Dimensions of a crossover and dynamic design of a coupe, the most advanced Kia today (photo: Walla! system, Audi Etzion)
Price:
NIS 249,000
Score:
9/10
We liked:
design, technology, performance and road behavior
We didn't like:
rear headroom, waiting times
For a long time, we haven't landed a car that raised as many expectations as the new government, and also so much opposition .
"Costs like a 3 Picanto," the opposition waves one sign, "Ionic 5 is much cheaper," claims another sign, "Only Tesla!"
Third conclusion.
Kia made its name with popular cars that offer good value for money, and is now trying to sell us an electric whose price only starts at NIS 250,000 for the "premium" rear-wheel drive version we drove, and goes up to NIS 300,000 for the GT-line dual-drive version.
Although it's a car that comes with awards from around the world, but still, a quarter of a million shekels, and the price will go up even more in the next deliveries, after the tax increase next week.
Kia sells hundreds of units a year of the large Carnival minivan, but the last time it launched a car in Israel for more than NIS 300,000, the sports sedan Stinger, it ended up with a lot of appreciation for the product and very few sales.
The EV6 comes with a price tag of 240-299 thousand shekels, which will climb further when the real GT version arrives in Israel next year with 585 hp, and 3.5 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h.
But her fate is about to be completely different.
The driver's environment is similar to that of the Ionic 5, but of better quality (photo: Walla! system, Audi Etzion)
Design:
The EV6 is based on the platform used by the Ionique 5 already sold in Israel, the Ionique 6 that will arrive next year, the Genesis GV60 and a long line of streetcars on the way.
It is 3 cm longer than the Ionique 5, yet its wheelbase is 10 cm shorter.
It is also 10 cm shorter than her and narrower than her by a single cm.
Like the 5, Skoda Aniac, Volkswagen ID.4, Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach E, the Kia is also a crossover, but of the sportier variety.
It looks less like a jeep and more like a four-door coupe.
Passenger cabin:
the driver's environment is similar to that of the Ionic-5, with the same pair of 12.3-inch touch screens, the right one of which is used for multimedia and system operation, and the left one as a dashboard.
But the materials are of better quality and the seats are more supportive and sporty.
Front clearance is excellent, helped by the flat floor created when the shifter moved to a round knob on the dashboard.
There is no separation between the passenger's and the driver's leg area, so anything that rolls down on the passenger will roll to the left and onto the driver's legs.
The human engineering is generally good, even the climate control got separate buttons and is not hidden in one of the multimedia screens, so they are always easy to reach.
But because these are touch buttons, a look is still required to accompany the operation, instead of being on the road.
Steering wheel lacks a little upward movement in tuning.
In the back there is not the limousine space of the 5, but there is more than enough room for the legs, and three adults will also fit across.
Headroom is less generous due to the sloping roof design, and you have to get used to the climate control system outlets located in the door beams on the sides and not in front of the center of the seat.
A five-door structure, as usual, boosts the usability of the trunk, which with a volume of 520 liters offers excellent cargo carrying capacity, deep and with a low step at the entrance.
There is also a lower shelf and a small lockable compartment.
Kia also took advantage of the flexibility of the electric vehicle structure, and also created a small trunk in the front, 52 liters in volume in this version, a symbolic 20 liters in the dual drive version.
In any case, the small cabin has its own lid, so to get to its trunk you will have to open the "hood" and then another "trunk lid".
clumsy.
There is no spare wheel, as usual in trams.
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Lots of legroom, with a flat floor (photo: Walla! system, Udi Etzion)
Equipment:
the premium comes with light 19-inch rims, a pair of 12.3-inch screens as mentioned, an electric driver's seat, an electric sun window, wireless charging for a mobile phone, USB ports in the front and back, and fabric and leather upholstery.
what is missing?
The GT-line upgrades to 20-inch rims, adds an electric passenger seat, heating for all seats and ventilation for the front, steering wheel heating, an electric trunk door that is definitely missing in the base level, and adds a useful ability for trips and camping to charge electrical appliances and even other electric devices with a power of 3.5 kilowatts, Using an adapter that comes with the vehicle and connects to the charging socket.
Premium has such a theoretical capability, but the V2L adapter cannot yet be purchased separately in Israel.
safety:
The EV6 received 5 out of 5 stars in the updated European crash test.
All versions come with autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, blind spot detection and collision prevention in case the driver ignores the warning, emergency braking in reverse, and motion sensors to detect a child or animal left in the vehicle.
The GT-Line also has a blind spot camera display that opens on the digital dashboard when you signal Kia, and Hyundai is currently reserving for the promotion of the more equipped and expensive versions.
It's a shame, because it's a smart and effective safety measure that can save lives.
One that should be standard in the car.
the rear trunk.
A volume of 520 liters and a stationary structure.
