Good Kia EV6 Review.

[MrClean]

Looks great. I have the same trim / color on order.

It’s a great car. A little softer than I’m used to, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Even though it is almost a second slower to 60 than the GTPE I have on order, it is still very quick, and pulls hard well above 80. I don’t think there is a noticeable lack of power until you’re at a pretty low soc.

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[MrClean]

It’s a decent face.

Now show us its Butt!

I’ll agree that this was something that concerned me in pictures, but the more I look at it the more it works.

 

[Mach1E]

I’ll agree that this was something that concerned me in pictures, but the more I look at it the more it works.

It’s a butt alright.

They just couldn’t resist making it look like a Prius somewhere.

 

[Scooby24]

It’s a butt alright.

They just couldn’t resist making it look like a Prius somewhere.

Black tint on the bar light on the back makes it look much better imo.

 

[Mach1E]

Black tint on the bar light on the back makes it look much better imo.

Better yes, but it still looks like someone put their shirt on backwards.

 

[Pushrods&Capacitors]

Saw my first EV6 GT-line while at an EA charger last week. Looks really sharp in person, even the back end, photos just don’t convey it well. However, was mildly disappointed to see it only got 261 miles of it’s EPA rated 274 mile range in Edmunds’ really comprehensive EV range test. MME 4X got 304 miles on a 270 rating and GTPE got 272 on a 260 rating.

So, the EV6 performs more like an MME 4X but has the range of a GT. ??‍ Still, I like the fact that the front seats are also ventilated and that 350kWh charging speed looks mighty nice. Oh yeah, the factory wheels are rubbish just like the 4X.

 

[Pyrophilus]

The vehicle to load function is worth thousands of dollars to me. I strongly considered trading in my MME for that function since it could replace an Ecoflow Delta Pro 3.6 kWh battery at about $3,500. Apparently the EV6 can put out 1900 watts continuous for 36 hours with the VTL tech. Unfortunately, the markups are pretty bad and I can’t get over paying above MSRP for a Kia.

The opposite was the case for me and my wife. She really liked the MME, and as an ICE Mustang GT owner, I had to nod in agreement when ICE Mustang folks say, "MME is not a mustang!" But like my wife said, we both hate the Tesla's looks and compared to any other EV's out there, we have to give it to Ford that the MME is one nice looking car.

This being said, I spent 2+ hours at work (shh... ) calling/emailing every Ford dealer in a 300mi radius to our house (NYC suburbs). The lowest ADM was $6000 over MSRP for a premium, most dealer said $10,000 ADM. Most ford sales folks acted like I was shopping for a GT500. In the end, I really think if Ford corporate doesn't do anything about the markups, I fear that mach E will struggle.

If Ford dealers had zero markups (please, dealers make it sound like they are giving cars away if they sell them at MSRP. I am sure manufacturers took dealer profit in kind when they set the MSRPs), I think they really would have dented model Y sales (every single new model Y owner that I spoke to said they would have gotten the MME but they did not want to pay thousands extra to get a MME).

IMHO, I think MMe had a really good chance at disrupting model Y sales, but at lease in the parts where I live, it actually helped generate EV interest and these folks tried to buy a MMe but ended up getting a model Y in frustration, which means it actually helped Tesla generate sales.

Back to EV6. Yes, most dealers around me had $10000 markups, but I have found a few Kia dealers in NJ and CT that had zero markups but they were selling it at MSRP only to local customers. One of the kia saleswoman told me over the phone that they want the local sale customers to not feel like they got "ripped off" by the dealer with the ADM. But when I told her my son story she said the rule isn't written in stone so she will be willing to sell us at MSRP if we can make the 2 hour drive down.

I agreed to go down after work, but as I am on the phone, I fear the phone ring and after putting me on hold, she says a guy who saw the EV6 Gt-line over the weekend wants to come in and take another look at 1pm. At 2pm, she called and said he put a deposit on the car.

