The automotive market is reaching a turning level. Electrical automobiles are very a lot the longer term and Korea’s Kia is making a change too, one which they’ve been engaged on for years. It’s really producing its third-generation electrical motor and inserting it on the coronary heart of the all-new and all-electric EV6.

We appreciated this automotive’s company sibling, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, however will this ever-so barely smaller sportier crossover win us over as nicely?

To search out out we took the 2022 Kia EV6 on a few of the most demanding roads that Northern California has to supply, and right here’s what we’ve discovered.

Fast Info

› Worth vary: $40,900 to $55,900
› Dimensions: 184.3 in. (4,681mm) L x 74.0 in. (1,880mm) W x 60.8 (1,544mm) H
› Energy: 167 to 225-hp (RWD), 320-hp (AWD)
› Vary: 232 to 310 miles
› On Sale: February 2022 (USA)

Magnificence Is In The Eye Of The Beholder

That assertion is made crystal clear while you ask a bunch of individuals what they consider the EV6’s design. Some find it irresistible, some hate it, and only a few discover a area within the center. Kia deliberately pushed the design in direction of the sportier Stinger vibe than the retro-lounge really feel that Hyundai went with on the Ioniq 5. The entrance appears to be like higher to me in particular person than I anticipated and I actually just like the complexity of the headlights which have a 3D design that’s laborious to understand in images alone. The decrease grille is practical on the EV6 which is sort of uncommon for electrical automobiles generally.

A darkish physique line on the entrance bumper turns right into a aspect skirt type of state of affairs after which ascends into the rear taillights and I’m not completely bought on that. The large athletic fenders within the again communicate to the efficiency of the EV6 and so does the spoiler behind the roof. It’s delicate and sporty in all the appropriate methods as little winglets jut off of every finish and vents permit air to cross each above and under the wing itself.

Inside Design and High quality

From the very outset, it feels clear that construct high quality was excessive on the precedence listing. Moving into the EV6 is completed by grabbing a bit deal with that robotically pops out each time the automotive acknowledges that the bottom line is shut (we surprise how they’ll work when frozen over). As an alternative of wanting good outdoors and feeling horrible on the within, it’s clean and satisfying to seize. After getting located inside, the doorways shut with a really satisfying, virtually financial institution vault-like thunk.

For me, a taller man (6’6 for reference), getting snug took a bit tilt again of the seat, after which I used to be proper as rain. The seats are supportive and extremely adjustable and have each warmth and air flow. The steering wheel tilts and telescopes properly to accommodate nearly any measurement driver and the overall structure feels good too with a floating middle console part that incorporates the beginning/cease button, the drive part wheel, and the parking button.

It additionally homes a pair of cupholders and the heating and cooling components built-in on the very finish of it and in observe it’s straightforward to get used to however right here’s a caveat. There’s a handrest up there and whereas doing simply that, it’s very easy to by chance hit one of many capacitive warmth/cool buttons. I by chance turned on the heated steering wheel extra occasions than I care to confess. Positive, extra time with the automotive may see anybody adapt nevertheless it’s value noting how straightforward it’s to by chance set off these buttons.

Then there are the media and local weather controls themselves. Usually I actually love adaptive buttons and switches however the perform of those buttons within the EV6 feels unnatural. You may both use the local weather controls or the media at anybody time, by no means each, and a small button on the show lets you change between them on the contact of a button. When it comes to how nicely they reply and performance there’s no drawback in any respect. The difficulty comes while you, for instance, take a cellphone name within the automotive and switch the amount as much as higher hear your caller.

When you occur to be within the local weather management setting when that decision is available in, as I used to be, you then simply flip the inside temperature to 85-degrees solely to surprise why you continue to can’t hear your buddy and why it’s so sizzling in right here. You must take note of which setting you’re in when utilizing the buttons. The widespread grievance about touchscreens is that they require us to look away from the street proper? Effectively, this small one within the EV6 requires it only a contact extra.

The again seats are good too and whereas they lack adjustment, they’re spacious sufficient that I match simply high-quality. I had ample headroom too however it might really feel a bit darkish within the again. One delicate trick Kia makes use of is to raise the headliner up on the very again of the cabin so as to add extra headroom, one thing that Ford’s Mustang Mach-E does as nicely. The knee room was sufficient as nicely although the ground is larger than in a traditional automotive so that you may discover, as I did, that the rear backside cushion isn’t excessive sufficient to help your legs.

