The 2023 Kia EV6 is one of the most exciting mass-market electric vehicles on dealer lots today. In the past, early mass-market EVs came in one of two classes – sporty and economical. The early Tesla Roadster had the sporty handling of the Lotus Elise and the snappy powertrain found with an EV, but the seating limitations made it a tough sell for families. The early Nissan Leaf, on the other hand, had plenty of seating and solid cargo space with its hatchback body style, but it was one of the least exciting cars on the market, with a 0 to 60 mph time of over 11 seconds and a range of fewer than 80 miles on a full charge.

However, the Kia EV6 proves that EVs can be economical and exciting simultaneously without going all-in on a Tesla. The Kia EV6, in the end, is a Kia that can be serviced and repaired at any Kia dealer in the nation, giving peace of mind to many prospective buyers. While the Kia EV6 is an incredible vehicle, there is one downside to getting the more powerful all-wheel drive model over the base rear-wheel drive model. Here is everything you need to know about the Kia EV6 and what might stop you from pulling the trigger on the all-wheel drive model.

What’s great about the 2023 EV6?

The Kia EV6 is the first mass-market electric vehicle from Kia. It shares the same platform as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 while adding some extra power and performance. The EV6 also follows a different design language than the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 as well. While these Hyundais are more focused on offering a futuristic, cutting-edge design, the Kia EV6 looks to attract a more traditional sports car audience with a style that is more in line with other sports cars on the market.

The 2023 Kia EV6 starts at $48,700 MSRP with the EV6 Wind, and for that price, you get a ton of great features, including a 310-mile range, 800V ultra-fast DC charging capability, and a vegan leather seat trim. Heated and ventilated seats are also standard, as is an onboard power generator and an extensive 12.3-inch dual panoramic infotainment system.

The other vehicles in the Kia EV6 lineup include the Wind e-AWD, GT-Line, GT-Line AWD, and the GT, which is the top-of-the-line model available only in all-wheel drive. The GT model has a staggering 576-hp drivetrain with 545 lb-ft of torque. GT driving modes are also added, making the EV6 GT a true sports EV.

Is there a downside to choosing the Kia EV6 Wind AWD?

Range anxiety is a huge factor in buying a new EV. Many Americans do not live in a very EV-friendly location, forcing some EV buyers to only charge at home or select shopping centers with charging stations. Thankfully, range anxiety is hardly a factor anymore, with most mainstream EVs having a range of around 300 or more miles on a single charge. The 2023 Kia EV6 Wind AWD, sadly, does not have this range.

With all-wheel drive, the EV6 Wind only has around 282 miles of range, which gets even worse if you consider an EV6 GT, which only has around 206 miles of range due to its high-output horsepower. However, this range loss with all-wheel drive should not keep you from buying a Kia EV6 with all-wheel drive.

These new Kia models are offered 800V ultra-fast charging. Your Kia EV6 can be charged from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes at the proper charger. Don’t let the lower range keep you away from these Kia EVs; they are truly fantastic EVs with charging capabilities so fast that you’ll hardly miss your gas-powered vehicle.