I test drove an EV6 today and really liked it, more than the Ioniq 5 (the interior on that one felt kind of cheap). I’d love to get some advice from those who already own one.
I live in Southern California, mostly do city driving, but I also go snowboarding and take trips to Mammoth, Tahoe, and Bear Mountain during the winter. How is the EV6 for winter driving? I’d definitely get AWD, and I noticed it has a snow mode—does it help? Have any of you installed roof racks or pods? How much do they impact performance?
I also ride an e-bike and would need to install a tow hitch for my bike rack. Have any of you done that, and how does it affect range or handling?
Also, I’m curious about charging in cold weather. Is it really a problem these days? Chargers seem to be everywhere now, but how long do you usually wait while charging?
I use mine in the mountains all the time. The ski rack fits fine, but you might want to double-check spacing for a snowboard. I used chains all season without any issues, though the manual doesn’t recommend metal chains. My Wind model has smaller tires, so maybe that’s why it worked. Snow mode is great for icy roads, and EVs have fantastic traction thanks to the even weight distribution.
Tons of us drive the EV6 in snow here in Canada. The AWD is great—feels like a tank in the snow since it’s so heavy. You’ll lose up to 30-40% range in really cold weather (below 10°F), but it still works well. I’ve got a hitch and use it to carry two bikes with no problems.
The EV6 does have an optional towing package with a hitch, which could be useful for your bike. How heavy is your e-bike? I’ve got one that’s around 40 lbs, which is the limit of my Kuat rack.
For winter range, make sure you have a heat pump. They’re standard in AWD models but might not come with FWD in SoCal. It makes a big difference in cold weather.
@sorphia
For charging, check PlugShare to find stations where you’ll be driving. You can filter for fast chargers if you need a quicker charge or slower ones if you’re leaving it for a while. Look at reviews and availability to get an idea of wait times and reliability.
@sorphia
The Kia tow hitch is ugly and overpriced. I’d recommend going with the Stealth Hitch instead. I installed it myself and even 3D-printed a cover for the hole under the rear bumper.
olivia said: @sorphia
The Kia tow hitch is ugly and overpriced. I’d recommend going with the Stealth Hitch instead. I installed it myself and even 3D-printed a cover for the hole under the rear bumper.
Good call. We were thinking of a third-party hitch for the price. It’s nice to see it’s an official option for the car.
I have the Wind RWD model and live in Michigan. It handles a variety of weather really well. I’ve had a few minor traction issues on slow turns, but otherwise, it’s been solid. I’ll swap the stock tires for Nokian all-weather tires when they wear out.
Charging has been great. On a DC fast charger, 18 minutes to charge isn’t just a gimmick—it’s real. My car’s often ready before I am after a break. Level 2 at 48A takes about 8 hours for a full charge from 20%-100%, while Level 1 takes days. Cold weather only really affects Level 1 charging, adding about 12 extra hours.
