Kia EV6 - Car of the Year 2022
When a title says it all.
A panel of 59 judges, from 22 European countries. All highly respected motoring journalists in their own right - decided the Kia EV6 was deserving of the prestigious title 2022 Car of The Year.
The EV6 fought off strong competition to be named the overall Car of The Year (COTY) for 2022. We mean strong competition:
- The EV6 came in first place with 279 points and was the top scorer with 12 individual top scores awarded
- Second place went to the Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric with 265 points
- Third place went to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 with 261 points.
It would be easy for us to shout about all the reasons why we think the car was right to win (and we probably will), but here are a couple of things the judges said:
“The EV6 stands out by combining energy efficiency, a large capacity battery and ultra-fast charging”
“Inside the roomy and well-finished passenger compartment, the technological innovation is applied to increase the quality of life on board. And once at the wheel, the EV6 offers a smooth and pleasant drive”
In non-judging speak then: The EV6 is economical in that it doesn’t use much power - that’s true. The inherent efficiency means the 77.4 kWh battery is good for up to 528 km of driving. When you do need to charge, a suitable charger can take you from 10% - 80% in just 18 minutes.
Most of this comes from the fact the EV6 is the first car built on our Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). It irons out many of the issues faced when trying to build battery-powered cars on platforms designed for internal combustion engine (ICE) cars and allows for more usable space, a flat floor pan and that super-fast charging.
The charge goes both ways. If you’ve stopped for that coffee and need to put the finishing touches to a presentation, you can charge your laptop from the car using our Vehicle-to-Load technology. Another benefit of the E-GMP platform.
Laptops, mobile phones and even other Electric Vehicles can be charged by the EV6.
It’s not just the charging that’s quick. The RWD version of the EV6 will reach 100 km/h from zero in just 7.3 seconds. The AWD version reaches the same benchmark in just 5.2 seconds.
(If 5.2 seconds to 100 km/h isn’t quick enough for you, stay tuned for information on the EV6 GT a little further down…)
Back to the judge speak: ‘Roomy and well-finished’ really speak for themselves. The roominess comes courtesy of the E-GMP that allows for a flat floor and a longer cabin length. Because the batteries sit lower than an old-fashioned ICE would have done, the lower centre of gravity helps provide the ‘smooth and pleasant drive’ part of the quote.
The ‘technological innovation’ covers a wide range of nice touches the EV6 has. Beautiful curved 12.3-inch touch screens that, even on the least pricey ‘Air’ model, still come with climate control, heated front seats and steering wheel, integrated Sat Nav along with Apple Car Play and Android Auto and USB ports. Jump up in spec to get all the things you could possibly want for a safe & comfortable drive. Driving aids that keep you a safe distance from the car in front. Or warn you when you’re about to leave a lane. Electrically adjustable front seats, a wireless smartphone charging function and front parking sensors.
The top-of-the-range GT-Line S version adds to the already generous equipment levels with bigger 20-inch alloys, a tilt/slide sunroof, a head-up display, heated rear seats and an upgraded 14-speaker Meridian audio system.
If you want to electrify your fleet (and your drivers), look no further than the Kia EV6. Not only is it the current COTY, it has a hefty range. It drives beautifully and precisely thanks to the EV-specific platform. It has all the modern safety features your drivers need. It charges really quickly too.
And you can park it, without even being in it. For those extra tight mind-the-paintwork spaces.
All-electric high-performance crossover created for the new sustainable mobility era
What do you do if 5.2 seconds to reach 100 km/h just isn’t quick enough?
You look at the recently launched Kia EV6 GT. This isn’t the EV6 in GT trim, this is a standalone GT model. It shares the same external design philosophy ‘Opposites United’ which takes inspiration from the contrasts found in nature and humanity.
It has the same signature ‘Digital Tiger Face’ which includes adaptive LED high beam headlights and dynamic sequential turn indicators. It has a more muscular bumper that sits underneath a clamshell bonnet with strong characterful lines that hint at the potency within.
Potent it is. Power is delivered by not 1, but 2 electric motors. This state-of-the-art all-electric dual powertrain delivers 585 PS and 740 Nm of torque providing a top speed of 260 km/h and slashing the 0-100 km/h time to just 3.5 seconds.
Aside from staggering performance, the other benefit of the dual powertrain is an impressive range of 424 km.
When you eventually do need to recharge - you still benefit from the ultra-fast 800V charging that will take you from 10-80% charge time in 18 minutes.
All that power needs controlling, so beautifully bright yellow performance brakes provide incredible stopping power. Steering and suspension are both new and upgraded and can be tailored to suit any set of driving conditions.
All-wheel drive reaffirms the ability to go anywhere, and an electronic-Limited Slip Differential (e-LSD) guarantees traction and stability when cornering by automatically shuffling torque to the wheels with the most grip.
One more quote, from Driving Electric Magazine August 2022:
