For the first time, Kia earned the coveted Car of the Year Award. While the automaker has scored well in the past, the Kia EV6 easily earned the top spot with 279 points and 12 individual top votes. This massive victory might be the sign of great things to come from Kia.
Kia recently reinvented itself with a new name, logo, and updated design philosophy. The EV6 was the inaugural vehicle launched under Kia’s new direction. It arrived at every Kia dealer with Kia’s brand new all Electric-Global Modular Program (E-GMP).
It’s an exciting time for this South Korean automaker.
The Kia EV6
Every Kia dealer in the country was excited to show off the EV6. This electric vehicle is the perfect mix of a hatchback and crossover. Unlike other Kia EVs, the EV6 was designed from the ground up as an individual electric vehicle.
The EV6 is available with either a single electric motor for rear-wheel-drive or two motors that creates all-wheel-drive. The standard battery pack creates only 167 horsepower with one motor and 225 with two, but the larger battery pack can kick out as much as 576 total hp with two motors.
When equipped with the 320-hp (RWD with the larger battery pack), the EV can go from zero to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. All estimations suggest that with the right configuration, this car can hit the same speed in just 3.2 seconds. That’s some serious speed for a small crossover.
What drivers love the most is how quickly this car charges, which pairs well with its EPA-estimated electric driving range of 232 miles. With an 800-volt charger, the EV6 can go from 10% to 80% in under 18 minutes. With a more standard Level 2 charger, it can go from 10% to 100% in just seven hours.
What the Judges Had to Say
The judges for The Car of the Year committee had a lot of great things to say about the Kia EV6.
“Sportier driving, firmer suspension, high range, and excellent quick charging, because of 800-volt system, huge space, good package (frunk), nice details in the interior like the double-mode switches for navigation and climate control, no leather trim anymore, V2X-charging possible”
“The EV6 stands out by combining energy efficiency, a large capacity battery, and ultra-fast charging”
“The best electric car of all the finalists. It has the same virtues as the Ioniq 5, but it is an even more balanced car, more refined in the set-up, more attractive in design, with higher quality finishes…And knocking on our emotions, we have the 585 hp of the GT developed with Rimac”
“Inside the roomy and well-finished passenger compartment, technological innovation is applied to increase the quality of life on board. And once at the wheel, the EV6 offers a smooth and pleasant drive”
Learn More At Your Local Kia Dealer
If you’re interested in learning more about The Car of the Year or want to get an in-person look at theEV6, stop by your local Kia dealer. If the EV6 is a sign of things to come, don’t be surprised if Kia takes home more of these prestigious awards in the coming years.
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