BATTLE OF MIDWAY

Who said SUVs have to be high, wide and boxy? The facelifted Kia EV6 and Skoda Enyaq Coupé blend traditional cues with a trendy, low roof approach

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"THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN 'NORMAL' CARS AND FAUX OFF-ROADERS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY HAZY"

KIA EVG vs SKODA EN

Both blur the boundaries between SUV and coupé, but which is better?

WHEN is an SUV not an SUV? It's always AEX been a tricky question, but more than ever, the boundaries between normal cars and faux off-roaders are increasingly hazy.

Electric vehicles are the reason. The ideal location for a battery is beneath the floor and between the axles, which jacks up the height of even traditionally shaped cars. Plus, the constant mission to improve efficiency in any way possible sees the roofline of SUVs become lower and more rakish, in order to improve aerodynamics and eke out a bit of extra range.

CONTENDERS
Kia EV6

IT'S common for a mid-life facelift to introduce a new front end and a revised trim structure, and that's exactly what Kia has done for the EV6. Yet there are some in-depth changes which not only freshen the original package, but make it better.

The car in these pictures is the top-of-therange model (at least until a revised EV6 GT joins the line-up later in the year). The GT-Line S AWD costs a hefty £58,125. Our pick of the line-up, the base Air model with rear-wheel drive, starts at £45,575.

HEAD TO HEAD

ON THE ROAD

KIA has softened the suspension slightly for the EV6's mid-life refresh, but it's still more unsettled than most rivals, including the Skoda.

Unfortunately the Kia is no more fun to drive in return. While the EV6's steering is precise, family EVs such as this are too heavy to be truly entertaining. We much prefer the Skoda's approach; there's no intent to be sporty, and as a result it's a more relaxing drive.

TECH HIGHLIGHTS