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Cars in Taylor Swift Music VideosSneak Peek: The All-New 2022 Kia EV6
Is the 2022 Kia EV6 the car of the future? With a slew of features and abilities, Kia’s first E-GMP may be the car of the moment and of the future.
A Contemporary Car of the Future
If you’ve been keeping up with the electric vehicle (EV) market, then you’re probably aware of the Kia EV6. If you watched the 73rd annual EMMY Awards, you may recall Simon Cowell in a 60-second commercial that highlighted the EV6. If you’re not yet familiar with the vehicle, however, you’re not alone.
I haven’t completely jumped on the EV bandwagon just yet. I’m a fan of choices, so an EV is a nice option to consider. I haven’t been sold on it, though. Well, after fully researching the 2022 Kia EV6, I can see why reviewers and industry insiders are excited about this vehicle. It could be enough to make a convert of me.
Kia already has EVs, but the company said that this crossover leverages the many benefits of its advanced platform and technologies to offer a superb ownership experience. That could certainly be the case. Take a look at some of the features and details that we already know about to decide for yourself.
Built From the Ground Up
Kia built the EV6 on their new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). It’s their first vehicle to use that E-GMP architecture. For the newcomers to the EV game, the E-GMP uses significant amounts of ultra-high-strength steel to provide the structure of the vehicle. It actually results in a lighter, but stronger body. Kia says that structure helps deliver better handling, safety, and interior space than some SUVs.
The 2022 Kia EV6 will come with standard rear-wheel drive, but it also has optional all-wheel drive capability. The AWD models feature dual motors to deliver acceleration and all-weather grip. Those who live in snow country should appreciate that. There’s also a five-link rear suspension that should help with responsiveness and allow for sporty handling of the vehicle.
The trims aren’t settled on just yet, but Kia says some trims will be able to deliver 320 horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque, going 0 to 60 miles per hour in 5.2 seconds!
The Long-Lasting Battery
I’ve seen criticisms of EVs when it comes to how long they can hold a charge, the lack of charging stations across the U.S., and how long it takes to charge the battery itself. Kia is doing what it can to curb those concerns.
The statistics released by Kia state that the 2022 Kia EV6 will charge for up to 210 miles within 18 minutes of using a compatible 800v DC fast charger. Select trims will reach a 300-mile targeted range. The 77.4 kWh battery in the EV6 can also store up power with 400v fast charging.
Kia points out the fact that between Electrify America, Tesla, and other charging networks, there are now over 41,400 charging stations in the U.S., including the 400v DC fast chargers or higher. According to data from the U.S. Department of Energy, about 6,000 of those stations are considered DC fast chargers.
To help drivers find those locations, they offer a list in their Kia Connect app or on the dashboard display itself. That app will also check the status of your battery remotely. Kia is also offering an 11kw on-board charger with each EV6 purchase, which allows for a Level 2 240v overnight recharge from home.
Hauling Power Through Battery Power
This little BEV has a towing capacity up to 2,000 lbs. That capacity generally allows the towing of a motorcycle, small boat, a canoe, some kayaks, a utility trailer, or a couple of Jet Skis or snowmobiles. That’s a higher capacity than the 2021 Nissan Rogue, a 2021 Chevy Trailblazer, or a Ford Edge, depending on how it’s equipped, so the Kia EV6 compares pretty well here.
No, towing a large pop-up camper isn’t a possibility with any of these vehicles, but for a smaller vehicle, the 2022 Kia EV6 has better tow numbers than some SUVs.
An Interior with Space
Holding up to 5 passengers, the Kia EV6 touts how that E-GMP design allows for a flat floor. That made a difference in their designing of the vehicle, allowing more space for the driver and his or her passengers.
A 114-inch wheelbase results in cabin space similar to, or larger than, some other crossovers like the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek or the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan. That wider wheelbase should also help with ride quality.
What also helps in providing extra space is that the 2022 Kia EV6 front seats are made of giga steel, so the seats are thinner. Kia promises that the seats maintain comfort while increasing the rear seat knee room for other passengers. Keeping sustainability front of mind, leather seats in the Kia EV6 will be made exclusively of vegan leather. More than 100 recycled PET bottles were used for other interior parts.
