It started like most good drives do—with a full charge and nowhere in particular to be. First stop, Port Colborne, Ontario, where Lake Erie laps at the southern edge of town and ships silently glide through the Welland Canal like floating giants. It’s a town with character, calm, and just enough charm to make you think about staying longer than planned.
But today, I had something new to explore: the 2025 Kia EV6 Land AWD. Finished in Panthera Metal and gleaming in the morning sun, it looked like a concept car that snuck off the auto show floor. And lucky me—I had the keys. Well, not keys exactly. Just a start button, a fingerprint scanner, and a whole lot of electrons waiting to go.
Exterior: The EV6 Land AWD draws attention like a boat horn in fog—subtle at first, then impossible to ignore. People stopped me in parking lots. Someone actually rolled down their window and asked, “What is that?” My response: “It’s a Kia.” Their expression: priceless.
Kia’s designers really got this one right. From the pixel-style LED headlights up front to the sporty rear diffuser and full-width taillight bar, the EV6 doesn’t copy anything else on the road. It leads. It leans into its futuristic vibe without tipping into parody. The flush door handles pop out like the car is offering a handshake. And those 20-inch alloys on the Land trim with Premium Package? Chef’s kiss.
Powertrain: The first time I pressed the accelerator; I laughed out loud. This car moves, especially in Sport mode. And not in a “sports car growl and drama” way—but in a clean, quiet, immediate surge that feels like being launched by a polite Canadian rocket. With 320 kW and 446 pound-feet of torque, the dual motors make easy work of the road ahead. One on the front axle, one on the rear, working together in perfect, whisper-quiet harmony.
I slipped onto Highway 3 heading out toward Wainfleet, passing slow-moving tractors and delivery vans with silent, smug ease. The updated 84.0 kWh battery gave me just shy of 475 km of range on a full charge, and despite my occasional… enthusiasm with the throttle, I was still looking at a healthy buffer.
Later, I stopped at a fast charger near Welland. Plugged in at 15%, grabbed a coffee, and by the time I had finished my butter tart from The Buttertart Shack (don’t judge), I was already over 80%. Just like that.
Interior Design: Open the door and step into calm. That’s how it felt. The EV6 cabin is minimalist without being cold—kind of like an upscale Airbnb designed by someone who knows their way around a charging cable.
The vegan leather seats were both heated and ventilated, which came in handy as Port Colborne offered up its usual “four seasons in a day” weather pattern. I had the seat heater on in the morning, AC by the lake, and back to cozy warmth for the evening drive home.
There’s a curved 12.3-inch digital cluster in front of me, seamlessly joined with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen angled just so. The rotary gear selector sits where a gear stick once ruled, now replaced by something that feels more spacecraft than sedan.
And the heat pump? A game changer. Driving electric in Canada means winter can’t be an afterthought—and Kia’s system keeps the range intact even when the snow flies.
Infotainment: I’m usually a “just give me my maps and music” kind of guy, but the EV6 made me linger. The interface is fast, sharp, and easy to use. Menus are logical. Controls are snappy. The Meridian sound system? Glorious. The opening chords of The Eagles “Hotel California” never sounded so good.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard—though oddly still wired, which is a rare stumble in an otherwise very modern package. Still, it is easy to queue up your playlist, and let the car do the rest.
The Drive: The joy of the EV6 isn’t just in the numbers. It’s in how those numbers translate into the drive.
Cruising out to Long Beach Conservation Area, the ride was smooth and composed. The suspension soaked up bumps, but the handling stayed sharp through country corners and lakeside twists. The car feels planted, confident, and completely at home in small towns or on sweeping rural highways.
And because the EV6 is so quiet, I found myself noticing more—birds along the canal, the wind across the fields, the faint buzz of bees near roadside blooms. It turns every drive into a kind of meditation. Fast meditation, sure. But soothing all the same.
Conclusion: As the sun set over Lake Erie, a flock of geese flew overhead and the lighthouse blinked to life. The EV6 and I had shared a day of exploration, a few bursts of speed, and more than a few head turns.
2025 Kia EV6 Land AWD
2025 Kia EV6 Land AWD
2025 Kia EV6 Land AWD
2025 Kia EV6 Land AWD
2025 Kia EV6 Land AWD
And as I plugged it in for the night, I didn’t feel like I was parking a car. I felt like I was tucking away a little piece of the future—quiet, confident, and ready for the next road.
And let me tell you: the future feels fantastic.
2025 Kia EV6 Land AWD
Price as tested: $62,495.00
Freight: $2,150.00
Configuration: All-wheel drive
Engine/transmission: 84 kWh battery/shift-by-wire
Power/torque: 320 horsepower/ 446 lb-ft of torque
Warranties: 5-years/100,000 km (basic)
Competitors: Ford Mustang E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Tesla Model Y, Volkswagen ID.4
Website: Kia Canada