I called the closest Kia dealer who actually said they had adm, but when we went in to take a look at a black GT-line, we got talking to the sales guy and after hearing our frustrations, he said that they have $3000 ADM, but ended up convincing us to pay deposit.

Would I like to purchase cars at MSRP? Yes, every single vehicle that I have purchased, I got $3000-$6000 below MSRP until this nonsense.

While my wife liked and preferred the mach-e exterior, we aren't going to pay $65000 for a $55000 MMe prem. Even with the 3k ADM on the ev6 Gt-line, the kia came put at $61000.

We would have had to pay extra $4000 to get the MMe so we can have the "good looks", but lose: ventilated seats (that actually work unlike the Ford ones in my ICE Mustang GT), much more "integrated looking" dash (not a fan of the "tablet glued on dash look), HUD, the blinker camera (amazing), 800v charging capability, the list goes on and on.

With ioniq 5, ev6 and the ariya arriving, I am afraid the dealers marking up MMe basically got rid of any of the advantages of MMe beating the other manufacturers to have a real competition against Tesla. I am afraid that if dealers keep up the adm, MMe will end up getting squeezed between Y and all of the other upcomong/arrived MMe competitors.

I wish Ford dealers would wake up and actually think about what is going to happen next year.

 

[Mach1E]

I wish Ford dealers would wake up and actually think about what is going to happen next year.

They have.

There is a 9+ month waiting list for the car you were looking for. And you found out the price to “skip the line.”

Dealers had record profits last year, projected to have even higher profits in 2022.

So with an almost year long waiting list, what are you predicting for 2023 exactly?

 

[Petey]

@Pyrophilus - EV6 owner here: The one thing that has pleasantly surprised me is the build and ride quality. Apple car play has hiccuped a couple of times, but otherwise things work reliably, the doors close with a solid thud, nothing rattles... it just feels really solid like everything is in it's place and works as expected.

The drive is also a ton of fun. We live near the mountains, and driving it through the canyons is like my own personal roller coaster zipping around turns.

The only complaints I have are things that are immediately obvious:

• the MME looks better imo (subjective), physical size of MME offers more storage
• the interior trim on EV6 GT-Line could have used better materials
• the sound system is lacking (this could probably be fixed with some $$$)

Otherwise EV6 has:

• heads up display (At least mine does)
• the paddle regen brake setup is super handy
• I can easily get 3.5 mi / kwhr, I'm not sure I would be quite as efficient in MME
• it really takes off at a stop light. there is no power reduction, and this thing is a beast when you let it rip
• while I don't really care for the materials / quality - I do kind of like the fake suede when combined with cooled seats. especially now that the temps are climbing

 

[Cm12]

IMHO, I think MMe had a really good chance at disrupting model Y sales, but at lease in the parts where I live, it actually helped generate EV interest and these folks tried to buy a MMe but ended up getting a model Y in frustration, which means it actually helped Tesla generate sales.

That’s an interesting note - the ADM renders the MME about the same price as the MY, which holds its value extremely well. It’s TBD how well the MME fares over time, but the residuals that were given to dealers looked awful. I doubt they truly drop 50% in 3 years, but who knows.

I agree that Ford crapped the bed in some ways on this. The dealers make good money, and they’re Ford’s direct customers. The retail buyer is more of an indirect customer. I bought 2 MMEs and had reserved a Lightning, but after seeing how badly Ford dealers were screwing people, I’ve decided that I’m absolutely done with Ford. They’ve had a long history of pulling nonsense like this and I thought I could get over it but I simply can’t. I cancelled my Lightning reservation, put a pre-order down for a Rivian R1T, and will sell my MME when it arrives. Sure, all brands and dealers pull this stuff to some extent, but Ford is the most egregious (and yes, I know Chevy and Dodge/Ram aren’t far behind). I don’t think Ford really cares because it doesn’t affect their bottom line, but they’ve lost a customer for life in me.

