If there's one pioneer in electric vehicles next to Tesla, it must be the Hyundai Motor Group.
More specifically: Hyundai and Kia together. We were really impressed by the Kia e-Niro and the Hyundai Tucson Electric.
So we were really looking forward to the new generations. The Kia EV6 and the Hyundai IONIQ 5.
Jan already drove the IONIQ 5, and today it's my turn to drive the first few kilometres with this EV6.
It's a prototype, so this is actually a pre-drive. The official introduction will follow and we'll have much more time to drive it then,
this is just a small hour to get to know it. But I didn't want to have you miss out on that.
I'm not going to talk about specs and interior design. If you're looking for that, watch the video Jan made about the EV6. He'll explain everything.
My first impression? I think it's very low for its length. Usually, electric cars are higher up because they're crossovers or because there's...
batteries in the floor. But this is still very low. Lower than the IONIQ 5 first of all, so there's our first difference.
Other than that, the design stands out. It's Kia's new design language, so we'll see it on the new Kia Sportage as well.
I think it's bold, I think it's cool, but I also ask myself how timeless it will be. With other Kia's, from one generation back, that was quite good.
A Ceed and a fourth-generation Sportage or the Niro still are very nice to look at. That shows in the residual value as well. That's very stable.
This is much more of a statement. However, you can't say Kia isn't brave for doing this.
It will be available in two versions. The entry level version will have a 58 kWh-battery pack whilst the others will have 77 kWh.
Also, you're able to choose between rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. This is the top-of-the-range version, with four-wheel drive,
77 kWh-battery pack and the GT Line-trim pack. But it doesn't drive any differently than the entry level-version, except for the four-wheel drive.
In time, an EV6 GT will follow. In theory, that should be able to tease Porsches with a 0-100-time of 3,5 seconds.
We won't reach that today, because we only have 325 horsepower today. But that should be enough for a first impression.
I do want to sit in the back first, because Kia proudly claims to have more legroom than in a Tesla Model X.
Of course, this hasn't got an optional third row of seating, which adds to the legroom. But still, if you look over here, the legroom is literally excellent.
The headroom - considering the low roof - is also very good. Especially for my 1.83 m.
However, it's got quite a high floor which means the seat is relatively low. That means there's a small gap here, which isn't that comfortable.
I would've preferred less legroom and a higher seat, but it's not something you can trade off.
But I think that would've been better. Anyway, it's incredibly spacious, and I like the USB-C-ports in the seats.
Right, the first kilometres in the Kia EV6. Can I already say it? Yes I can after so little kilometres. This is a really good car.
I was very curious because this has been made on an entirely new platform, despite us thinking that the Kia e-Niro was incredibly good.
And that wasn't built on a dedicated electric platform, because you had hybrid and plug-in hybrid Niro's as well
But this is a fully electric platform, and you often see manufacturers choosing a different approach when they come with such a platform.
That can make a car disappointing, but that's not the case with this EV6. Kia has done very well. It's the same platform as the IONIQ 5, but Kia...
has clearly made their own choices when it comes to design, interior and handling. The IONIQ is a relatively comfortable car, and just like...
other Kia vs. Hyundai's, this Kia-equivalent is the more dynamic one. It fits really well. Right now, I'm driving the GT Line All-wheel Drive,
producing 325 horsepower and 77 kWh-battery pack for only €60.000. And I'm not going to say it's cheap,
but it literally has every single option you can think of and it has a range of almost 500 kilometres.
It's got a 800V-system, which allows me to quickcharge up to 240 kW. So that's 0 to 80 percent in around 18 minutes at a...
Ionity-charger or a really fast FastNed-charger. Also, three-phase charging is always standard, so that's really good.
Additionally, the battery technology of Kia and Hyundai is really good. They've shown us they're very economical.
Audi has shown us the other side of the medal. And there are other manufacturers who aren't as economical.
With the Kia and Hyundai, it's the opposite. They've done really well. So let's talk about the interior.
It looks incredibly modern, it's incredibly spacious, the boot is more than big enough,
the seating position is good. Despite the fact it's got a high floor, the position still feels comfortable.
And if we look at the options that come with the GT Line, you get quite the list as well.
I've got heated and cooled seats, I've got a multimedia system which is an evolution of the system we already knew from the Ceed.
It's quite far away, so I would've like a button over here, but as a system, it works really well.
So that's nice. The steering could've been a tad more communicative, but at higher speeds, it's not that bad.
I went beyond 190 km/h before the electric motor gave out, and it did well. And it gave out because it reached the rev limiter,
not because there was a lack of power. That's how it works with EV's if you don't put an additional gearbox in.
The multimedia system has a nice screen on the centre console, but the digital instrument cluster is very good as well.
There's even an head-up display with augmented reality, which shows an arrow when there's something happening on the satnav.
They haven't forgotten about anything. Skoda used to be 'simply clever' but if you ask me, that title now goes to Kia.
I don't miss anything. If you want, you can alter the amount of regenerative braking with the flappy paddles. If you put it in maximum,
you can one-pedal drive it. You don't need to hold on to the paddle like you had to in the Tucson Electric. Just let go of the throttle,
and the car brakes. The regenerative braking can be set in three modes, and if you hold the paddle, it'll start braking anyway. No matter what mode you're in.
From experience in the Tucson Electric, that's really to get used to. Just use the paddle to brake, so you don't have to move your feet about.
Those small things all check out at the end. So if you ask me to look for drawbacks, I'm going to admit I find that very difficult.
Maybe it's the weight. 2.100 kg. That's logical because of the batteries, but it's still a lot. Especially when you set off.
Luckily, the weight is nicely divided across the car. There's no heavy nose because of the lack of an engine. Or rather, combustion engine.
If you get the All-wheel Drive-version that is. But you can clearly notice the weight when you're braking, and all of the weight needs to be contained...
by the dampers. But they do a good job, so that's not a drawback. It does feel sturdier than the IONIQ 5.
On bad surfaces, the additional weight could've been more refined. But now I'm judging it like a €150.000 Mercedes-Benz.
For this money, it's more than good. The handling is very good as well. Like I said, I drove 190 km/h with it, and it remained incredibly stable.
And it's going to sound boring and almost like a commercial, but if it's good, it's good. You'd almost forget it's a Kia.
This is not an Audi E-tron, or a big Tesla Model S. For that €59.000, you'll get this amount of range, charging capacity and this amount of trim,
it's a really, really good deal. And you can even go cheaper. I wouldn't recommend choosing a smaller battery pack,
unless you're never leaving the Netherlands with it. However, you can get the rear-wheel drive version. That makes it cheaper and...
how often do you need four-wheel drive. On the other hand, I'd understand if you take the full package because it's such a good deal.
Rivals? Skoda Enyaq, but that's less economical and it has less range. Only when it comes to features it's similar.
Then there's the Mustang Mach-e. It's a different kind of car and the charging capacity isn't that good.
Other than that? I'd be looking towards Audi's by now. An e-tron for example. A lot of Audi-drivers wouldn't consider this,
but I would recommend them to take this for a test drive. You get so much for your money, and it isn't 'just a Kia' anymore.
I'm very curious to find out how the real driving test will turn out, but I'm already incredibly enthusiastic.