2022 Kia EV6: Not Kia’s first electric, that honor goes to the Niro, but the all-new EV6 is the South Korean brand’s first vehicle built off of its dedicated electric-vehicle platform, called Electric-Global Modular Platform. The EV6 is a 5-passenger compact crossover that’s offered only as a 4-door wagon with rear- or all-wheel drive. Though the EV6 rides a long 114.2-inch wheelbase (same as the midsize Telluride) it competes against vehicles like the Ford Mustang Mach E and Tesla Model Y.
Kia hasn’t announced a full model lineup yet but there will be a “First Edition” and a GT model at a minimum. Several different powertrain and battery options will be available. In rear-wheel-drive form the EV6 will offer either 167 or 218 horsepower. Dual-motor all-wheel-drive models get a total of 313 horsepower and the AWD GT gets 576 horsepower. Two battery sizes will be offered with the rear-drive model getting a 58-kWh battery and others getting a 77.4-kWh battery. Kia estimates the EV6 will have a range of up to 300-miles and, on a fast charger, can get 210 miles of range in less than 20 minutes.
The EV6 features an interior packed with eco-friendly features and technology. Materials make extensive use of recycled plastic, seating surfaces will offer 100% vegan leather and there’s LED lighting inside and out. The dashboard incorporates dual 12-inch digital screens with blue light-filtering designed to reduce eye strain and fatigue. There’s also an augmented reality head-up display. Like the new Ford F-150 Lightning, the EV6 will be able to reverse charge and provide electricity for power tools and electric devices, Kia claiming up 1900 watts. You can even charge vehicle-to-vehicle if necessary. EV6 goes on sale in early 2022 with the GT later in the year.