Kia EV6 GT-Line S – The EV that’s still ahead of the pack

In the ever-growing universe of electric vehicles, the Kia EV6 continues to shine brightly. First launched in 2021 and now comprehensively updated for 2025, this new iteration of the EV6 is more than just a facelift, having a bigger battery capacity which provides up to 361 miles and some nifty tech updates that keep it ahead of the trailing pack.

The GT-Line S trim, which I’ve been driving around the Scottish Borders is the top trim (if you don’t count the bonkers GT model), bringing with it an arsenal of technology, safety kit and luxury touches that elevate it beyond many rivals. Aimed at eco-conscious families, style-savvy professionals and anyone looking for a premium electric experience the EV6 GT-Line S is very much Kia at its most confident—and rightly so.

Exterior Styling: Still a Head-Turner?

Yes, I think so. It always has been for me, due to its coupe-crossover silhouette, long wheelbase and short overhangs which give it a hunkered-down stance that hints at performance but never drifts into excess. The refreshed front end wears a sleeker interpretation of Kia’s so-called ‘Digital Tiger Face’ grille. Pincer-shaped LED headlamps and a sculpted bonnet complete a front profile that’s assertive but remains stylish.

Around the back, the full-width LED light bar lends the EV6 a futuristic edge, while the tapered roofline and aerodynamic haunches give it a sense of motion even when standing still. Flush door handles pop out as you approach, while blacked-out pillars create a ‘floating roof’ effect. A cool looking EV – of which there aren’t many.

Trim Levels and Pricing: What You Get, What You Pay

Kia keeps things pleasingly simple with the EV6 lineup. There are three trims: Air, GT-Line, and GT-Line S. Each offers a different flavour of the EV6 experience but even the base Air comes generously equipped.

Air models start at a lowly £39,235 for the 63.0kWh (167bhp) model, while every other iteration packs the larger 84.0kWh battery. You can spec the Air model with the larger battery for £45,585. It comes with a rear-wheel drive setup and 361 miles of range. Standard kit includes LED lights, a pair of 12.3-inch screens (infotainment and main cluser), heated seats and steering wheel, smart cruise control, and a solid list of safety systems. It’s hardly spartan.

Step up to the GT-Line (from £48,585) and you’ll find a few styling enhancements inside and out—gloss black accents, upgraded upholstery and ambient lighting, as well as Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist. The GT-Line is also where the all-wheel drive option enters, bringing more performance at the expense of a little range. It boasts 320bhp instead of the 225bhp of the RWD versions and will set you back £52,085.

The GT-Line S, priced from £53,685, is where things go full on. You get 20-inch alloys, a panoramic sunroof, a 360-degree surround view monitor, Remote Smart Parking Assist, a premium Meridian sound system, heated rear seats, ventilated front seats and an augmented reality-style head-up display. It’s the kind of spec list that makes even premium German rivals look stingy.

You can choose the GT-Line S with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The former offers up to 347 miles of range, while the latter sacrifices some efficiency for performance, reducing that to 324 miles. Either way, you’re getting a car that’s capable of going a good distance.

You can also spec your GT-Line S with a heat pump for pre-conditioning in those cold, winter months, but expect to add around £1,000 for the privilege.

What’s It Like to Drive?

Kia’s engineers have clearly spent some quality time refining the way the EV6 drives, and it shows. Unlike some electric crossovers that default to ‘floaty and numb’, the EV6 delivers a genuinely engaging experience from behind the wheel—without getting crashy on our destroyed, UK roads.

The batteries sit low between the axles, giving the car an impressively low centre of gravity which translates into excellent cornering stability and confidence-inspiring handling. You can carry speed through bends without the wallow or lean that plagues taller rivals. The suspension, newly upgraded with frequency-selective dampers, delivers a smooth ride on rough tarmac and remains composed over potholes and expansion joints. It feels solid and refined – like a car built to cover serious miles without wearing you down.

