Kia EV6, with 800-volt architecture, takes on crossovers from Tesla, Ford, VW, Audi

MARBELLA, Spain -- So far, Kia has been a fast follower in electrification, but the brand says the new EV6 midsize crossover has the features to turn it into a game changer, starting with an 800-volt electric architecture that enables ultra-fast charging.  

The EV6, which is now available in most European markets, is underpinned by Kia parent Hyundai Group's E-GMP battery electric platform, the same as the recently launched Hyundai Ioniq 5 sibling model. The platform's long wheelbase relative to its length allows for a roomier interior, Kia says.

Kia's largest SUV, the midsize Sorento, is 4810 mm long with a wheelbase of 2815 mm. But the smaller EV6, at 4680 mm long, has a 2900 mm wheelbase. That is 100 mm shorter than the Ioniq 5.

Two battery sizes are available, 58 kilowatt hours and 77.4 kWh, with the larger battery enabling a range of up to 528 km (330 miles) on the WLTP cycle. Range is 394 km with the smaller battery.

The EV6's larger battery has 4.8 kWh more than the Ioniq 5, which helped push the range to more than 500 km -- an important psychological barrier, according to Kia marketing.

Kia has set an ambitious sales target for the EV6, which it hopes will challenge a range of rivals including the Tesla Model Y, Volkswagen ID4, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and even the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback.

Kia Europe President Jeong Won-Jeong said the automaker is aiming for global EV6 sales of 100,000 annually, with 40,000 in Europe. The Model Y and Q4 e-tron Sportback have just been launched in Europe. Sales figures from JATO Dynamics show that through August, VW sold 42,342 ID4s and Ford sold 12,342 Mustang Mach-Es.

The EV6 is closest in size to the ID4 (4584 mm long) Mach-E (4712 mm long) and Model Y (4750 mm long), but it is considerably shorter than the e-tron (4901 mm long). 

Ioannis Roussis, senior manager product marketing at Kia Europe, said sales were initially forecast to be equally split between two-wheel- and four-wheel-drive versions but, he said, "We now believe the four-wheel drive might take a bigger share."

The EV6 is part of a Kia product plan to launch 11 full-electric models by 2026. The E-GMP platform will underpin seven of those vehicles, while four will be versions of models that will also have internal-combustion options. Among the latter, the new Niro compact crossover is expected to be launched in the second quarter of 2022.

Kia aims to sell 500,000 full-electric vehicles annually by 2026 and 920,000 by 2030. The goal is to have EVs generate 20 percent of Kia's worldwide sales by 2025 and a quarter in 2029.

At a launch event in Spain for the EV6, Kia executives said the EV6 is quite different from its Hyundai sibling in design and driving feeling.

Gregory Guillaume, head of design at Kia Europe, said the EV6 posed multiple challenges from a design standpoint. "Because an EV has no grille, we had to reinvent the 'tiger nose' at the front, and we did it by transforming it into a digital tiger face" that appears through a LED sequential light pattern.

At the rear, a side trim line that kicks up just ahead of the wheels continues into a "duck tail" that improves aerodynamics -- and also contains a full-width light bar.

Bulging front and rear wheel arches add to the sporty feeling, Guillaume said. "We were inspired by a certain rally car of the ‘70s," he added, likely referring to the Lancia Stratos coupe, which has a greenhouse profile that resembles the EV6's.

Daniel Junker, an engineer in Kia's technical center in Rüsselsheim, Germany, said the EV6's suspension system includes valving that applies more damping in response to low-frequency inputs such as steering or body roll to keep the car flat, and less damping to ensure a comfortable ride in high-frequency situations such as cobblestones or potholes.  

The top version of the EV, with all-wheel drive, the 77.4-kWh battery and a 239 kilowatt electric motor that produces 325 hp, accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in 5.2 seconds. Maximum range is 504 km.

For buyers who prioritize the ability to drive long distances without recharging, a rear-wheel-drive version with the larger battery, an optional heat pump and a 168-kW motor has a range of 528 km on the WLTP cycle using 19-inch wheels. Range dips to 506 km with 20-inch wheels. 

An entry version of the EV6 has a 58-kWh battery and a 125-kW electric motor has a WLTP range of 394 km. It is offered in some markets, including Germany (at a base price of 43,990 euros), Norway and Spain.

The heat pump, which ensures the battery can provide 80 percent of the maximum range in temperatures as low as minus 7 degrees Celsius (19 degrees Fahrenheit), will be standard in some markets, Kia said.

A more powerful GT version will be launched in late 2022. It will feature a total of 430 kW (577 hp) from two electric motors, more than the BMW i4 M50 and well into Porsche Taycan territory (the power output of the latter ranges from 240 to 560 kW, according to the version). The EV6 GT will accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in 3.5 seconds, with a top speed of 260 kph. Its range will be 400 km.