Midcycle design updates always face the risk of going backward, but Kia avoided that pitfall. We find the revised exterior futuristic without being fussy, and the new power-extending exterior door handles work well. The new green and white interior color scheme was a particularly big hit with our judges.

Not everything is fixed, though. We still deeply dislike Kia’s dual-purpose, touch-sensitive control panel, which switches between climate and entertainment functions. The touch button that swaps the functions is difficult to find, and the whole concept introduces unnecessary complication when all you want to do is change the volume or temperature, taking your eyes needlessly off the road. We’re also still miffed the car doesn’t stay in the i-Pedal one-pedal driving mode when you turn it off and back on, something other automakers figured out years ago. And Kia still hasn’t figured out how to package a meaningful front trunk under the hood, which is disappointing given how much the raked tailgate cuts into the cargo space.

In all, Kia made a great EV even better, and it remains one of the best EVs on the market. A commendable achievement, but it’s not enough to advance in a field of vehicles that have made greater advancements in more categories.

This review was conducted as part of our 2026 SUV of the Year (SUVOTY) testing, where each vehicle is evaluated on our six key criteria: efficiency, design, safety, engineering excellence, value, and performance of intended function. Eligible vehicles must be all-new or significantly revised.

2025 Kia EV6 Wind AWD Specifications
BASE PRICE	$55,795
PRICE AS TESTED	$56,500
VEHICLE LAYOUT	Front- and rear-motor, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door electric SUV
POWERTRAIN	R: permanent-magnet motor, 221 hp, 258 lb-ft
TOTAL POWER	320 hp
TOTAL TORQUE	446 lb-ft
TRANSMISSIONS	2 x 1-speed fixed ratio
BATTERY	84.0-kWh NCM lithium-ion
CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST)	4,621 lb (49/51%)
WHEELBASE	114.2 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	184.8 x 74.0 x 60.8 in
TIRES	235/55R19 101H M+S
EPA FUEL ECONOMY, CITY/HWY/COMBINED	117/95/106 mpg-e
EPA RANGE	295 mi
70-MPH ROAD-TRIP RANGE	266 mi
MT FAST-CHARGING TEST	160 mi @ 15 min, 232 mi @ 30 min
ON SALE	Now
MotorTrend Test Results
0-60 MPH	4.4 sec
QUARTER MILE	13.1 sec @ 103.4 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	124 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION	0.79 g
FIGURE-EIGHT LAP	26.1 sec @ 0.72 g (avg)