But when will tram manufacturers learn that a spare wheel is still needed? (Photo: Udi Etzion)
The front trunk, which hides under the "hood" (photo: Walla! system, Udi Etzion)
Engine and performance:
The EV6 is equipped with the same drive system as the Ionic-5, but comes with a larger capacity battery, 77.4 vs. 72 kWh. It is also 50 kg lighter.
On the road it makes it a little more agile.
Although you can choose between 3 drive modes, economical, normal and sport, the performance is also very good in the first two, and excellent in the last one.
It's a crossover that accelerates like a sports car, finally one worthy of the generally theoretical American acronym, SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle), capable of overtaking anywhere, even on mountain roads with short straights.
pleasure.
Power consumption and charging: Like the other electric models of the Hyundai-Kia concern, the EV6 is also equipped with paddles behind the steering wheel to control the level of recharging.
You can choose between 4 levels, with the fourth being a full i-pedal, and allowing driving with one pedal, when every moment you don't press the accelerator pedal, the vehicle slows down sharply for maximum charging.
Kia promises a range of 528 km, 47 km more than the Ioniq, thanks to the increased battery, the reduced weight and a slight improvement in the drag coefficient (0.28cd compared to 0.29).
In the test drive that included quite a few strenuous driving sections, the average consumption was 19 kWh per 100 km, which means an actual range of 406 km. In relaxed driving, the EV6 was 17 kWh per 100 km m, very close to the manufacturer's figure of 16.5 kWh, so a range of 500 km is certainly realistic in an intercity trip at a speed of about 110 km/h.
Theoretically the Kia is able to charge from 10% battery to 80% within 18 seconds.
This is on the condition that you find an ultra-fast charger with a power of 350 kilowatts, which currently exists in Israel only in the central Porsche garage.
In the "normal" Ultra 150 kW position, it claims at a rate of 40 minutes for such a charge.
An 11 kWh internal charger allows it to charge a domestic AC in 6 hours.
Comfort and behavior:
Shortening the wheelbase and reducing the weight compared to the sister from Hyundai makes the Kia lighter and more maneuverable.
With stiffer suspensions, it enters curves with ease, easily keeps the turning line, with a steering wheel that enjoys the right weight.
A car that weighs almost 2 tons and is still almost light.
In its behavior, it is much more reminiscent of the Tesla Model 3, which is lower than it, than the Model Y, which is closer to it in character.
With its fun road behavior and head-turning design, the EV6 is also waiting for more expensive streetcars (Photo: Walla! System, Audi Etzion)
The bottom line:
in Europe, the EV6 costs only slightly more than the equivalent Ionic 5 in terms of accessories.
Here the gap is much greater, while the Hyundai is a product whose orders have been frozen due to supply limitations, and its price tag is only theoretical.
Only when the orders are reopened with an updated price will we see the real price difference.
It is certainly worth the price difference from the Tesla Model 3, and certainly the expensive Model Y.
What is certain is that we would love to see the discounted version marketed abroad here, with a 53kWh battery, even lighter, and still with almost 400 official km.
The EV6 is reminiscent of previous leaps made by Kia in the past, such as with the redesigned Sportage Third generation. It is an excellent electric car, with almost no compromises. The combination between the performance, the behavior and the passenger cabin that manages to be both rich and minimalist allow it to wink even at customers who are considering purchasing electric cars from the luxury brands.
On the technical side: Kia EV6 Premium
Engine, drive:
electric, rear-wheel
power (hp)/torque (kgm):
35.7/229
gearbox:
auto, direct transmission
battery:
77.4 kWh
dimensions:
length (m):
4.68
width (m) '):
1.88
Height (m):
1.55
Wheelbase (m):
2.9
Trunk (liters)
:
520 in the back + 50 in the front
Performance (manufacturer):
Acceleration 0-100 (seconds):
7.3
Maximum speed (km/h) )
: 188
Power consumption (test):
19 kWh per 100 km
Power consumption (manufacturer):
16.5 kWh per 100 km
Prominent accessories:
A pair of 12.3-inch multimedia screens, wireless charging for a smartphone, a sun window, integrated leather upholstery, an electric driver's seat, peripheral parking cameras + view over, control of the recharging from the steering wheel
Safety:
European crash test score: 5 out of 5 stars
Air pollution:
0 g C02 per km, pollution level 1 out of 15
Active safety:
automatic emergency braking, vehicle detection in a "dead zone", adaptive cruise control, prevention of door opening by vehicle detection, cross traffic alert, motion sensor to detect a child left in the car
Warranty:
3 years Unlimited
km for the vehicle, 7 years or 150 thousand km for the battery
Competitors:
Hyundai Ioniq 5, Volkswagen ID.4, Tesla Model 3/Model Y
vehicle
Vehicle tests
Tags
Hyundai
electric car