Last Updated on June 2, 2022 by Ajinkya Bhoir
Kia quickly gained popularity in the Indian market owing to its midsize SUV, Seltos, and a compact SUV, Sonet. Now, the South Korean carmaker has introduced its Kia EV6 all-electric crossover in the country. The Kia EV6 is positioned in the niche segment of high-end luxury electric vehicles. Also, the fact that it is a CBU (Completely Built Unit) import attracts heavy custom duties levied by the Indian government. The Kia EV6 will be available only in the range-topping GT-Line trim in RWD (Rear Wheel Drive) and AWD (All-Wheel Drive) variants.
Kia EV6: Design, Features
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Get the latest technology news, reviews, and opinions on tech products right into your inboxThe Kia EV6 gets a distinct and futuristic styling, which sets it apart from the conventional cars available in the market. The crossover’s striking looking exteriors can be attributed to the “Opposites United” design philosophy which it is based on. It gets a bold front end with DRL equipped sleek headlights. The EV comes with muscular haunches and a wide connected LED tail-lamp at the rear. It rolls on 19-inch wheels, which completes the look and lends it a good road presence.
Kia cars are popular for offering segment best features and creature comforts, and the Kia EV6 is no exception. It gets tech-laden interiors with massive dual-curved 12.3-inch screens and a floating type floor console. It features a two-spoke steering wheel, which looks too chunky for a car that has such futuristic design elements. The large floor console houses the Start/Stop button, seat cooling/heating controls, drive selector dial, wireless charging pad, and glass holders.
Some noteworthy features of the EV6 include a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, power-adjustable front seats, a 360-degree camera, eight airbags, an electric sunroof, and a powered tailgate. That’s not all, it comes with connected car features and a full suite of ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) features such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, auto emergency braking, and more.
The Kia EV6 is built on the E-GMP platform, which also underpins the Hyundai Ioniq 5 crossover. It is a skateboard EV platform for born electric vehicles, which helps liberate a good interior space and pack the battery packs more efficiently. The Kia EV6 is being sold in India with a 77.4kWh battery pack. The RWD version churns out 229PS of power and 350Nm of torque, whereas the AWD variant produces 325PS of power and 605Nm of torque. Kia claims that the AWD variant can do a 0-100kmph in about 5.2 seconds.
The Kia EV6 can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in just 18 minutes on a 350kW DC charger. On other 50kW fast chargers, it can be topped up from 10 to 80 percent in 73 minutes. Home charging can be done via the supplied 22kW wall charger. Kia claims a maximum range of 528km on a single charge. Expect around 400km of range in real-world driving conditions in Indian cities.
Kia EV6: Price, Availability
The Kia EV6 comes at a starting price of ₹59.95 lakh ex-showroom for the RWD variant. The AWD variant is priced at ₹64.95 lakh ex-showroom. At this price point, it is dangerously close to the recently launched BMW i4 electric car, which is priced at ₹69.90 lakh ex-showroom and offers a higher 590km range. Kia will only be selling 100 EV6 electric cars in the first batch. Deliveries will be done via 15 Kia dealerships in 12 cities in India. The brand is offering a three-year warranty and an eight-year battery warranty for 1.6 lakh kilometres.
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