A First Look at the 2022 Kia EV6
While it is putting the finishing touches on its renewed branding, Kia is also pushing its electrification plans. The EV6 is the latest card from this Korean manufacturer on the electric table. It is (obviously) a crossover built on the E-GMP platform which slips between the Sportage and Sorento in terms of length, but with a lower ground clearance and sportier lines.
After having long contemplated the manufacturer published photos and analyzed the specifications it promised, The Car Guide was finally able to take a closer look at the Kia EV6 in Toronto during an event featuring a live performance from Canadian artist Fefe Dobson.
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A Little Bit of Canada in The Design
The Kia EV6 gets its looks thanks to the creative mind of Karim Habib, a Canadian designer of Lebanese origin who studied mechanical engineering at McGill University in Montreal and who notably worked on several concepts at BMW.
The exterior of this new Kia is dominated by LED lighting, with specific rear lighting hidden in the spoiler that will illuminate the side of the vehicle when its owner approaches it. Depending on the version, the EV6 transforms its front grille and various trims on the body to provide a distinct look. That front grille is also equipped with active flaps that cool mechanical components under the hood. Wheel sizes vary from 18 inches to 21 inches depending on the trim, but regardless of the variant, the drag coefficient remains the same at 0.28, which sits within the average of the most efficient electric vehicles.
The sleek interior uses several "ecologically sourced" elements in its materials and textures. The dashboard is dominated by the curved display consisting of two 12.3-inch screens heavily inspired by what you will find in the new Carnival minivan. Kia also boasts an intelligent head-up display that will provide navigation information virtually, a system similar to what luxury cars offer. Another element borrowed from posher vehicles is the Meridian sound system, which will be offered on some variants.
The model highlighted in the photos is a pre-production example, and everything behind the front seats was not accessible, so we weren’t allowed to examine the cargo area. However, a Kia representative assured us that the cargo volume would hover around 700 litres.
Promising Performance
We learned earlier in the year that the Kia EV6 would come with several powertrain combinations. A 58 kWh battery will be on the menu for base models eventually, but the 77.4 kWh models will be offered exclusively at launch in Canada. With an estimated range of 480 kilometres, this battery will be able to feed a rear-wheel drive base model or all-wheel drive top models.
The twin-engine EV6 GT performance version is still in the works with 577 horsepower and 546 lb-ft of torque. This performance model will be able to sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 3,5 seconds and will be geared with an electronic limited slip differential.
The Kia EV6 battery can also serve as a power source to which various devices can be plugged, a feature that the automaker calls vehicle-to-load. A coffee maker, television, or even a guitar amplifier (as Fefe Dobson's guitarist did at the event) can be plugged into this 3.6 kW source.
The Kia EV6 can be connected to 400 V or 800 V chargers, and Kia promises that the battery capacity can go from 10 to 80% in just 18 minutes, while less than 4.5 minutes will be needed to gather approximately 100 kilometres of range. These figures are still subject to validation by The Car Guide team, but they remain convincing nonetheless.
At launch in early 2022, the 2022 Kia EV6 will be available in EX, GT Line and GT versions.
At first glance, the Kia EV6 seems like a promising EV that brings together both practical and sporty characteristics to meet the needs of the average driver, and this strategy will most likely pay off, especially if its final price remains competitive.