Kia EV6

Ever since Kia ushered in the new age at the start of this year, they have big plans for their electrification under the Plan S strategy and this is their starting point; a fully electric crossover that features a just size styling and performance that will defy expectations. Welcome to the Kia EV6.

2022 Kia EV6

Priced at 47,300,000 Korean Won plus additional costs, the Kia EV6 is the result of the Korean carmaker's start of its electrification ambitions, and judging by all the hard work poured into making this, it's all common sense, or is it?

2022 Kia EV6

Let's start with the design and despite being a crossover, the EV6 features a striking hatchback design that makes them harder to resist in every way. Although the design is where the EV6 shines the most, there's something about the front and as noticed, the signature Tiger Nose grille is nowhere to be found. Kia says that the EV6 invokes the new "Digital Tiger Face" design but some are not sure about this but even without the Tiger Nose grille that became the hallmark of Kia, the EV6 is about as handsome as a Dodge Charger, whatever it is.

Apart from the design, the EV6 marks the return of the GT-Line variant, the one that hasn't been on the lineup since the second-generation K5. The GT-Line branding has been present in the world market except for South Korea until now and in this variant, it sports a sporty exterior design that sets it apart from the normal EV6.

2022 Kia EV6 interior

Now, what about the interior? Because it runs on the new E-GMP platform, the EV6 features a generous space as well as cutting-edge gadgetry deployed on the dashboard. On the driver's side, the EV6 features a Panoramic Curved Display, infotainment systems, HUD, a rotary gear switch, i-PEDAL, and others. On the passenger side, the EV6 is surprisingly comfortable and has a generous boot space of up to 1,300 liters as well. Of course, like most electrics, the EV6 features a frunk that carries up to 52L of cargo in FWD while 4WD variants can carry up to 20L of cargo on the front.

2022 Kia EV6

Let's get to know more about the EV6's performance because this is where it matters the most. At launch, only the 58kWh Standard and 77.4kWh Long Range variants are available in FR and 4WD configurations. A 4WD GT version is coming next year and this flagship variant packs 430kW of power and 740Nm of torque from its long-range battery pack.

In its FR layout, the Standard version produces 125kW of power and 350Nm while the Long Range version produces 168kW of power and 350Nm of torque. The 4WD layouts add 48kw on the Standard version and 71kW on the Long Range version. Judging on the latter, that produces more than the Smartstream G2.5 turbo engine that powered the Sorento and the Stinger.

What about range? In a rear-wheel-drive Long Range version, the EV6 has a range of 475km, enough to travel from Seoul to Busan with some extra juice to blast some tunes. Consider this a rebuke to the Lean Burn-powered Hyundais from the late '90s but there's more to it than just range because thanks to its V2L capability, the EV6 can be used as an electrical outlet for your appliances or a backup generator in an event of a brownout. As for charging, the EV6 is capable of high-speed charge from 10 to 80% in just 18 minutes.

Want to know how the i-PEDAL system works? It allows the EV6 to absorb energy from its brakes and allows the driver to stop the car gently without the need for a brake pedal. Simple as that.

As for handling, the EV6 is surprisingly lively to drive in its rear-wheel-drive form and in its 4WD form, despite being a two-ton car, the EV6 is about as fun to drive as a Stinger even on the dirt, although the GT version does best but let's wait before it arrives. Still, for a two-ton electric crossover, the EV6 is rather impressive to drive on so many levels.

Being a fully electric car, there's no escape from the safety zone and with the EV6, it's got numerous Advanced Driver Assistance Systems such as the Blind-Spot Avoidance Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, High Beam Assist, Highway Driving Assist 2, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Navigation Based Smart Cruise Control-Curve, and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, among many others. Speedo boys aren't very pleased by such implementations and such will make them running scared.

The Kia EV6 truly is the beginning of the brand's new age and despite being a commoner's crossover, the EV6 is the real materialization of the "Movement that Inspires" slogan. Love it or hate it, the EV6 is a revolution in motoring and it's ready to take on the world.

Photo: Kia