Kia EV6

A LANDMARK EV THAT STANDS AS THE EXCLAMATION POINT IN THE KOREAN BRAND'S COMING-OF-AGE STORY

- CURT DUPRIEZ

IT'S BEEN A year of key releases for the Korean marque that brought three quality contenders to the 2022 fray. But its first ground-up electric vehicle, the EV6, is the genuine landmark model of the trio and one that could well redefine the Kia brand from hereon in.

Not only is the EV6 Kia’s forward-thinking technical statement minted as an unabashed halo model. It goes further, demonstrating newfound levels of premiumness, build quality, refinement and luxury the brand has, to date, only hinted at.

Importantly, the electric newcomer’s core DNA promises to spearhead 11 new models moving forward, some undoubtedly more affordable and accessible, some more elaborate. New beginnings, then. But the EV6’s masterfully well-rounded showing at this year’s event bodes for an exciting future beyond the milestone it established today.

Further, as only the second fully electric winner in the award’s long history, the EV6 bottles the true, undiluted spirit of a proper COTY victor.

But it was a close call. And in more ways than one.

It’s no secret that corporate cousin Hyundai’s related Ioniq 5 has claimed many best-of accolades lately, though mostly in the absence of the fresh-faced Kia, whose local launch coincided with our three-way test last month (Wheels, April ’22). The EV6 came out on top in a result that arrived just prior to COTY kick-off.