We had placed great expectations on the Kia EV6 and we have to tell you that, after our first contact, they have been surpassed by image, quality and efficiency.
The new family of electric cars from Kia called EV and its most important model, the least for now, is what gives meaning to this new range of cars powered by electricity, ie this EV6 that after analyzing last month April in static, we have finally been able to test now.
Given that the number that accompanies the initials EV represents the position of the car in the range we can say that we are facing an intermediate level as the Korean brand intends to launch from an EV1 to an EV8 that our spies have already ‘hunted’.
2022 Kia EV6 features
Kia says this car is inspired by the Imagine prototype they introduced in 2019 and therefore features a somewhat quirky design that results in this coupe-style crossover. The car measures 4.68 meters long by 1.88 wide and 1.55 high , with a wheelbase of 2.90 m. We are, therefore, before a vehicle with a raised body, but with aerodynamic shapes and generous dimensions, which are amplified a little more when we see the vehicle live. It should be noted that the EV6 GT-line and EV6 GT versions add another 15 millimeters in width and 10 in height.
The brand’s new design philosophy, called ‘United Opposites’ , is inspired by the contrasts found in nature and humanity. In practice, these leave us with a front led by optical groups with LED technology that have a new lighting signature and different animations. These are located very at the ends leaving a gap in the middle for a small black grille and the brand logo, anchored on a lowering hood with two very sharp lines. Below them we find a bumper with a large air intake that occupies the entire width of the vehicle, although it is only functional in the central part.
On the side we appreciate an ascending beltline that communicates with a marked C-pillar, recessed handles that improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle, the rather bulky fins, especially at the rear, as well as a roof with a progressive drop. The skirts are also striking and the rims are 20 inches in size, mounted on 245/55 R20 size tires. These have an aerodynamic five-spoke design and leave visible ventilated discs.
At the rear, what stands out the most is this thin strip of led lights that extends across the width of the car, with a significant drop as it approaches the rear wings. Below it we find a silver decorative element and a sculpted gate that shows off the brand’s new logo and the model’s distinctive. As for the bumper, it is painted almost entirely black and does not have any air outlet or a diffuser that is reserved for the more performance versions. In this sense, we have the sportiest touch with a curved spoiler that has two openings to improve aerodynamic resistance and the marked fall of the rear window. Seen from the outside, it’s time to discover it inside.
Very spacious interior
Well, I’m already sitting in the EV6 and the first sensations are very positive since the cabin exudes quality from every corner and the space that we find in these front seats is quite generous.
To this we add a somewhat elevated driving position that allows us to see the shapes of the hood, with very comfortable seats created from recycled plastics equivalent to 111 bottles of water and whose design is reminiscent of the seats of certain Mercedes. Kia has chosen to introduce two 12.3-inch screens that act as the instrument panel and infotainment system, with a very good appearance and slightly oriented towards the driver. The physical buttons are still present, although most of the functions are controlled from tactile keys with quick response and very well located, especially those in charge of managing the air conditioning and those located in a floating center console of the most striking.
All this is completed with a surface to charge the mobile wirelessly, different slots and a Meridiam sound system with 14 speakers. The EV6 also features an augmented reality (AR) screen that projects information onto the base of the windshield, within the driver’s line of sight.
The Korean firm says this car offers a space for passengers in the rear seats typical of the D segment and we can assure that they are not at all confused since it is extremely pleasant to travel in these rear seats , both for the comfort they offer and for the space available , especially for the legs as the one available for the head is somewhat more fair due to the fall of the ceiling. Above all, the low height of the bench is striking, which forces the legs to be slightly more flexed than normal. Since there is no central tunnel, the central plaza can also be used, although the other two are more comfortable.
To discover the boot, the first thing we have to do is open its electric gate with automatic opening. Completed this step, we find a very generous loading mouth and a somewhat elevated plane, with a capacity of 490 liters (480 liters with Meridian audio equipment), expandable to 1,300 if we fold down the rear seats (1,260 liters with audio Meridian), something we can do if we activate some handles very well located on the sides.
However, this car has a front hood that provides an additional 52 liters in the single-axle drive versions and 20 in the all-wheel drive versions.
Versions and engines
The Kia EV6 will be available in three different versions: EV6, EV6 GT-Line and EV6 GT . The available batteries have capacities of 58 and 77.4 kWh of gross capacity, the traction will be one or two axles, while the power range goes from 170 to an impressive 585 hp, corresponding to the GT variant. This will enjoy all-wheel drive, a maximum torque of 740 Nm, electronic limited-slip rear differential and acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in just 3.5 seconds. The autonomy of the GT will be 400 kilometers, but the user will be able to resort to the 228 CV model and extended battery to have a range of use of 510 kilometers .
