2024 Kia EV6 goes big! New battery will extend range, but that’s just part of the update story for Tesla Model Y rival
The upgraded 2024 Kia EV6 has been launched in Korea ahead of its debut in Australia in the fourth quarter of this year with the mid-life tweaks helping it launch a fresh assault on the best-selling Tesla Model Y.
Instantly recognisable by its sleeker styling, the facelifted version of the multi-award winner comes with a set of ultra-slim C-shaped daytime running lights.
They are combined with a much narrower take on the brand’s trademark ‘Tiger Nose’ grille that is now illuminated on the sporty GT-Line model. Other design changes include the adoption of fresh alloy wheel design.
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But the big news is that the Kia EV6 gets a bigger 84kWh battery that raises the distance it can cover from a full charge from 475km to 494km, – although the figures released with the Korean model are unclear.
The current Kia EV6 on the European WLTP test cycle can already cover up to 528km, so we expect a healthy improvement on that figure that will likely exceed 550km.
Like before, ultra-fast DC charging is possible, with a 10-80 per cent top-up taking just 18 minutes.
While there’s a bigger battery, the core models carry over their electric motors from before the facelift. That means the single motor produces 168kW/350Nm, while the punchier dual-motor derivative offers 239kW and 605Nm of torque.
Kia has yet to release details of its high-performance EV6 GT flagship, but don’t rule out a power boost following the launch of the wild and closely-related 478kW Hyundai IONIQ 5 N.
Unseen enhancements rolled out on the EV6 include new dampers, more soundproofing, thicker B-pillars and parts of the body shell to increase stiffness.
There’s also an increase of the airbag count from seven to 10.
Within, there’s a new steering wheel, fingerprint authentication sensor, wireless phone charge and new graphic for the existing curved panoramic display.
The EV6 also runs the car-maker’s latest ccNC operating system that is claimed to be faster and offers over-the-air updates.
New tech includes walkaway locking, automatic toll payments, remote auto parking, electric adjust steering wheel, cabin air filtration, a digital rear-view mirror and a new 12-inch head-up display.
In Korea, despite the substantial changes, prices have remains static for the Kia EV6, it’s not known if a similar strategy will be taken by Kia Australia.
