You don’t just become Car of the Year 2021 at autoreview.nl. With its groundbreaking technology and futuristic appearance, the Kia EV6 drags you into the future. But with its flashy performance and rock-solid road holding, the EV6 also offers ‘old-fashioned’, tough driving pleasure.
It doesn’t matter whether you call the Kia EV6 an SUV, crossover or liftback. The fact is that it looks sporty due to its low roofline and coupé-like rear window. Not only that, he also stands out from the crowd. Especially if you zoom in a bit more on the details. The front isn’t quite as bare-bones as many other electric cars have. The LED headlights are optically connected by a black strip, and there is a large air inlet under the bumper. This makes the EV6 seem even wider than it actually is.
Even in the dark you will recognize the Kia EV6 from thousands
Seen from the side, the well-knocked wheel arches are already nicely filled by 19-inch light metal as standard. Some versions even have 20- or 21-inch wheels (EV6 GT). One of the coolest design elements is the sill trim, which rises at the rear and thus connects with the car-wide taillight.
This million-billion-dollar cluster of LED lights is integrated into a ducktail-style spoiler. With that impressive light feature, the Kia EV6 can be recognized from thousands even in the dark. The spoiler effect also prevents unwanted air turbulence behind the car. And that in turn ensures lower consumption and a smoother driving behaviour.
Impressive performance Kia EV6
Because Kia has placed the battery pack in the bottom of the EV6, the center of gravity is low. Combined with a long wheelbase and a good track width front and rear, this is a solid foundation for rock-solid handling. With an output of 170, 229, 325, or even 585 hp in the impressive EV6 GT, that is no superfluous luxury.
The basic version goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds, the popular 229 hp variant does that in 7.3 seconds. That’s not earth-shattering, but the carelessness with which it goes, makes you chuckle again and again. For that you should not leave the car in Eco mode, by the way, but in Normal or Sport the beast is loose. Move your right big toe, and the EV6 will drag you forward without thinking. The two most powerful versions of the EV6 have two electric motors and four-wheel drive. Together they ensure that the Kia EV6 finishes the hundredth sprint like crazy. In 5.2 and 3.5 seconds respectively. That is sports car performance, without the wheels losing their grip for a moment.
Special construction: IDA
For optimal road holding of a car, you want to keep the unsprung weight as low as possible. That’s why Kia uses a lot of aluminum parts. The EV6 adds a unique construction to this: IDA (Integrated Drive Axle). The drive shafts and wheel bearings are assembled into one unit. In addition to a lower weight, this ensures a very stable and solid construction.
What’s even more special about the Kia EV6’s chassis?
To support the performance potential of the Kia EV6, the manufacturer has installed special hydraulic shock absorbers. Without the intervention of electronics, the dampers automatically adapt their operation to the conditions. Take your grandmother calmly to the bridge club or if you are driving on a bad road surface, then unevenness will be smoothly processed. With the help of a special valve, the damping becomes firmer when you maintain a sporty driving style. In this way leaning in bends and diving when braking are reduced to a minimum. This way the car manages to disguise its solid weight nicely.
Especially with the 325 strong, four-wheel-drive Kia EV6 it is fun to frolic on winding mountain roads. Fortunately, it never becomes a real fight; the car doesn’t give you mean knees and will never sting you in the eye. In this way, the chassis fully realizes the tough and sporty looks of the EV6.