2022 Kia EV6 test drive
For our introduction to Malaga city and its surroundings, the brand gives us the opportunity to drive the 229 horsepower propulsion version with a 77.4 kWh battery, as well as the 325 horsepower all-wheel drive version with the same 77.4 horsepower battery. kWh. The autonomy of the first is 528 kilometers and drops to 472 kilometers in the second. Under normal circumstances, in both cases they are around 400 kilometers of range per full charge cycle, with average consumption ranging between 19 kWh and 22 kWh depending on the speed, orography and fieryness of the driver.
The instrumentation is totally digital, regardless of the finish chosen and the motorization / battery. It is of the Mercedes type, with two curved screens of 12.3 inches each, the one on the left acts as a dashboard and the one on the right is exclusive to the multimedia system. Both look good on sunny days, as does the Head Up Display , although this is not as clear as other competing model HuDs due to the numerous reflections of the dashboard on the moon. The transition between the different menus of the box is fast and there is no delay. Information, by the way, that is always the same in the four driving modes that exist (Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow; to activate the latter you have to press the Drive Mode buttontwo seconds). The data shown is complete, and the AWD version even shows the distribution of torque between the front and rear axles. There is no browser view as in an Audi Virtual Cockpit, there are indications with arrows and numbers.
At the infotainment level, the system fulfills its mission and we have new views to know autonomy, the distance to which the closest charging point is and other tasks that require an electric car. From this same screen curious functions are also handled such as the sound of the mechanics, which can be deactivated if none of the three predefined tones convinces you (be careful, only for the passenger compartment, because at low speed and facing the outside, there is always a ‘niuuuu’ alert to pedestrians). There is also the option of putting a ‘ringtone’ of your liking.
It is difficult to get used to the lower panel of the multimedia equipment due to the duality of functions it has. As you can see, there are no buttons to use to manage the air conditioning or the different functions of the infotainment, because with a button, the accesses are modified. Our advice is that you permanently leave the climate control controls, since you have access to the different multimedia functions from the screen itself.
Once out on the road, the EV6 proves to be the big car that it is even though the designers have created a car with the crossover image . In truth, this Kia has a high degree of comfort, although the suspension has a slightly hard set-up , something of which they take chest in the brand, as they associate it with sportsmanship. A damping that is like this to cope with the high weight of the vehicle, since we speak, on average, of two tons, although depending on the finish and the engines, this figure drops to just under 1,900 kilos or shoots up to 2.2 tons .
Kia has also given us the opportunity to get to know some gadgets that the EV6 mounts, standard or optional, such as the perimeter camera system for which, we carry out parking maneuvers only with the images on the screen, since the windows were covered on purpose. . We also discovered remote parking , which allows you to park your car from outside as long as you press a button on the telematic key, also valid for removing it. Finally, we put emergency braking to the testwith a sticky pedestrian and a moving cart, and in both, the EV6 first alerted the driver with a beep and when it saw that there was no response on the pedals / steering wheel, it braked softly and then made it hard and stopped before the crash occurred with both objects on the road. According to the Kia engineers, the system has been designed so that the driver takes the controls and executes his own decisions, although otherwise, the car is the one that performs the operation autonomously.
2022 Kia EV6 range and prices
The Kia EV6 is already on sale in Spain and although its sale prices are high, all current versions have a significant discount that, in some cases, reaches 14,500 euros .
- Kia EV6 RWD, 46,450 euros or 34,700 euros with direct discount, with financing and Moves plan
- Kia EV6 RWD Pack Comfort, 49,550 euros or 37,800 euros with discounts and Moves
- Kia EV6 RWD Long Range, 50,350 euros or 38,600 euros with discounts and Moves
- Kia EV6 RWD Long Range Pack Comfort, 53,450 or 41,700 euros with discounts and Moves
- Kia EV6 GT-Line RWD Long Range, 55,050 euros or 43,300 euros with discounts and Moves
- Kia EV6 GT-Line RWD Long Range Premium Pack, € 57,800 or € 46,050 with discounts and Moves
- Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range, 59,050 euros or 44,518 euros with discounts and Moves
- Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range Pack Premium, 61,800 euros or 47,268 euros with discounts and Moves
- Kia EV6 GT AWD Long Range, 66,750 euros or 59,218 euros with discounts and Moves