2022 Kia EV6 an affordable, fun-to-drive sporty vehicle
When it comes to battery electric vehicles, it may seem as if the truly sporty ones are reserved for the rich. After all, who outside the upper 5% is buying a Porsche Taycan? But should the rest of us be envious? Of course not. The Taycan is fun, but in the onrushing flood of EVs coming to market, some are sure to be fun to drive while costing a whole lot less.
Granted, the $40,900 starting price of Kia’s new EV6 electric vehicle doesn’t exactly qualify it as a bargain basement contender, but it’s a whole lot easier to swallow than the six-figure sticker affixed to a Taycan. It’s also less than a Tesla Model Y, not to mention more than most people expect to pay for a Kia.
You can excuse the automaker for feeling its oats after the success of the
Telluride, an SUV so popular that Kia executives call it the Selluride. Clever quips aside, the Selluride — um, Telluride — has brought in a different, more affluent customer to the Kia brand. And while they’re in the showroom — remember those? — they might just take a fancy to the EV6, and there’s plenty to admire.
The EV6 is far from Kia’s first electric vehicle; that honor falls to the 2014 Kia Soul. It’s no longer offered; the Niro now takes its place in the Kia lineup, joined by the new EV6.
The EV6 is built on the company’s Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), a skateboard architecture that houses the batteries, motors and other key components below the load floor. Combine that with the fact that EVs use fewer components than internal combustion engines, and you’ll find that it provides for a cabin that’s far larger than you’d expect.
The overall vibe is minimalist, and
trimmed in what the company calls vegan leather.
The instrument panel is dominated by a large, horizontal screen that houses a 12.3-inch reconfigurable gauge cluster and an equally large infotainment touch screen.
The curvy roads around Napa Valley,
California, proved to be the perfect spot to learn about this electric buggy’s capabilities. Being that its handling was developed by Albert Biermann, formerly of BMW M, the EV6 is a revelation when tackling the twisties. Steering proves linear, with a quick, sharp feel that’s ideally weighted. Body lean is well controlled, and the instant-on torque provides for rapid off-the-line starts and more than enough punch when you need that extra burst of speed.
Thoughtfully, the regenerative braking can be adjusted via steering wheel mounted paddles, so that when you lift off the throttle, the cars slows appreciably or not much at all. It’s your choice.
All of this makes for an EV that’s sure to be in high demand and a must-drive for anyone considering an EV. It’s so good, it’s sure to steal sales away from other carmakers’ EVs. Considerate it another Selluride from Kia.