Kia India is diversifying its electric portfolio in India. They made a foray into the Indian EV market by introducing their first-ever EV, the Kia EV6. It is the first model to be on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). In addition, Kia India stated that they would be introducing their other dedicated EVs in India by 2025.
However, the Kia EV6 has a starting price of Rs 59.95 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The electric vehicle is available in GT-trim only and has two drivetrains—RWD and AWD. The top variant costs Rs 64.96 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
So, how does the Kia EV6 stack up against its rivals? Let’s find out in this Kia EV6 review.
Contents
Kia EV6 Interior: Design and Features
The interior of the Kia EV6 might be polarizing to a few, as it’s not as striking as its exterior. On the dashboard, it gets a dual-display that is similar to the new-age Mercs. Each display, one for the driver’s display and another for the infotainment system, measures 12.3-inches. Beneath the infotainment screen, there are AC vents with brushed metal accents and a soft-touch panel for HVAC controls. The centre control also has a few soft-touch buttons, a rotary dial for navigation, a wireless charging tray, storage compartments, and dual cupholders. Moreover, unlike the manual controls, navigating a specific soft-touch HVAC control can be a task, especially while driving in traffic.
Interestingly, there is also a great use of sustainability in the Kia EV6. For instance, the seats are made of vegan leather, while the other panels in the cabin consist of up to 111 recycled plastic bottles.
The Kia EV6 also offers ample boot space, but the capacity varies with the drivetrain. The RWD variant has a boot space of 572 litres, while the AWD variant has 540 litres. And, to increase the boot space, customers can fold the 60:40 split rear seats.
Coming back to features, the Kia EV6 also gets steering-mounted controls, voice command, and a digital instrument cluster, to name a few. The driver’s display, paired with augmented reality, shows relevant information such as regeneration, range, consumption, maps, etc.
There are also several sockets, such as USB-C ports and a 16A plug-point in the electric crossover SUV. At the rear, there is also cabin to boot access via the armrest opening and a sunroof to brighten the interior’s ambience. If passengers want to beat the harsh heat, they have the option to enable the ventilated seats.
Also, the Kia EV6 gets a 14-speaker Meridian sound system that can potentially provide a seamless audio experience with ambient lighting enabled. To know more about the interior experience, check out the EV6 review on autoX.
Kia EV6: Battery Tech
Both drivetrains, RWD and AWD, have a 77.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack underneath. The former drivetrain churns out 226bhp and 350Nm of torque, while the latter drivetrain produces 321bhp and 605Nm of torque. Irrespective of the drivetrain, both have an ARAI-claimed range of 528km (on a full charge). For efficiency, it gets regenerative braking, idle start/stop, and a pure electric driving mode.
The EV6 is compatible with a fast 350kW DC charge. It can replenish the battery from 10 to 80 per cent within 18 minutes. On the other hand, a 50kW charger will take 73 minutes to charge the battery to the same level. Also, do check out the Kia EV6 review to know the drivability.
Overseas, the Kia EV6 also comes with a 22kW wall box charger as standard, but it is not available in India currently.
Kia EV6 Exterior: Dimensions and Design
The Kia EV6 dimensions measure 4695mm in length, 1890mm in width, and 1550mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2900mm. The ground clearance of the Kia EV6 is 178mm. The EV6 has a standard tyre profile of 235/55 R19. The Kia EV6’s dimensions are identical to the Mahindra XUV700’s, but the Kia has a longer wheelbase than the Mahindra’s 2750mm. However, the longer wheelbase does indicate ample legroom, which it offers, but the rear passengers end up sitting in a knees-up position due to the battery pack beneath them. To compare the dimensions of the Kia EV6 with its rivals, visit the ‘compare cars‘ section under the “cars” category.
As for the design, the Kia EV6’s exterior looks sporty and futuristic. The front fascia gets the signature tiger-nose grille, LED headlamps surrounded by LED DRLs, and sharp cuts on the hood that give it an aggressive look. The front bumper also features some chrome and piano black accents and air dam housings. From the side, the EV6 gets flush door handles, a sharp shoulder line, and a black-coloured side skirt that looks luxurious. The ORVMs are also in piano black. However, the rear 3/4th of the EV6 resembles the Aston Martin DBX since it receives an integrated spoiler with a continuous tail-light. The rear bumper also receives chrome garnishes, brushed metal and piano-black inserts that look premium. On the lowest section of the rear bumper, there is also a square-shaped brake light placed in the centre.
Kia EV6: Conclusion
Currently, in the premium EV segment, the Kia EV6 rivals the BMW i4, Volvo XC40 Recharge, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and the Jaguar I-Pace, to name a few. However, in terms of price, the BMW i4 is the closest rival to the Kia EV6. The BMW i4 is priced at Rs 69.90 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), while the EV6 is priced at Rs 59.95 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). With these figures, the Kia EV6 is Rs 10 lakh lower than the BMW i4. Since both the EVs are newly launched, and their deliveries are yet to commence, only time will tell the success of these two.
However, the Kia EV6 AWD, which costs Rs 64.96 lakh (ex-showroom), is Rs 4.9 lakh cheaper than the luxury EV, the BMW i4. Therefore, it all narrows it down to customers’ preferences and budgets regarding whether to enter the premium or luxury segment. For more such car reviews, stay tuned to autoX!
