We’ve recently taken the 2023 Kia EV6 for a first drive months after its initial reveal at the 2022 Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS), but before we reveal to you what it’s like to drive this EV (spoiler alert, it’s amazing), let’s first talk about the details that matter the most. Or at least most of it since pricing will be revealed on its local launch on March 21.
The model we drove is the EV6 GT Line Long Range, which means it gets the important bits that will matter to Filipino EV buyers–the 77.4 kWh lithium-ion battery. This gives it an EPA-estimated range of 528 kilometers when fully charged, which is barely any different from any internal combustion engine (ICE) car. What’s more, the EV6 is one of the only few EVs right now that come with an 800-volt architecture, which means it can support up to 350 kW of DC fast charging and 11 kW of AC. The former allows a 10 to 80 percent charge in just 18 minutes, while the latter does the same job in 7 hours and 20 minutes. On the downside, the fastest charger in the Philippines is a 170 kW DC fast charger that Shell Recharge Mamplasan provides.
Under the hood–or rather its E-GMP platform that’s shared with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a single electric motor powering the rear wheels, which is good for 229 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque. These aren’t Earth-shattering figures, but for the general Filipino car buyer, the upside of this is its aforementioned long range. Besides, its 0-100 kph time of 7.3 seconds is already fast enough for Manila.
On the exterior front, Kia has done an absolutely amazing job designing the EV6. Thankfully, the GT Line is what we’re getting, which means it gets a very sporty exterior design. This begins with its large 20-inch wheels that fill the wheel wells nicely. Oh, and don’t let the photos fool you. This isn’t a typical hatchback. It’s actually quite huge in person. It’s not as tall as a Kia Sportage, but it’s not as low as a Kia Forte, either. The EV6 is an electric crossover SUV that has a very long 2,900 mm wheelbase–longer in fact than the Kia Sorento midsize three-row SUV.
What does that mean for its interior? Tons of space. Yes, this is a compact crossover SUV, but its long wheelbase and absence of any ICE mean that in terms of volume, it rivals that of a midsize crossover. And just like the exterior, the interior is just as stylish. Two 12.3-inch screens are housed in a single glass panel, and like most modern cars, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fitted as standard. There’s also an excellent Meridian surround sound system, a panoramic sunroof, as well as premium materials all over the place. Speaking of the materials, Kia used vegan leather for its upholstery as a way to make the EV6’s production process more sustainable.
The 2023 Kia EV6 GT Line Long Range that will be sold in the Philippines is also fully-loaded with the latest driver-assistance tech, such as automatic emergency braking, full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane centering, blind spot warning with cameras mounted on the side mirror, a 360-degree camera system, rear cross traffic alert, and adaptive LED headlights.
We can’t wait to tell you more about our experience with the 2023 Kia EV6, but we’ll reserve that until the launch draws nearer. Pricing will also be revealed on March 21, and with the Executive Order that removes tariffs on EVs already signed, we’re expecting the EV6 to cost much lower than the initially sugged retail price of “less than P4 million”. For now, here are its full specifications for the Philippine market.
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