The dual curved screens are another nice feature inside the vehicle. Two 12.3-inch screens give a combined 24 inches of curved navigation, diagnostic, and entertainment display. To reduce eye strain, Kia EV6 designers integrated a blue light filter into the screen.
A Good Amount of Safety
With all the technology packed into this vehicle, you’d expect the 2022 Kia EV6 to have some good safety features. It doesn’t appear that it will disappoint in that category.
Blind-spot monitoring is a common in the higher trims of several vehicles these days. At least some trims of the Kia EV6 will have this feature as well, displaying a live feed of the right, rear blind spot in the instrument panel. Four exterior cameras provide a bird’s eye surround view as well.
One feature includes a highway driving assist, which will use radar sensors, navigation data, and a forward-facing camera to maintain a comfortable speed and distance from the vehicle ahead. That system assists with steering when changing lanes as well. The steering assist is activated by the turn signal.
Forward collision avoidance, a common safety feature in vehicles, is also ready to be used in the EV6. Lastly, a head-up display shows route guidance, speed limits, and the vehicle’s current speed.
Even More Features
The features don’t end with safety. There are some other handy tools to be used as well. Regenerative braking capability is something the 2022 Kia EV6 offers. That’s when the battery is recharged by some of the recovered energy that would have been wasted as heat during braking. It kicks in when the throttle pedal isn’t pressed. Usually, the level of braking is set by a manufacturer, but Kia is allowing EV6 drivers to set their desired level of breaking as low or high. Low braking would require manually pressing the brake pedal more frequently. Set to ‘high,’ the EV6 would mostly operate with only the throttle pedal while the regenerative braking would handle the rest of the job.
The tailgate can be operated electrically. There’s regularly about 18 cubic feet of storage space in the cargo area, while collapsing the rear seats adds more space. There’s also storage space under the hood! With no internal combustion engine up front, there’s room for a bin with just under two cubic feet of additional storage in the Kia EV6.
Most cars these days have Apple and Android connectivity. Kia’s EV6 also has Apple watch connectivity. Drivers can remotely start or stop charging the vehicle, remotely open or close the charging ports, and check the energy usage and charging status.
Finally, the remote start parking assist feature is one that’s not needed, but one that would be easy to get used to having. This feature allows the driver to remotely park a vehicle in a parking space. It could be removed from the parking space the same way. So, when there’s enough room to park but not always enough room to open the door and get out of a vehicle, this feature takes care of that. Get out. Then, remotely park the vehicle, lock the doors and you’re set. No more sucking in that gut while trying to squeeze out of a vehicle.
The Expected Cost
Right now, there aren’t any actual pricing details available. It’s assumed that the 2022 Kia EV6 will start at around $45,000, however. As the trims climb, the cost would too. The RWD models will be available with short-range batteries or long-range batteries, so the longer range is expected to cost a little extra. Some suggest the cost will top off at around $55,000, so it’ll be a $10,000 range from the lower models to the higher ones.
Waiting for Warranty Details
A 10-year battery warranty is available with the purchase of a 2022 Kia EV6. Kia hasn’t released a lot of details on any other warranties that may come with the EV6, but are known for having some of the longest lasting warranties in the auto industry, so they won’t likely change that trend with this vehicle.
It Could be a Good First-Time EV
If I were looking to get my first EV, the 2022 Kia EV6 may be the one I’d get. I’d have to get in and check out the space to see how it really compares to a SUV, but, based on what Kia has released so far, it seems to have a lot of upsides to it. Based on the design, there seems to be a deceiving amount of space in the vehicle. I’d be anxious to see if that translates in physical form.
Safety features are all on point. One could come to appreciate the head-up display and remote parking assist very quickly. The vehicle does sit lower than a most SUVs on the market, so that may take adjustment for someone who looking to trade in. It’ll be interesting to track the success of the 2022 Kia EV6 once it’s released. Kia is banking on it doing well, so we’ll see if people are ready to make the jump to EV or potentially upgrade the EV they already have.
Kia is definitely giving consumers every reason to at least take a chance on the EV6.
