Kia EV6 facelift in the first driving report: More comfortable than before
After three years, Kia has revised the EV6 in detail. The electric car is now a little more comfortable than before, as a first short drive shows.
(Image: Kia)
- Joaquim Oliveira
Kia has sold more than 200,000 EV6s worldwide to date. The German market accounted for exactly 17,527 first registrations by the end of September. These are remarkable figures for a car that doesn't really fit into the usual mould and polarizes with its design. With numerous improvements to details, the electric car should be fit for the second half of its construction period. A first short drive shows: It has succeeded.
On the outside, new and old are unmistakable at the front. I'll leave it to you to decide whether the EV6 has become prettier as a result. The other changes are inconspicuous in comparison. With a length of 4.7 m and a width of just under 1.9 m, the dimensions remain the same. Thanks to a wheelbase of 2.9 m, space is also very generous in the rear. The trunk only holds 490 liters – - competitors with similar dimensions sometimes offer more. Under the front hood, the rear-wheel drive model has 52 liters of additional storage space, compared to 20 in the all-wheel drive model.
Error rate reduced
In the interior, Kia has given the EV6 a new steering wheel. More important than the different shape for many drivers is probably the fact that it now uses capacitive technology to detect whether the driver has their hands on the wheel. This should reduce the error rate – and it does. This is a clear improvement on the previous model. The infotainment system has also been given a thorough overhaul and is now faster than before. Kia provides two updates via "over-the-air"; the customer can decide whether they want to use these for map material or updates to the operating system. After that, updates are available from the dealer or via this website.
On the road, the system continues to make a mature impression. No bugs were noticed on this first short drive. The sound system, which is available at extra cost, does not offer top-quality sound, but it sounds reasonable. The ventilated charging cradle charges cell phones that can do so with up to 15 watts. For the most expensive equipment, there is a package that allows the smartphone to be set up as a vehicle key. Obviously, this is probably not representative, but in my environment there are quite a few cell phones in use that are only carelessly updated. It would always be a little too exciting for me to entrust my vehicle access to such devices, but of course you can take a much more relaxed view.
Kia EV6 2025 (6 Bilder)
Kia
)Quieter than before
The model upgrade is noticeable in two other areas. The rear engine is more extensively encapsulated than before, making the EV6 noticeably quieter. The suspension tuning remains on the firm side, but the rear dampers respond more sensitively to small bumps. Here, too, the progress is unmistakable.
The drive range has remained untouched. For the time being, Kia is offering three different configurations. The two rear-wheel drive models offer 125 and 168 kW, while the all-wheel drive model with an additional electric motor up front offers 239 kW. Next year, Kia will again offer a "GT" with significantly more than 400 kW. The rear-wheel drive model with 168 kW was available for this first drive, and it does an excellent job. It accelerates spontaneously and very powerfully when required, only reaching a top speed of 185 km/h. We had the all-wheel drive model in the editorial office for a test almost three years ago. It accelerates considerably faster and thus offers a plus that can rarely be exploited in everyday driving. In sales, rear-wheel and all-wheel drive have roughly the same proportions.
Why the EV6 has three drive modes that hardly differ remains somewhat incomprehensible. The main noticeable difference is in the braking assistance, which can be adjusted in the depths of the infotainment system. The intensity of the recuperation can be changed using the shift paddles behind the steering wheel. The driver can choose between six levels.
ICCU problems solved?
The two batteries each have around 10 percent more energy content. With 63 and 84 kWh, Kia is well positioned, especially as the peak charging power of 195 and 258 kW (84 kWh battery) is still well above average. In an earlier technical model update, preconditioning was added, which our test car at the time still lacked. This should allow the charging capacity to be used in winter as well. Hopefully the Hyundai Group, which also owns the Kia brand, has got to grips with the problems with the integrated charge control unit (ICCU), which has persistently plagued cars on this basis and alienated many customers. There are many entries about this in forums.
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Consumption and range
Depending on the tire size, Kia states a consumption of 15.9 to 16.9 kWh/100 km for the EV6 with 168 kW in the WLTP. This includes the charging losses, unlike the figure given by the on-board computer. According to this, consumption on this first test drive was 22 kWh/100 km –, but with plenty of potential for "air downwards". In conjunction with the 19-inch rims, Kia gives the range in the cycle as 582 km. You don't need to be overly considerate to be able to drive 400 km at a stretch on the highway and leave yourself a certain reserve. Under ideal conditions, around 60 kWh should then be recharged after about 20 minutes, which is easily enough for another 300 km. With plenty of buffer, 700 km are therefore feasible with a stop of 20 minutes, provided you don't overdo it on the highway or tow a caravan. After the revision, the trailer can weigh up to 1.8 tons in the versions with a large battery. The basic model is limited to 750 kg towing capacity.
(Image: Kia)
The entry-level price after the facelift is 44,990 euros. For those who prefer the large battery, the price starts at 49,990 euros. The standard equipment of the base model is already very extensive, but can hardly be specifically extended. Sound system. Sunroof, head-up display or the inductive charging cradle for smartphones are not available on the basic model. On the other hand, the surcharges for significantly more equipment are reasonable. Even after the revision, the Kia EV6 is still not a cheap car, but in view of its qualities, it is one that seems reasonably fairly priced in its immediate environment.
(mki)