A fairly sparkling performer, the new Kia EV6 is the sixth all-electric vehicle I’ve driven in first five months of 2022. From a nicely styled front end, the design goes somewhat wild at the rear with an overhead spoiler and bright taillights protruding along the middle of the liftgate.
The Kia EV6, like the Hyundai Ioniq5, is based on the Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP (electric global modular platform). The two electrics differ, though, in appearance and performance. The Kia EV6 is a standout in handling, while the Hyundai Ioniq5 makes use of softer suspension for a more-quality ride.
For instance, the Kia offers four driving modes – Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow. The power-output gap between the Eco and Sport is the most extreme, I believe, of the all-electric products I’ve driven, at least in its class. Eco, using only the rear-drive motor when called upon, is of very-limited power; Sport is highly spirited and produces full-blast handling maneuvers in fulltime use of both motors for all-wheel drive. Normal is a delightful tradeoff.
Kia offers the EV6 in three trim levels of Light, Wind and GT-Line. The model brought to me is the EV6 Wind, with all-wheel drive and 77.4 kWh battery-pack energy, dual AC synchronous permanent electric motors for combined 320 horsepower. The weight of the lithium ion polymer battery pack, stored beneath the auto’s floor, is 1,052 pounds.
The EV6 Wind AWD delivers a range of 274 miles (310 for the rear-drive version). In my fourth day with the Kia, its remaining range was at 117 miles when I stopped at Greeley Nissan for a quick recharge. Thirty minutes of charge raised the range to 224 miles. For the week, the EV6 delivered its promised range and then a few more miles. Regenerative braking accounts for some of the recovered miles to the battery; a Mobis iEB is the regen brake of the EV6.
Featured up front inside the Kia are vegan-leather heated and ventilated seats, dual 12.3-inch displays with navigation, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, Meridian premium audio. Headroom and legroom are sufficient in the rear row, and the seats are heated. Cargo space behind the seating is 24.4 cubic feet; the seatbacks can be folded down to double that amount of room. The EV6 rides on Kumho 235/55R19 tires.
Flush door handles which pop out awkwardly when pushed are among features which drew interest in the parking lot Sunday morning as Jan and I left services at First United Methodist Church in Greeley. With the upper-end GT-Line trim, the key pod will automatically pop out the handles for use.
For the EV6 Wind, though, sticker price reached $54,110 with addition of surround-view monitor, remote smart parking assist and blind-spot view monitor. By using the key fob, the driver can step out and remotely guide the EV6 into or out from a parking spot. The EV6 is built in Hwasung, Korea.