The Kia EV6 is Kia’s first solely electric car. Yes, they have made electric cars in the past, but they have usually been based on Internal Combustion Engined (ICE) cars. The EV6 is Kia’s first-ever proper electric car that has been built electric from the ground up. It is a huge step forwards for Kia as the EV6 is a new step forwards for Kia in terms of making better electric cars that would really push competition.
The issue with turning a conventional ICE car into an electric car is that you can’t do as much. The reason why is because these cars are designed to have all the mechanical elements an ICE car needs. The engine, the gearbox, exhaust, etc. These cars are also not designed to conserve range at all and that is evident by their design.
Kia makes a current electric car called the Niro. That is a bulky SUV which isn’t that aerodynamic at all. Another issue is that it is expensive to turn an Internal Combustion Engined car into an electric car. You have to re-design the chassis, the gearbox, parts of the interior, exterior, etc. It is hard and it’s a huge hassle for manufacturers. In the long run, making a purely electric car is far easier as you can always use the batteries and motor in future cars.
The new Kia EV6 is also the first new Kia to bear the new logo. This is big news as it shows Kia is re-designing their brand into something more futuristic and exciting. It has also been called a mistake by critics, as the logo looks extremely confusing. It looks more like a K and an N rather than Kia. Either way, it is an interesting logo that will cause so much more conversation and interest. The current logo is pretty standard and generic, but at least it is readable.
So, is the new Kia EV6 any good? Let’s take a look.
Their New Electric Flagship
The new EV6 is Kia’s new electric flagship car. It looks amazing, completely different from any other Kia. The rear light looks awesome and it does have a floating roof effect between the roof and the rear pillar. It is a crossover so the ride is slightly higher which does improve the driving position.
The EV6 does a 310-mile range which is decent and it will do a 5 second 0-60. Not as fast as a Tesla, but it scores points above the likes of the Model 3 in other areas. Inside, it is very futuristic and it utilizes recycled plastic throughout. There are also lightweight seat designs to increase passenger space and reduce overall weight.
This has to be one of the most intelligent cars I have ever seen. Kia really has set a new standard on how cars should be built and they have shown you can still have high levels of quality whilst using far more sustainable materials. It has a large curved display that sits on top of the dash which acts as the infotainment and driver display. It looks very high-end and a far cry from some of the old dull interior seen on previous Kia models.
The EV6 is based on the E-GMP platform, which is the same as the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Hyundai owns a large stake in Kia, hence why they are known to share parts throughout their cars. The Ioniq 5 has more of a retro design whilst the EV6 is a far sportier-looking car. The EV6 though from some angles looks completely like a typical Kia whilst the new Ioniq 5 doesn’t look like a Hyundai whatsoever.
The EV6 looks completely unique though from other angles such as the rear. It’s extremely clean and the rear light looks very fancy. It is a very modern car that actually looks far more expensive than it actually is. It feels too premium to be a Kia in all honesty, but Kia is trying their hardest to re-brand themselves as a more premium brand.
How Does it Fit Into The Market?
The new Kia EV6 will start at around $45,000 which is high. However, you do have to remember that this is the flagship electric model by Kia so it is bound to have a higher starting price than other electric Kia models. It is in Tesla Model Y and Mustang Mach E territory here, so it has to perform well. The range is higher than both the standard Model Y and Mach-E models and performance is also on par too.
It costs though the same as an AWD Model 3 Tesla, which has better performance and slightly higher range. The EV6 though looks better and has a nicer interior. The issue is, the Tesla brand is far more prestigious than the Kia brand. The EV6 will be cheaper though thanks to federal and state incentives.
The EV6 is a crossover essentially, like the Volvo XC40 Recharge and the Polestar 2. It isn’t a fully blazed SUV like the Mustang Mach-E at all. This is a trendy car, and we believe that it will be popular especially amongst current Kia owners. We can see plenty of electric Niro owners upgrading to this when it does come out properly later this year. The EV6 will probably influence the design of future Kia cars.
Our Verdict
The new Kia EV6 is a car that is quite modern, but for $45,000 it needs to offer something seriously special. The range is good, the acceleration is decent and it looks cool. However, it needs to make people feel special if they’re going to spend over $45,000 on a small Kia. Even the new Telluride is cheaper, and that won car of the year. In fact, you can have a full spec Kia Telluride for around $45,000 upwards, and that’s a full-size family SUV.
The new Kia EV6 will also have rivals from Nissan too with their brilliant new Ariya. Kia should have made the EV6 into a proper SUV rather than a crossover, then it would be a better value. But who knows, the EV6 may just be a brilliant car afterall. Well, we need to wait till it is properly launched so more specs, pictures, and pictures can come out.
Featured image credits via: techradar.com