WE DIDN’T SEE THIS COMING…
So often Giant Test verdicts involve heated debate. Not this time. There’s a clear winner. The Kia.
It drives the best, has the classiest cabin and the most advanced electronics, and is the most comfortable on broken B-roads or smooth motorways. It’s a striking looking car and shows the many upsides of EV ownership, not least a cabin that’s outstandingly space-ecient.
Fast charging offered by its 800-volt architecture also offers clear practical advantages. You can supposedly charge it, on a 350kW charger, in just 18 minutes from 10 to 80 per cent. Mind you, it took us twice as long at Gridserve in Braintree. And 18 minutes is still about five times slower than refuelling a petrol car.
The EV6 is further evidence that the Koreans have, more successfully than most car makers, navigated the treacherous path from hardware-dominated mechanical engineering to software-dependent electronics. On top of the impressive Ioniq 5, here is another electric car that’s right up there with the very best. The only disappointment is that, despite its power and poise, it still isn’t much fun to drive. But then none of these cars is. The GTX is more entertaining and composed on challenging roads than the Mustang, and just as comfortable and assured on dual carriageways. It’s smaller and more space-ecient, its style is tidier if less distinctive. But it doesn’t feel like a sports machine, let alone a proper GTI. A standard Golf is still more engaging to drive, the Golf GTI on a different planet. By comparison, the EV6 is more composed at speed, and rides better.
If you want a sporty SUV or crossover, look elsewhere. If you’re after a brisk and capable mid-size crossover EV, there’s much to commend the ID.4. But save £15k and buy a ‘normal’ ID.4 and forget the GTI/GTX pretence.
So, after some debate, we’re handing the silver medal to the Mustang. It’s a flawed car, but it’s also a car of character. In key areas, it’s also a more convincing EV than the VW, from its more intuitive controls to its faster infotainment response times. Spend a bit more and go for the Extended Range version and you can also get Tesla-beating range.
So, a Kia beats a Mustang to the top step. As another US legend once said, the times, they are a-changing.