What might wear you down, however, is the compulsory bings and bongs that accompany you on any journey. Expect a bing when the speed limit changes, a bing and bong when you have the audacity to stray 1mph above the speed limit and more bings and bongs if you cross a white line (easily done on the narrow, twisty and often muddy lanes around our village). Even wearing sunglasses can invoke a telling off as the driver monitoring system can’t tell if you’ve nodded off or not . . .

However, the steering is light and accurate, making the EV6 easy to place on tight roads or manoeuvre around town. It gains weight nicely at speed and feels well calibrated in sport mode, even if it doesn’t quite offer hot hatch levels of feedback. What it does offer, however, is a surprising willingness to get a move on.

Rear-wheel drive models produce 225bhp and 350Nm of torque—enough to sprint from 0 to 62mph in a respectable 7.7 seconds. All-wheel drive models crank that up to 320bhp and 605Nm, slashing the sprint to 5.3 seconds. That’s quick in anyone’s book. Crucially, the power delivery is smooth and predictable, with none of the twitchiness some EVs suffer from under heavy throttle.

Noise insulation is excellent, too. Kia has beefed up the rear motor soundproofing, and it makes a difference. Even on the motorway, wind and tyre noise are impressively low. Combined with the supple ride and serene electric drivetrain, the EV6 becomes a fantastic long-distance cruiser – once you’ve ventured into the menus and banished the bing-bong monster.

The braking system is another highlight. Regenerative braking is adjustable via steering wheel paddles, and the four-stage system integrates seamlessly with the mechanical brakes. i-Pedal mode allows for true one-pedal driving in traffic, making stop-start conditions less tiresome; I use it all the time in cars that offer the facility and find it becomes second-nature very quickly.

When you do need to stop for a charge, the improved maximum DC charging speed (now 258W) means a 10-80% charge will only take 18 minutes – if you can find a charger quick enough.

The Inside Story?

Step inside the EV6 GT-Line S and you’re now greeted by a cabin that feels as modern as its powertrain suggests. Twin 12.3-inch curved screens dominate the dashboard, wrapping gently toward the driver to create a cockpit-like feel. They’re bright, crisp and intuitive, offering everything from navigation and media to detailed EV data and driving assist displays. You won’t need a PhD to work them either—Kia’s latest infotainment system, now powered by its new ccNC architecture, is quick, responsive and logical.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are finally present, and they work seamlessly. The infotainment setup supports split-screen operation, allowing you to view battery range, media, and navigation simultaneously.

The climate control uses a touch-sensitive strip that switches between media and temp controls depending on your needs – which is a little fiddly but far more user-friendly than burying it all in a submenu.

Material quality is top drawer. Soft-touch surfaces abound, with eco-conscious materials used throughout. It doesn’t scream opulence, but it feels solid, thoughtfully built and more premium than you might expect. Ambient lighting adds a layer of sophistication after dark, and the panoramic sunroof floods the cabin with natural light.

The seats are heated and ventilated up front, with generous bolstering and plenty of adjustment, they’re comfortable for hours behind the wheel. The driving position is lower than in many crossovers, adding to the GT-like character.

Rear passengers don’t get short-changed either. There’s limo-like legroom thanks to the long wheelbase, and the flat floor means three-abreast seating is genuinely viable. The rear seats are heated in the GT-Line S and recline slightly for extra comfort. USB-C ports are neatly tucked into the seatbacks, which should keep the kids happy, and there’s ample space for feet, knees and heads.

The boot offers 480 litres of space, which is more than enough for family duties. Fold the rear seats and you get up to 1,300 litres. There’s also a small frunk in the front—ideal for stashing charging cables and keeping them separate from your shopping.

Conclusion

The Kia EV6 GT-Line S is the kind of car that makes you question long-held assumptions. Like the idea that Kia can’t do premium. Or that EVs must be either boring or brutally expensive. This is a car that’s confident in its identity, packed with clever tech, and very easy to live with.

It blends style, refinement and genuine performance into a package that feels every bit as sophisticated as it looks. The fact that it also comes with a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty and one of the most complete standard specs in the game makes it one of the most compelling EVs on sale today. Of course, it’s not perfect, but as an all-rounder, the Kia EV6 GT-Line S gets it right in just about every meaningful way.