12 Months with a Kia EV6 GT — Placing the Hoons in Their Place

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We met up with Shayne and Amy Aberhart at our Bundaberg EV show as a part of Agrotrend. Amy was there to take care of the First Assist wants of the attendees, and Shayne got here alongside later to talk about his Kia EV6 GT. In a fortuitous flip of occasions, Amy occurred throughout our Tesla whereas she was searching for a spot to park. We talked her into leaving her automotive to be a part of our show. We have been in dire want of extra EVs, as we solely had our Tesla Mannequin 3 SR and John Baldwin’s MG4 to point out the general public.

We had beforehand had a short take a look at the Kia EV6 GT in Gympie, the place it was touted because the world’s finest efficiency automotive. However the salesman didn’t actually know the automotive.

Now was an opportunity to speak to somebody who had lived with and loved the Kia EV6 for a 12 months. Shayne shared his love of the Kia in dialog with Majella and I smelled an fascinating article cooking in my head, so right here we go in his personal phrases:

By Shayne Aberhart

I suppose I’ll begin off with some priming info. I trip motorbikes primarily — a GSX-1300R and a ZX-14R. Some record-breaking machines, so that you perceive that I like to go quick.

I selected the KIA EV6 GT as a result of I needed to go quick and have enjoyable, whereas sustaining a sufficiently subtle look to mix in, however slick sufficient to be proud to personal by seems to be alone. My associate needed a automotive that she may match extra in and have extra floor clearance than the previous 2007 Chrysler 300C SRT we used to drive each day. We’ve since bought the Chrysler and rely solely on the EV6 since we’ve got whole religion in it after round 6 months. I primarily earn a living from home with a second job, so there’s no arguing over who takes it for the day, however once we exit collectively, I all the time insist on driving. It’s simply an excessive amount of enjoyable.

We checked out a couple of vehicles over per week, and notably a WRX STI. After that take a look at drive the salesperson requested the way it was. “Extremely underwhelming” I mentioned with confidence and my response shocked the poor man. You’d anticipate one thing with an STI badge to stand up and out the gate like a mad bull on a mission, however as an alternative it simply kinda moseyed alongside like a wounded cow. I additionally drove a Hyundai Kona…. However we gained’t discuss that.

There weren’t many different vehicles that might even examine. Teslas round city have been all second hand and for my part have changed the Holden commodore in reputation round cities. I needed one thing I hadn’t seen typically. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 with its retro-futuristic look and Inoiq 6 have been an in depth second and third alternative. Some notable choices have been the Jaguar E-Tempo and even a Vary Rover hybrid, which we didn’t take a look at drive, sadly.

Our job consists of typically being referred to as at early hours of the morning, and the Kia EV6 GT is ideal for sneaking away at evening with out disturbing the neighbours and even the native pets within the space.

Amy and I work as funeral administrators. Amy does all of the day work, assembly with households, trade companions, and travelling between a number of websites many MANY instances a day. I help with the evening duties together with Amy and we’ve been doing this collectively for properly over 10 years. Through the day, the automotive is often sitting in a parking lot round very prosperous buildings, so it suits in very properly amongst some excessive priced Mercedes, BMW, and Porsche vehicles to call a couple of. Throughout work providers, it’s even utilized by colleagues to sneak away with out disturbing proceedings. However we’re fairly positive they only need an excuse to drive it.

We’ve had the automotive (affectionately referred to as Eevee) for nearly precisely 1 12 months on the time of penning this and haven’t regretted it for a second.

Charging has by no means been a problem. By no means obtained caught out in the course of nowhere, and each different EV proprietor will both transfer on to a different charger nearer to their vacation spot if we REALLY wanted to cost or no one was on the stations and it was a breeze.

Lack of charging stations isn’t a problem, as I’m positive you’re conscious. It’s lack of high-powered charging stations that’s a problem. Although, I’ve no issues with strolling round and grabbing a espresso or having a fast feed whereas I discover the native space.

Lengthy distances to locations I’ve by no means been within the automotive generally is a little nerve racking, however when you’ve carried out it as soon as and plan the route, these worries disappear the subsequent time.

Folks touch upon the automotive on a regular basis, need to know what it’s, vary, comforts, and many others.

And getting seems to be from the footpath are all the time ego boosting, simply want I had an engine to rev although. However the sound system by Meridian is high tier, very pleasing to the ears, and I do know they will all the time hear the thumping coming from the little subwoofer within the boot.

I’ve taken on many automotive fans (each Japanese and muscle) — newer drivers which can be inexperienced and imagine their vehicles are quicker than sound, often sporting a P-Plate on their automotive and fairly a couple of motorbikes for a drag — since I’ve had it. The Kia handles like a rollercoaster and takes off like a lower snake. At all times met with smiles afterwards and feedback like “Holy S#*t that factor’s quick.”

Being in a small city hasn’t induced many points. I can get from one facet to the opposite with stop-go visitors and the automotive solely makes use of perhaps 5% battery. However that’s all relative and dependant on temperature, air-con utilization, and whether or not I determine to ever take it out of sport-mode.

Truly, I see loads of Kia EV6s getting round city, however simply the bottom fashions they usually have authorities plates … often parked on the hospital or the division of transport.

I’m glad the police are beginning to look into EVs for his or her vehicles. They’ll sustain with nearly every thing on the highway with the low centre of gravity, however the yellow color will most likely make me giggle if I see one in particular person. It’s simply not a flattering visible for the EV6.

Once I first obtained the automotive, I took my retired police buddy for a trip in it and it blew his socks off, he couldn’t imagine it was that fast off the showroom flooring.

I additionally took my very rich boss for a trip and now he needs one. He even mentioned, “You’d pay for a high greenback Porsche to get this easy and quick of a trip.” After these experiences, I all the time inform folks to place their heads on the headrest earlier than displaying them what it will possibly do.

At all times my go-to for a enjoyable hoon session and placing XR6 turbos of their place. But when I need to showcase, be a nuisance, beat anybody on the highway and get away… it’ll be the bikes.

Thanks, Amy and Shayne — seems to be just like the Queensland police have been listening. See the information report in this video. It is likely to be price the price of a ticket to be pulled over by one among these. Within the regional metropolis of Bundaberg, the long run is vivid and electrical.