the subsequent replace.