Kia’s new EV6 set to arrive in Australia next year

The South Korean brand is getting ready to bring its revolutionary new car to Australia next year.

Enthusiasts rejoice; Kia has a new hero car. The brand that first turned heads with the sporty Stinger sedan is looking to reignite that spark with its EV6 electric car.

The sleek, low-slung new arrival has been undergoing final suspension fettling in the hands of former motorsport engineer, Graeme Gambold, ahead of its local debut at the Australian Open next month.

Gambold, who has adapted more than 50 Kia models to local conditions and driving tastes in the past decade, says the EV presented new challenges and opportunities.

The new EV6 has svelte, sporty styling.

He says he found it surprisingly nimble, despite tipping the scales at a hefty two tonnes.

“It’s a car that just wants corners. It is so engaging and so rewarding to drive.”

He says that although the extra weight makes it difficult to balance comfort and cornering ability, the EV has inherent advantages over a petrol car.

The low centre of gravity makes it less prone to lean and shift its weight through corners and as a result it feels “very light, nimble and responsive”.

It shares its underpinnings with the award-winning Hyundai Ioniq 5.

The EV6 shares it underpinnings with the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which last week was crowned News Corp’s Car of the Year.

The two cars look very different in the metal, though. The EV6 has a wider, lower stance and more traditional lines, while inside the cabin is darker and sportier, with suede and imitation leather bucket seats, a huge wraparound dash display and ambient lighting throughout.

The sleeker profile means less headroom in the front and rear.

Kia will launch three versions of the EV 6, each with a slightly larger battery than the Ioniq 5 (77.4kWh to 72.6kWh) delivering more range and slightly better performance. The single-motor, rear-drive base model is expected to have a range of more than 500km, while the more expensive GT Line single-motor, rear-drive and dual-motor, all-wheel drive versions will travel more than 450km between charges.

The EV6’s low profile and sportier stance should make for an engaging drive.

Kia says the rear-drive models should reach 100km/h in about seven seconds and the all-wheel drive should take about five seconds, both slightly quicker than the Hyundai. A performance focused, top-of-the-line GT version is expected to arrive towards the end of the year or early in 2023, boasting a 0-100km/h time of roughly 3.5 seconds.

Prospective buyers will need to brace themselves for premium prices, though. While the base model is likely to sneak in under the Hyundai’s $71,900 price tag, the other two are expected to cost more, nudging them closer to $80,000 on the road.

There has been 16,000 expressions of interest.

That’s a big leap of faith for the brand, which in the past has focused on delivering value-for-money cars with drive-away deals.

But general manager, marketing, Dean Norbiato, says the company has had more than 16,000 expressions of interest in the car, compared to 12,000 for the Stinger. With an allocation of just 500 cars for next year, the brand is confident it can find buyers willing to pay luxury prices for a Kia.

“This will be our true halo car – the baton will be passed from Stinger to EV6,” he says.

Kia will supplement the EV 6 with an expanded range of hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, ranging from the Seltos-based Niro compact SUV to the seven-seat Sorento. It is also negotiating with head office for supply of hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the mid-sized Sportage SUV.

Kia plans 11 new electric cars by 2026.

The brand had originally planned to offer only full electric vehicles, but Kia head of product planning, Roland Rivero, says the success of the rival Toyota RAV4 Hybrid prompted a rethink.

“It sounded like the way to go because eventually everything may end up electric anyway, but we can’t ignore what’s happened with RAV,” he says.

An electric SUV and a smaller EV are also on the cards for the brand in the near future. A concept SUV, dubbed the EV9, was unveiled at the recent Los Angeles motor show, while a cheaper model is also in the wings.

Kia plans to launch 11 new electric vehicles worldwide by 2026.

Originally published as Kia’s new EV6 set to arrive in Australia next year