2026 Kia EV6: Is It Worth It on a Novated Lease?
The refreshed 2026 Kia EV6 is here — sharper looks, better dynamics, higher price. Here's what that means if you're considering a novated lease. Read on.
The 2026 Kia EV6 has just landed in Australian reviews, and the verdict is broadly positive — sharper styling, genuinely impressive handling, and a polished update to one of the more popular EVs in the novated lease market. According to The Driven's drive test [Source 1], the GT-Line RWD variant demonstrates that Kia has meaningfully refined the EV6 in the five years since its debut. The catch, as the headline signals, is the price has moved upward with the improvements.
For a PAYG employee weighing up whether to put one of these on a novated lease, that price movement matters — but it doesn't necessarily kill the proposition. The FBT exemption for eligible battery electric vehicles, which has applied since April 2025, means the sticker price is only one part of the equation. The tax treatment through your employer's payroll can shift the real cost considerably relative to buying the same car out of pocket.
What this means for novated lease customers
The EV6 has consistently been one of the more sought-after vehicles through millarX's novated book, partly because it sits in a segment — mid-size EV crossover — that appeals to a wide range of employees, and partly because Kia's residual values have held reasonably well. The 2026 update doesn't change the fundamental mechanics of leasing it, but there are a few things worth thinking through.
FBT exemption eligibility still applies to battery electric vehicles under the luxury car tax threshold (or those that were under threshold at the time of first retail sale — the ATO guidance on this is worth reading carefully before you sign anything). The EV6 GT-Line RWD sits in territory where pricing and variant selection can affect whether a specific configuration qualifies, so confirm with your novated lease provider before committing. At millarX we check this as a standard step.
The refreshed model also means outgoing 2025 EV6 stock may be available at reduced drive-away pricing through dealers clearing inventory — sometimes the previous-generation model on a novated lease offers stronger overall value than chasing the new one. Worth asking the question.
Common questions
Is the 2026 Kia EV6 eligible for the FBT exemption on a novated lease?
Battery electric vehicles including the EV6 are generally eligible for the FBT exemption introduced by the Australian Government, subject to the luxury car tax threshold rules at the time of first retail sale. Pricing on higher-spec variants can put them close to or over the threshold, so confirm the specific configuration you're ordering with your provider before proceeding.
Does the higher 2026 price make the novated lease less worthwhile?
Not necessarily. The tax benefit through a novated lease scales with your income and the cost of the vehicle, so a higher-priced car can still represent strong potential savings compared to buying it outright after tax. The question is whether the upgrade justifies the delta over a prior-model or a competing EV at a lower price point.
Can I novated lease the outgoing 2025 EV6 now that the new model is out?
Yes — dealer demo or run-out stock of the 2025 model can absolutely be leased through a novated arrangement. Dealers clearing old stock sometimes offer more aggressive pricing, which can work well in combination with the FBT exemption.
How does a novated lease on an EV compare to a standard car loan?
With a novated lease on an eligible EV, your repayments come from pre-tax salary and running costs can be bundled in, so the comparison to a post-tax car loan isn't straightforward. For most PAYG employees on average or above-average incomes, the pre-tax treatment produces meaningful potential savings — but the exact outcome depends on your income, employer, and lease terms.
Does millarX handle Kia EV6 novated leases?
Yes. The EV6 is a vehicle we regularly arrange for employees. We're ACL-licensed (569484) and AFCA-registered, and we check FBT eligibility and threshold status as part of our standard process.