First Drive: 2022 Kia EV6 Debuts With Plenty of Power and Engaging Handling
This comely new model is a stylish and high-tech addition to the EV market
Update: Since this first drive was originally published in March, 2022, we finished testing the Kia EV6. See the complete Kia EV6 road test.
The 2022 Kia EV6 is the automaker’s first electric vehicle that has been developed purely as an EV, without a gasoline-powered counterpart. The EV6 has its own unique look, driving dynamics, interior styling, and dimensions.
Even though the dual-motor versions provide all-wheel drive, this isn’t a go-anywhere SUV. It’s closer to a large hatchback or a sportback-type vehicle. Keeping true with the rest of Kia’s vehicle lineup, the EV6 has a sportier, more aggressive appearance than the similar Hyundai Ioniq 5.
The EV6’s 114-inch wheelbase (the distance between the center of the front wheels and the center of the rear wheels) is the same as Kia’s three-row SUV, the Telluride. That means that the EV6 is larger in reality than it might look in photos, and interior room is maximized.
What we rented: 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD
Powertrain: 320-hp, dual electric motors; 77.4 kWh battery; 1-speed direct drive; AWD
MSRP: $55,900
Options: GT-Line Suede Seat Package, $295
Destination fee: $1,215
Total cost: $57,410 (before available $7,500 federal tax incentive)
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