 

[SWO]

I’ll agree that this was something that concerned me in pictures, but the more I look at it the more it works.

It might just be me, but I think the rear 1/4 view of the EV6 is the best view of the EV6/Ioniq5 twins.

 

[Awmustang]

If Ford dealers had zero markups (please, dealers make it sound like they are giving cars away if they sell them at MSRP. I am sure manufacturers took dealer profit in kind when they set the MSRPs), I think they really would have dented model Y sales (every single new model Y owner that I spoke to said they would have gotten the MME but they did not want to pay thousands extra to get a MME).

Considering Ford can't make the cars fast enough, I don't think any more would have sold if they were giving a $10,000 discount instead of ADM. Ford doesn't currently have the production capacity to make a dent in model Y sales. Price and ADM have nothing to do with it.

 

[SWO]

That’s an interesting note - the ADM renders the MME about the same price as the MY, which holds its value extremely well. It’s TBD how well the MME fares over time, but the residuals that were given to dealers looked awful. I doubt they truly drop 50% in 3 years, but who knows.

I agree that Ford crapped the bed in some ways on this. The dealers make good money, and they’re Ford’s direct customers. The retail buyer is more of an indirect customer. I bought 2 MMEs and had reserved a Lightning, but after seeing how badly Ford dealers were screwing people, I’ve decided that I’m absolutely done with Ford. They’ve had a long history of pulling nonsense like this and I thought I could get over it but I simply can’t. I cancelled my Lightning reservation, put a pre-order down for a Rivian R1T, and will sell my MME when it arrives. Sure, all brands and dealers pull this stuff to some extent, but Ford is the most egregious (and yes, I know Chevy and Dodge/Ram aren’t far behind). I don’t think Ford really cares because it doesn’t affect their bottom line, but they’ve lost a customer for life in me.

You don't like ADMs, so you cancelled your order and put a reservation down on a vehicle that just went through a 20% markup? Based on backorders and history, Rivian is likely to increase your price again, too.

 

[voxel]

IMHO, I think MMe had a really good chance at disrupting model Y sales, but at lease in the parts where I live, it actually helped generate EV interest and these folks tried to buy a MMe but ended up getting a model Y in frustration, which means it actually helped Tesla generate sales.

Here in Florida, I met a bunch of potential EV owners at Hyundai and Kia dealers (while at test drives) who were buying an Ioniq 5 or EV6 because they could not wait 6-12 months for a Model Y.

You see this online + social media too. Folks are sick of waiting for a Mach-E or Model Y and buy an EV6 or Ioniq 5.

Both the Mach-E and Model Y (Long Range) have long waits... both are easily 6+ months. So "getting a Model Y in frustration" doesn't really happen unless they order the Performance which has a slightly shorter wait time.

 

[vinny2487]

That’s an interesting note - the ADM renders the MME about the same price as the MY, which holds its value extremely well. It’s TBD how well the MME fares over time, but the residuals that were given to dealers looked awful. I doubt they truly drop 50% in 3 years, but who knows.

I agree that Ford crapped the bed in some ways on this. The dealers make good money, and they’re Ford’s direct customers. The retail buyer is more of an indirect customer. I bought 2 MMEs and had reserved a Lightning, but after seeing how badly Ford dealers were screwing people, I’ve decided that I’m absolutely done with Ford. They’ve had a long history of pulling nonsense like this and I thought I could get over it but I simply can’t. I cancelled my Lightning reservation, put a pre-order down for a Rivian R1T, and will sell my MME when it arrives. Sure, all brands and dealers pull this stuff to some extent, but Ford is the most egregious (and yes, I know Chevy and Dodge/Ram aren’t far behind). I don’t think Ford really cares because it doesn’t affect their bottom line, but they’ve lost a customer for life in me.

So you canceled a Lightning yet put a deposit down on a Rivian that just did the same exact thing you're complaining about?

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