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The fully electric one Kia EV6 is technically in top form and well trained. If you want, you can also find a sociable party buddy in him.
It can go that fast. If you stand at the charging station with the Kia EV6 and a thriller, it is hardly worthwhile to go looking for a murderer. Where other five chapters have time to recharge, ideally the prologue is enough for the new Korean. With the fast charger, the EV6 can refresh its battery level from 18 to 10 percent in 80 minutes. He stores feed for 100 kilometers in a good four and a half minutes.
Double the power
This is made possible by the system architecture of the group platform E-GMP (electric-Global Modular Platform), which the Kia shares with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and which is to be followed by plenty of other electric vehicles. Like its technology brother, the EV6's battery system works with double the voltage. Instead of the standard 400 volts, it is 800 here. They enable a maximum charging capacity of 225 kW. A technology that we previously only knew from e-cars in crazy price regions. The Porsche Taycan is such a turbo charger, as is the Audi E-tron GT. Mercedes, BMW but also VW charge with 400 volts and therefore much more slowly.
Kia offers the EV6 with two battery sizes, 58 and 77,4 kWh, the range according to WLTP should be up to 528 kilometers. The consumption is 18 kWh. The customer can choose from four different performance levels. The basic version of the EV6 has 125 kW / 170 PS and rear-wheel drive (from 44.990 euros). For 4.000 euros more it is available with rear-wheel drive, a large battery and 168 kW / 229 PS, combined with all-wheel drive it is 239 kW / 325 PS. Price: 52.800 euros.
Will a GT be submitted later?
The EV6 GT (from 65.990 euros), which will be submitted in a year, is really brushed for power. With more sporty clothing and of course also trimmed for four-wheel drive with two electric motors, Kia's new E flagship will produce 430 kW / 585 PS and accelerate from 3,5 to 0 km / h in 100 seconds. While the models now presented are braked at 185 km / h, the EV6 GT only throws the electronic anchor at 260 km / h.
What kind of guy is this who is messing up the hierarchy of the electrical scene with high voltage? One hears from Kia that the EV6 is something of a turning point. Technologically anyway, but also in terms of buyers. The prices are extremely self-confident, premium customers from other manufacturers must be conquered. With the EV6, Kia is also changing its tactics. If you were just the nice budget brand and patient observer when it comes to innovations, now you change the mode to attack.
Reinventing design
Nothing could better document new beginnings and aspirations than the new brand logo on the bow and the progressive design of the 4,70 meter long crossover. Somewhere between high sedan and sporty SUV coupe, the EV6 should be the dynamic spearhead of the Korean e-family. An imposing car, visually massive, with its own style in the details and thus completely different from the Ioniq 5. The roof line is coupé-like, the front without the typical tigernose grill is more classic.
The sides are marked with flared rocker panels with rising trim and all-road planking on the wheel arches. You don't have to find the futuristic rear end with a short tear-off edge and all-round LED strip beautiful, it is definitely brave, the sporty accent in the GT line is provided by a roof edge spoiler.
There is plenty of room in the experimental power plant. With a 2,90 meter wheelbase, nobody gets breathless here, the trunk at the back swallows 490 to 1.300 liters, and right at the front there is a small "Frunk", a storage compartment for charging cables and odds and ends. It is 52 liters for the rear-wheel drive version, 20 liters for the all-wheel drive.
High tech for the occupants
For a sustainable conscience, every EV6 111 comes with recycled half-liter PET bottles, from which Kia weaves carpets and fabrics, the seat covers, which look and feel like leather, are made of vegan material. Animal skins are taboo in the EV6.
A dashboard is set up in front of the driver, dominated by two 12,3-inch curved displays (digital cockpit and infotainment) that come as standard. Basically, we know that from the Ioniq 5, the steering wheel and the massive center console in piano lacquer look with start button and automatic rotary switch, on the other hand, are pure Kia children. On the narrow, elegant control bar under the cockpit we find a change of assignment. Either you regulate all climate issues here or switch to navigation / media mode at the touch of a finger.
The head-up display is also cool, it reflects the finest augmented reality in the windshield and throws three-dimensional directional arrows onto the lane 7,5 meters in front of the car. There is an army of hard-working assistants who park and brake independently. The recuperation system is fed by the super brain and in auto mode can proactively calculate the optimal deceleration from traffic events and navigation data, thus effectively recovering energy.
Of course, the EV6 can also sail, i.e. roll completely decoupled from the drive unit. And it can charge bidirectionally. So not only absorb energy, but also output it again via an adapter at the rear (alternating current up to 3,8 kW). If the EV6 has more than 20 percent in the battery, it becomes a cool party sock. Using the “vehicle-to-load” function, he powers the ghetto blaster, recharges the e-bike or cools drinks at the outdoor party at the quarry pond.
On the way there, he doesn't let a lot burn. The EV6 is not the type that enchants winding country roads on racetracks. It is too bulky for that and the elevated seating position is rather unsuitable. The seats are also hardly shaped. With a sporty driving style you slide back and forth quite unsteadily. The EV6 GT will only get real sports seats next year.
Press firmly into the seat
But the performance of the Stromer is pretty good. In sport mode (there is still Eco and Normal) a lot is possible. The power of the all-wheel drive we drive in the GT-line gives you a punch in the neck during kickdown, followed by a grumble in the stomach area. Over two tons of mass then pulverize the 5,2 km / h mark in 100 seconds. These are sports car values with which e-cars will sooner or later bring motorheads into the fan camp. The rest of the EV6 is routine. The steering is sufficiently sensitive, the footwork is always up to the task and not over-ambitious when it comes to the hardness of the vote. Incidentally, Kia will only offer an adaptive chassis with the EV6 GT.
One thing remains: Kia can do it. The innovative EV6 has the power to pull the whole brand. It remains to be seen whether customers will go along with this.
Technical data
Five-door sedan with electric all-wheel drive; Length: 4,69 meters, width: 1,89 meters, height: 1,55 meters, wheelbase: 2,90 meters, trunk volume: 490 - 1.300 liters, drive with two electric motors, system output 239 kW / 325 PS, max. System torque 605 Nm, one-way automatic transmission, battery 77,4 kWh. 0-100 km / h: 5,2 s, Vmax: 185 km / h (electronically limited), power consumption: 17,2 - 18,0 kWh / 100 km (WLTP combined), max.range 484 - 506 km (WLTP ), Price: from 52.800 euros.
In brief
Why: because there has never been such a high-tech Kia
Why not: because we first have to get used to such confident Kia prices
What else: Hyundai Ioniq 5, Mustang Mach E, VW ID.4 GTX, Cupra Born
When does he come: End of October