Cargo area is a principally constructive spotlight right here too. The one draw back is the diminutive entrance storage space which couldn’t even maintain my small day pack. It’s finest fitted to very small objects and has a complete quantity of simply .7 cubic toes (20L). The rear compartment is nice although and simply makes up for the shortage of a practical frunk. Not solely is it capacious, however the rear seats fold fully flat to supply much more storage do you have to want it.

The EV6 Is A Tech Large

Let’s discuss tech for a couple of moments as a result of the EV6 is filled with it. First, the infotainment system may be very good and offers quick correct responses to touches. It’s additionally straightforward to know and modify too so there’s virtually no studying curve in any respect. Consumers searching for a automotive with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will get it in each EV6 however it would solely be the wired kind. Regardless of that disappointment, the mixing works nicely when in use. We additionally appreciated the onboard Wi-Fi hotspot which saved us in touch with civilization irrespective of how far into the mountains we went.

Each EV6 GT-Line may even get an augmented actuality heads-up show and it’s correctly spectacular. Positive, it does all the traditional stuff like present you your pace, the pace restrict on the street you’re driving, and the subsequent flip in your route. What’s actually spectacular although is the best way it brings up actively pointing chevrons as you method a flip. They modify to your place and pace within the flip after which disappear when the flip is full and thus they eradicate the occasions the place you may by chance flip in a curve too early or too late.

Kia additionally integrates all of its security tech into the heads-up show so you’ll be able to see you probably have adaptive cruise, lane-keep help, or different options activated. It additionally actively exhibits you vital information like when somebody is in your blind spot with a bit crimson radar icon that pulses till the coast is obvious. We additionally assume that each automotive ought to now include a type of Kia’s lane-watch blind-spot digicam system that exhibits you a video feed of the lane you need to shift into within the sprint while you hit the flip sign. It’s so easy and efficient.

The motive force aids themselves work nicely too for essentially the most half. If there’s something we didn’t prefer it was how odd the steering wheel sensors labored. Generally we’d be warned to position each palms on the wheel whereas each had been already there. It appears the EV6 desires a firmer grip. Different occasions, although, we’d drive for miles with a single hand on the wheel with none warnings in any respect. Adaptive cruise management takes a bit observe to make use of successfully however when you’re used to it, it’s a godsend in heavy or sluggish visitors situations.

Not As Enjoyable As A Stinger GT However Shut Sufficient

Defining the driving traits of the EV6 isn’t a easy process. For reference, this automotive includes a 0.4-inch longer wheelbase than the Tesla Mannequin Y whereas on the identical time being shorter in each different exterior dimension. In reality, it shares its wheelbase with the Telluride 3-row SUV. It’s massive however at the very least in our time behind the wheel, it didn’t really feel that method. Don’t get us incorrect, it’s not flickable, it’s not uber-nimble, nevertheless it’s straightforward to position in a method that bigger SUVs and crossovers may solely hope to be.

Positive, lots of that has to do with the low middle of gravity inherent in any skateboard chassis EV, however Kia has finished lots of intelligent tuning right here too. The EV6 will are available in three totally different trim ranges. The bottom is named Gentle and comes with a single 167 hp (125kw) electrical motor and rear-wheel drive. Above it’s the Wind which is offered with rear-wheel-drive and 225-horsepower (168kw) and 258 lb-ft of torque or two motors, all-wheel-drive and a complete of 320-horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque (605Nm). On the high of the mountain is the GT-Line which makes use of the identical drivetrain structure because the Wind however with extra expertise inside. We drove each the rear-wheel-drive GT-Line trim and its all-wheel-drive counterpart and our observations under apply to each besides the place we particularly state in any other case.

As an alternative of a 50/50 weight steadiness, Kia has pushed the bias in direction of the rear only a bit and the outcome advantages the automotive two-fold. First, the entrance wheels have rather less mass pushing them previous apexes so the automotive is cornering sharper than one may anticipate. Second, the rear is a bit heavier and that tendency to slip is obvious. Greater than as soon as, the EV6 (particularly the RWD model) fortunately greeted us with correct oversteer after we pushed its limits round corners.

