The Kia EV6 shares its E-GMP platform with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and will be the first car to feature Kia’s new design language. The well-known Tiger Nose we don’t see it again on the EV6. The pinched front – with a stripe as a ‘grille’ and two triangular headlights – Kia now calls the Digital Tiger Face. We think the Kia EV6 is a bit less attractive than the Hyundai Ioniq 5, but the model is certainly distinct: with a Suzuki Swift-like c-pillar and special rear lights that curl around the boot lid from the wheel arches. We will see the not very creative type designation ‘EV with a number’ on all future electric cars from Kia.
Electric Kia EV6 with a maximum range of 510 kilometers
Kia will start production of the EV6 in the second quarter of this year. The electric hatchback / crossover can be reserved from today. There is a choice of four variants: with a 58 kWh battery and rear-wheel drive (170 hp, 350 Nm), with a 77.4 kWh battery and rear-wheel drive (229 hp, 350 Nm), with a 77.4 kWh battery and all-wheel drive (325 hp, 605 Nm) and the all-wheel drive EV6 GT with 586 hp and 740 Nm. For the time being, Kia only releases the range for the rear-wheel drive 77.4 kWh version: a maximum of 510 kilometers. The top version with 586 hp goes to 100 km / h in 3.5 seconds and achieves a top speed of 260 km / h.
Battery Kia EV6 after 18 minutes for 80 percent full
The EV6 has a system voltage of up to 800 volts, which allows it to reach a charging speed of 220 kW. In comparison, the Volkswagen ID.4 comes to 125 kW and the Nissan Ariya to 130 kW. At the correct charging station, the EV6 is already 80 percent full after 18 minutes. It can recharge 100 kilometers of range in less than 4.5 minutes (applies to the 2WD variant with 77.4 kWh battery). The Kia EV6 supports vehicle-to-load technology and can power another device, such as a television, a portable air conditioner, an electric bicycle, or even another electric car. If the battery is more than 35 percent charged, the EV6 can tow a 1600 kg trailer.
The Kia EV6 must also perform well in winter
Kia blows high from the tower over the EV6. According to the manufacturer, the car has an energy-efficient heat pump, which ensures that even at an outside temperature of minus 7 degrees Celsius it achieves 80 percent of the range that would be possible at 25 degrees Celsius. Drivers can use the paddles behind the wheel to determine how much braking energy the EV6 recovers. There are six levels: no recovery, strength 1, 2 and 3, i-Pedal (maximum) and automatic. One-pedal driving is possible in i-Pedal mode. This means that in the majority of cases you do not have to use the brake pedal. The Kia EV6 then brakes itself to a standstill.
Two large screens and a head-up display
In the interior, the occupants look out on two large 12-inch screens. One serves as digital instruments, the other as control of the infotainment system. In addition, the Kia EV6 has a head-up display with augmented reality and an audio system with 14 speakers. The list of electronic driving assistants is long. With Remote Smart Parking Assist, you can remotely drive the Kia EV6 into or out of a parking space, while on the highway Lane Following Assist and Highway Driving Assist 2 take a lot of work off your driver’s hands. It is not yet known exactly what the Kia EV6 will cost.