Kia reveals all-electric EV6 15 | 03 | 2021

THIS IS OUR first look at Kia’s new all-electric EV6 crossover, the car which debuts the Korean carmaker’s new voyage of design. It’s also the first Kia in Europe to sport the brand’s new angular, and controversial, logo. But perhaps the least said about that the better. (Related: Kia XCeed PHEV spec and prices)

Anyway; the EV6. First question: range? Though details are scant at the moment, ahead of it going on-sale in the UK later this year, we’re expecting the EV to be available — certainly initially — with only one battery size, 72.6kWh. That’s the same pack which is already planned for its Hyundai Ioniq 5 stablemate, and will be good for around 310-miles in the Kia. It’ll also be available in 2WD and 4WD. (Related: All-electric Hyundai Ioniq 5)

Instantly, in terms of styling, there are resemblances to Jaguar’s electric i-Pace. Kia has yet to confirm the EV’s dimensions, but it’s safe to assume it will be shorter than the Jaguar. It should though be longer than the Ioniq 5, which stretches to 4635mm. The EV6 also has long a wheelbase, short front and rear overhangs, and large wheels. (Related: Skoda's all-electrc Enyaq iV)

There’s no denying the EV6 has a sleek, svelte look to it. While the front-end encompasses a very slim grille, and includes headlights that wrap around onto the front wings, it’s from the rear and side where the design really makes a strong impact.

Best viewed from the rear three-quarters, the dominant design cue is a metallic twin sill stripe which rises diagonally up to full-width rear light signature. It’s certainly unusual, is visually eye-catching, and makes a bold design statement.

East Asian countries do tend to adopt a philosophy which enshrines their design. Kia’s latest is ‘Opposites United’, and is formed of five key design pillars the company calls: Bold for Nature, Joy for Reason, Power to Progress, Technology for Life, Tension for Serenity. Unlikely to make any impression on the average car buyer walking into a Kia showroom, I think we’ll leave all that to the philosophers among us. (Related: Volvo's C40 Recharge)

Inside the cabin, there’s loads of space, freed-up by the positioning of the battery pack under the floor. The space in front of the driver is dominated by one large, curved screen and features a new infotainment system called the Audio Visual and Navigation. There’s no denying the curved screen looks ultra-modern, and sits perfectly in the slim dashboard. This houses a digital driver display, below which sit the climate and audio volume controls. Pleasingly, the latter two are actually physical buttons, rather than ‘screen-controlled’ by sticky fingers. (Related: Audi unveils Q5 Sportback e PHEV)

We’ll need to wait till closer to the EV6’s on-sale date — likely to be in the autumn, around September — for full spec details and pricing. That said, expect the full range to sit below the £49,999 barrier, thus ensuring all models qualify for the UK government grants for clean vehicles. Entry price is likely to be around £43,000.

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Jim McGill