We’ve heard that the EV6 Kia sells abroad has a considerably numb steering suggestions so we surprise in the event that they’ve tweaked it for the US as a result of it supplied progressive suggestions that allowed the tires to precisely talk what was taking place on the street floor.

Pushing it into curves was met with a slight push from the rear that as talked about may very well be shoved into oversteer when the temper struck. The automotive by no means felt prefer it was exhibiting any actual physique roll both, because it dives into corners with no trace of oversteer and feels very balanced. The AWD automotive feels particularly planted by means of tougher cornering.

In reality, it’s very predictable. Regardless of roads that had been skinnier than some massive dachshunds, the EV6 would at all times comply with the road we positioned it on with out grievance. In fact, the heavy battery within the flooring helps it really feel as planted because it does. The multi-link suspension and the brakes each do a fantastic job of serving to the motive force keep management always.

One fast be aware on that. Not like different manufacturers which have generally fitted press automobiles with slippery rubber solely on the again to realize a sportier journey than the automotive is definitely able to, the EV6s we drove had the identical on all 4 corners (although the AWD wore Continentals whereas the RWD used Kumhos). This automotive was enjoyable to drive and it had nothing to do with tire methods although we do want the US-spec EV6 shipped with the identical Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires it will get abroad.

How briskly is it, you ask? Effectively the RWD mannequin isn’t going to knock your socks off with its 225-horsepower (168kw) and 258 lb-ft of torque (349Nm). The 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) dash takes 7.2 seconds however as soon as on top of things, the flexibility to faucet into prompt torque makes it a fantastic cruiser. At slower speeds across the mountains the place we drove it was simply as succesful, perhaps extra so, of snapping the again out of a good flip with a number of aggressive accelerator engagement. Nonetheless, the AWD mannequin is the one for fans, till the 577 hp (424kw) GT comes out subsequent 12 months. With 320 hp (239kw) and 446 lb-ft of torque (605Nm), it sprints off the road like its aptly named “Digital tiger-nose” front-end design language may counsel. Kia says that it’ll rip from 0-60 in simply 5.1 seconds however frankly, we predict they is perhaps sandbagging a bit. Both method, they’re inside tenths of the Tesla Mannequin Y whereas additionally costing 1000’s much less.

The place It Stands In The Market

The EV6 will are available in three trim ranges, Gentle, Wind, and GT-Line at launch which is any day now. The EV6 Gentle will supply rear-wheel drive, a 58kWh battery pack, and 232 miles (373km) of vary. The Wind and GT-Line each are available in rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive variants, each of which use a 77.4 kWh battery pack.

The RWD model has 310 miles (498km) of vary whereas the AWD sees a most of 274 miles (440km). Lastly, the GT-Line shares the identical drivetrain choices because the Wind however upgrades the tech and trim. Charging occasions will rely on each the state of cost and what kind of charger you’re utilizing however due to its 800-volt structure, the EV6 can go from 10-80 % in simply 18 minutes when hooked as much as a 350kW charger.

Beginning at $40,900 (earlier than tax incentives doubtlessly drop that value into the low $30,000s) the EV6 is approachable. For an in depth breakdown of EV6 Trims and pricing each earlier than and after-tax incentives you’ll be able to click on right here. In any case, that’s significantly lower than the most affordable Tesla Mannequin Y which prices $58,990 and in addition beats the Mustang Mach-E which begins at $42,895. Every trim degree above the bottom is both equal to or lower than its Tesla and Ford rivals too.

Verdict

A lot in the identical method that we felt just like the Ioniq 5 was the brand new EV to beat, the Kia EV6 matches it on the rostrum. The EV6 delivers on its promise to supply athletic dealing with that’s higher than the Mustang Mach-E and on a regular basis usability just like the Mannequin Y at a a lot cheaper price. It’s filled with expertise and it’s nicely constructed too.

It’s oddly sized for certain, and whereas which may delay some who need extra space, we do assume it would enchantment to consumers who need extra participating driving dynamics with out sacrificing practicality. All in all, the EV6 may simply be essentially the most mature alternative for the new-age driving fanatic.

2022 KIA EV6 SPECS

Photographs Stephen Rivers for CarScoops, Kia