The EV6 is available in two trims and two drivetrains. Source: Kia
The Kia EV6 will be priced in Australia starting from $67,800 before on-road costs, with two trim choices in a rear-wheel-drive format and the choice of all-wheel-drive for the premium trim.
Having debuted at the Australian tennis open in mid-January, the EV6 is the South Korean carmaker’s first purely electric entrant to the Australian auto market. It joins the e-Niro, but unlike its predecessor is only available with an electric drivetrain which it shares with the Hyundai Ioniq 5.
And like the Ioniq 5, it is available in a range of trims and drivetrains to suit a variety of needs. And, as it is built on the same e-GMP platform, the EV6 also offers 800 volt ultra-fast-charging as well as vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities which means you can power devices from the car’s big lithium-ion battery.
Having won awards globally – the latest being “Best Car of the Year” alongside its stablemate the Hyundai Ioniq 5 – for its sleek and stylish presence packed with electric performance and features, the EV6 promises to impress.
“Local interest in the EV6 has been extraordinary and we are really pleased it is finally here. The EV6 represents the transformation of Kia and where we are heading – a true halo for the brand,” said Kia COO Damien Meredith in a note.
The EV6 is available in two trims and two drivetrains. Source: Kia
For those looking for a longer range electric car, the entry-level EV6 Air in RWD with 77.4kWh battery will be the ticket.
With just one motor on the rear axle, the EV6 Air offers up to 528km driving range. Day-to-day driving will see around 500km range achieved on a single battery if use use the US-based EPA figures as a guide.
In terms of power, the single-motor option will deliver 168kW output for the Air trim, and 350Nm torque, which enables the car to sprint from standstill to 100km/hr in 7.3km.
A full list of specs include features like two 12.3″ curved displays, wireless phone charging, a paddle shifter to adjust the level of regenerative braking, LED headlights, tail lights and interior lighting, V2L on the inside, and a range of safety features from blind spot detection, lane follow assist, and smart cruise control – see below for more.
Source: Kia
Those after a bit more oomph and not so fussed on range will likely prefer to opt for the GT-Line, which starts at $74,900. For that, drivers get the same 77.4kWh battery but with 20″ alloys and a cited range of 504km in the most optimum of conditions.
At the top-of-the-range, the all-wheel-drive GT-Line delivers 239kW power and 605Nm torque from two motors on the front and rear axles. This powerful option is priced from $82,990 before on-raods and will sprint from a standstill to 100km/hr in 5.2 seconds.
Both GT-Line options get a range of extras as standard including acoustic front door glass, automatic flush door handles, V2L on the exterior, two-texture seats, a heads-up display, 14-speaker sound system and a suite of driver comfort additions. They also get extra safety features in the form of a blind sport monitor, power child lock and 3D surround camera:
Source: Kia
Coming in just under the rebate threshold for EVs in three Australian states ($68,750 for NSW and South Australia, and $68,750 for Victorian drivers), the Air’s baseline pricing means is it also eligible for an exemption from stamp duty in those states, while other states offer a variety of incentives.
The GT-Line RWD will qualify for stamp duty exemptions and without additional extras should be free of the Luxury Car Tax, while the top of the line AWD GT-Line will miss out on many price reductions from states.
Check our article here for a full list of state EV incentives and waivers.
The EV6 is available in two trims and two drivetrains. Source: Kia
The EV6 comes in a range of five colours for both trims – snow white, aurora black pearl, runway red, yacht blue (a royalish blue colour), moonscape grey and for the Air, there is an additional glacier-white choice.
All in all the EV6 promises to be another interesting addition to the local EV market. If interest in it is as high as Kia states and just 500 allocated so far to Australia in 2022, we expect drivers will be faced with the task of securing an order.
Kia Australia says it is working to secure more inventory, but with sales in global markets more certain thanks to policy support at national levels, they too are faced with a challenge in Australia’s current policy environment.
To deal with the situation Kia says it will allocate inventory fairly through its national dealer network, and that 90% of its network is set up to sell and service the EV6.
Keyword: Kia EV6 electric crossover available from $67,800 in limited numbers