Test Drive Kia's EV6 to redefine local electric SUV market
Two Kia EV6 vehicles roam the streets of Seoul / Courtesy of Kia Corp.
Kia's ambitions are clearly reflected in its newest electric vehicle
By Kim Hyun-bin
Kia's ambitions beyond the era of the combustion engine are clearly reflected in its newest electric vehicle (EV). The EV6, which hit showrooms in March of this year, shows just how soon Korea's No. 2 carmaker thinks the era of EVs will dawn.
The EV6 will definitely give its sister company, Hyundai Motor, a run for its money by upping the competition in the domestic EV market especially against Hyundai's IONIQ 5, which was unveiled in February of this year.
The EV6 recorded the highest first-day pre-order sales for the company by reaching 21,016, while currently over 30,000 have been ordered, far exceeding the company's production target of 13,000 this year.
The IONIQ 5 is built more for comfort and is family-oriented, but the EV6 showcases another level of sportiness with an EV that maximizes performance.
The company invited a pool of reporters including The Korea Times to take the new SUV out for a spin on Aug. 25.
The test drive began at EV6 Unplugged Ground in Seongsu-dong in Seoul, heading for an elementary school located in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, just north of the capital. It was a 143-kilometer round trip that took around three hours to complete.
The model that was available was the EV6 Long Range all-wheel drive (AWD).
From the exterior, the EV6 went a different route compared to its in-house competitor, the IONIQ 5, which portrayed a futuristic vibe. The EV6 has smooth curves that are gentle on the eyes, as the exterior design is more in line with other models released recently by the company and blends in well with other vehicles on the road.
The design embedded a new philosophy called “Opposites United” that tries to fuse an innovative crossover bodywork and seamless and sophisticated interior.
The EV6 implemented Hyundai Motor Group's Electric-Global Modular Platform?(E-GMP), which is a dedicated EV platform produced by the conglomerate.
On the exterior, the E-GMP was used to complete the unique design of the EV6 by adding a digital tiger face to a long wheelbase and short front and rear overhangs, while a dynamic line starts from the lower side and goes through the rear wheelhouse to the tail lamp.
EV6 interior / Courtesy of Kia Corp.
The interior of the EV6 offers a panoramic curved display that seems to wrap around the driver's seat along with a slim dashboard that gives a more spacious feel from the driver's seat.
The EV6's seats are thin and feel lighter than conventional seats. But they are not uncomfortable but rather pleasant feeling when driving.
The center console can be opened to reveal a space large enough to store a backpack, tablet PC or water bottles.
Another perk was the Active Sound Design technology which was implemented for the first time in a Kia model, offering an enhanced driving experience as the driver can freely select from among three artificial engine sounds: Stylish, Dynamic and Cyber. The sound is linked to the driving mode to add to the driving experience, according to Kia.
The EV6 Long Range rear-wheel drive model was certified by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for its travel range of 475 kilometers on a single charge and being the country's first model to go from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds in the GT model.
The advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) came in handy to drive in the complex urban environment. On the highway was an opportunity to test out the true potential the EV6 had to offer. As soon as the reporter hit the gas, the acceleration was nothing but impressive and incomparably smooth compared to internal combustion engine vehicles, which drastically enhanced the driving experience. This is the very reason why global car manufacturers are vowing to transition their key lineups to EVs.
Although the speed was over 100 kilometers, the EV6 was silent as if the vehicle was moving just 30 kilometers an hour. The model has definitely raised expectations for Kia's future EV endeavors and what the later models could bring in terms of performance.
The panoramic curved display that connects to the dashboard gave the necessary driving information, while the center display provided mutual assistance and easy control.
Heavy rain was encountered during the test drive, but the vehicle's handling was secure and steady.
According to Kia, the 800V super-fast charging system can replenish the battery from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 18 minutes. For the Long Range model, the 77.4kWh large-capacity battery will be able to travel more than 100 kilometers with a short charging time of less than 5 minutes.
“We hope the EV6 simultaneously raises customer satisfaction in the EV travel range as well as in the company's eco-friendly position in the EV market,” a Kia official said.
The test driven EV6 battery was 85 percent full at the beginning of the ride but ended with 48 percent after the 143-kilometer journey.
A Kia EV6 is on display at the EV6 Unplugged Ground Seongsu showroom in Seoul, which is scheduled to be open through July next year. Courtesy of Kia Corp.
The EV6 Unplugged Ground showroom
Kia Corp. opened the EV6 Unplugged Showroom to the public in Seoul's Seongsu-dong in order to showcase the EV6 firsthand.
The showroom has the EV6 on display and provides opportunities to test drive, receive consultations and purchase the newly released EV.
The showroom will be in operation through July next year.
Kia plans to operate four EV6 types ― Standard, Long Range, GT and the high-performance GT model that is scheduled to be released in the latter half of next year.
The starting price from the standard to the GT ranges from 47.3 million won ($42,400) to 56.8 million won.