The Kia EV6 took a well-deserved bow last week - after it was crowned ‘Car of the Year’ at the 2022 What Car? Car of the Year Awards.
And here’s everything you need to know about leasing this all-electric show-stopper.
The EV6, first released in October last year, is a rival to EVs like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the Tesla Model 3, and the Volkswagen ID.4.
The SUV crossover is placed in Kia’s all-electric range besides the smaller Soul EV and the e-Niro.
And you need only take one look at it to understand how Kia pretty much re-wrote the rulebook when it comes to exterior styling. Alongside the Ioniq 5, there’s pretty much nothing else quite like it on UK roads.
It’s also not just a pretty face.
It’s powered by a 77.4 kWh battery which not only delivers a great range - as high as 328 miles for rear-wheel drive models - but can also accommodate ultra fast charging which generates 60 miles worth of charge in just four and a half minutes.
The upcoming dual-motor, 577 bhp, all-wheel-drive ‘GT’ variants also go, as the late Meat Loaf once crooned, like a Bat out of Hell, covering 0-62mph in just 3.5 seconds - which is Porsche Taycan quick.
Unsurprisingly, then, the What Car? Judges were impressed. It not only won the overall ‘Car of the Year’ gong, the EV6 was also named ‘Electric SUV of the Year’.
It’s just the second time that an EV has won What Car?’s ‘Car of the Year’ silverware.
The judging panel said:
“The EV6 combines a huge real-world range with the ability to charge at speeds that no rival can keep up with, addressing two of the biggest concerns that people still have about electric cars. What’s more, by using bespoke electric underpinnings rather than a set that’s shared by petrol and diesel models, Kia has been able to take advantage of the compact size of electric motors and produce a car that’s hugely spacious and practical.
Add in effortless performance, outstanding refinement, competitive pricing and one of the best warranties around, and the striking EV6 doesn’t just look like the future – it feels like it too.”
Paul Philpott, President and CEO of Kia UK Limited, said that this was just the ‘beginning of things to come from Kia’, adding:
“This is tangible recognition that Kia is fast becoming a true leader in electric vehicles having also won this award with e-Niro in 2019.”
Speaking of spaciousness and practicality, the EV6 has a 490 litre boot, which is way more than the Mustang Mach-E but lags slightly behind the 543 litres you get with the ID.4.
The large 77.4kWh battery is standard across a choice of three model grades - ‘Air’, ‘GT-Line’ and ‘GT-Line S’. The ballistic GT will arrive later this year.
And with the base Air models you can still expect goodies like 19 inch alloys, body-flush door handles, vegan leather seat upholstery, both a 12.3 inch curved driver display screen and a 12.3 inch curved touchscreen navigation, as well parking sensors and a rear view camera.
Move up to the top level GT grade and lease customers can enjoy everything from an augmented reality head-up display to ‘Level 2’ autonomous driving, which unlocks adaptive cruise control and self-parking capabilities.
For more information on Hybrid and Electric vehicle leasing, browse our electric specific guides here!
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