EV6

Make
Kia
Segment
SUV

Kia's first battery-electric vehicle, the EV6, had its world premiere at the end of March and showed off its striking styling along with key specs like a range of up to 316 miles (WLTP cycle), and up to 576 horsepower. The signs are already there that this will be a big seller for the Korean automaker.

Now, Kia has officially announced the EV6's debut in North America with a headlining First Edition variant as well as an on-sale date for all 50 states. The Kia EV6 will compete with other new EVs like Hyundai's Ioniq 5. These two cars share a platform but look markedly different from one another.

Many of the technical details have been covered before but as a quick refresher, the EV6 produces 576 hp in top GT trim, enough for it to reach 60 mph in under 3.5 seconds. Its 114.2-inch wheelbase is comparable to the Telluride SUV, allowing for 53.5 cubic feet of space behind the second row. With its 800V charging architecture, up to 210 miles of range can be added in under 18 minutes.

In what has been described as a first for Kia, a new EV6 First Edition variant will be available via advanced reservation from June 3. Only 1,500 examples will be made.

The First Edition will ship with black wheel arches and 20-inch wheels as well as standard features like augmented reality head-up display, remote smart parking assist, a 14-speaker Meridian sound system, and a wide sunroof. It will use the dual-motor setup, the 77.4 kWh battery, and all-wheel drive. Certain colors like Urban Yellow and Steel Matte Gray will be reserved for this model.

In the USA, the Kia EV6 will go on sale early in 2022 in all 50 states, although pricing is yet to be confirmed. The high-performance GT will arrive late in 2022 so interested customers will have to wait a bit longer for the hottest EV6. Along with the EV6 announcement, Kia North America replaces the former Kia Motors America name here in the US. The name change coincides with Kia's new logo, which will be adopted on a model-by-model basis.