Kia recently imported singular units of its battery-electric EV6 and hybrid Niro into South Africa for “investigations, studies, and ‘real-life’ assessments” into the feasibility of launching these products in the country, the company confirmed to TopAuto.
“Kia South Africa is excited to embrace the future and bring new technology by launching NEVs in the country,” it said.
However, no introduction dates have been set in stone just yet as the domestic subsidiary of Kia said it will only launch these vehicles to the market when it can ensure “pricing is reasonable and relative to the value proposition offered.”
“By doing so, we can ensure that these models will be positioned and priced in a manner that allows for them to be successfully retailed, while at the same time ensuring our customers encounter a leading ownership experience that we can stand behind,” it said.
The automaker is in the process of preparing itself for when new-energy vehicle (NEV) adoption rates start rising so that it can be in a position to perform “a steady rollout that meets market demand as the NEV segment builds.”
EV6 specs
The Kia EV6 is one of the more impressive electric vehicles (EV) to have launched in recent years, scooping up the European Car of the Year award and the German Premium Car of the Year award, and more recently, the high-performance GT model also won the 2023 World Performance Car award in a segment that is dominated by petrol-powered vehicles.
The electric crossover-esque Kia is offered in rear-wheel (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD), both layouts drawing power from a 77.4kWh battery with a maximum range of 528km.
The RWD model generates 168kW and breaks the 100km/h barrier in 7.3 seconds, whereas the AWD variant puts out 239kW resulting in a sprint of 5.2 seconds.
Opting to go for the GT sees the power ceiling raised to 430kW and the 0-100km/h time lowered to just 3.4 seconds.
Regardless of the EV6 in your garage, each derivative supports fast charging up to 250kW and as such, the module can be refilled from 10-80% in 18 minutes.
Additionally, the battery-powered Kia offers vehicle-to-load support up to 3.6kW, enough to run a “large TV screen or a medium-size air conditioner for 24 hours” should there be an electricity outage at your home – something we as South Africans are all too familiar with.
Niro specs
Unlike the EV6, the Niro is offered in hybrid (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and EV guises in markets such as Europe and the United Kingdom.
In HEV spec, the SUV gets a 1.6-litre, petrol engine coupled with a 32kW electric motor for a combined 103kW, while the PHEV sees a larger 62kW electric motor connected to the same petrol unit, resulting in a higher 134kW power figure.
A more substantial 11.1kWh battery is also needed in this application which gives the Niro PHEV an all-electric driving range of 53km.
Thanks to a newly-added “Green Zone” drive mode, both the Niro HEV and PHEV can be transferred into EV drive in residential areas, and near schools and hospitals.
At the top sits the fully-electric Niro EV, boasting a 150kW motor paired with a 64.8kWh lithium-ion module. This provides up to 407km of emission-free driving, while intelligent regenerative braking aims to improve the range even more.
Plugged into a Level 3 fast charger, the Niro EV can replenish from 10-80% in under 45 minutes at a maximum incoming current of 85kW.
Keyword: Kia wants to sell electric cars in South Africa – What must happen first