- The Kia EV6 will get main updates for the 2025 mannequin 12 months.
- Along with a redesigned grille, the electrical crossover will get an even bigger battery for extra vary, a Tesla-style NACS plug, an up to date inside and over-the-air software program updates able to digital downloads.
- The EV6 will even be constructed at Kia’s Georgia meeting plant alongside the EV9, making it qualify for no less than some EV tax credit when bought.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 will get a variety of well-deserved glory within the electrical automobile house. However personally, I am extra a fan of its cousin, the Kia EV6. A lot in order that I purchased one earlier this 12 months and am strongly contemplating buying it outright every time my lease is up. However after I take a look at the modifications coming with the up to date 2025 Kia EV6, I could have to think about an improve.
What’s higher now about Kia’s electrical crossover? Principally, all the pieces. The EV6 will now be constructed within the U.S. to qualify for no less than some EV tax credit; packs extra vary due to an even bigger battery; gives a redesigned face and inside; and can come out of the gate with a newly-relocated Tesla-style North American Charging Commonplace (NACS) plug and entry to that huge community of DC fast-chargers.
There’s rather a lot to cowl right here, so let’s dig in.
Vary And Energy
The EV6 initially debuted means again in 2021 and now sees its most substantive replace but. We have already seen its newly redesigned face—a “Star Map” grille designed to extra intently match different trendy Kia choices—as the second-generation mannequin has been on sale for a number of months in locations like Europe and its native South Korea. However the U.S.-spec model comes with extra surprises than we anticipated.
The EV6 now will get two battery choices in bigger sizes than the earlier automobile, providing extra vary. The bottom, smaller battery is now 63 kilowatt-hours in dimension, up from 58 kWh beforehand, whereas the bigger battery goes from 77.4 kWh to 84 kWh. Whereas precise vary figures for every trim stage haven’t been launched, Kia claims the Gentle, Lengthy-Vary, Wind and GT-Line fashions will goal 319 miles of vary in rear-wheel-drive configuration.
Picture by: InsideEVs
There isn’t any phrase but on vary for the dual-motor all-wheel-drive fashions, sadly. However we’re anticipating all vary figures to be usually much like the 2025 Ioniq 5 that makes use of the identical battery setups, so seemingly round 290 or extra miles of vary for the AWD variations. Both means, these must be first rate upgrades from the present EV6; the RWD fashions are presently listed at 310 miles of EPA-rated vary and 282 for AWD fashions (which drops to 252 and 218 miles for the GT-Line and GT variants, respectively.) Contemplating that my very own EV6 Wind AWD frequently tops 300 miles of vary on a 100% cost when the climate is truthful, these could possibly be far more constantly above that.
Energy is roughly related throughout the board, nonetheless. The Gentle RWD mannequin is rated at 167 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque, whereas extra highly effective RWD fashions in Gentle, Lengthy-Vary, Wind and GT-Line kinds are available in at 225 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. Upgrading to AWD will get you 320 hp and 446 lb.-ft. of torque as earlier than.
However I am completely happy to say the go-fast Kia EV6 GT will get much more highly effective now, which it completely did not want, however no one’s going to say no to extra energy. The GT delivers 601 hp and 545 lb.-ft. of torque, up from 576 hp earlier than. Activate GT Mode and also you get a full 641 hp and 568 lb.-ft. of torque to adequately meet any Lamborghini-hunting wants that will come up in your group.
Picture by: Kia
New Design, New Tech, New Plug
I am going to readily admit I am not the most important fan of the up to date grille. However the EV6 nonetheless appears as sharp as ever, and it gives greater than only a new face right here. The taillights additionally add Star Map particulars, whereas the entrance and rear bumper have new designs with sharper angles and a extra aggressive general stance. Kia’s additionally providing new designs for its 19- to 21-inch wheels.
Picture by: InsideEVs
The within is fairly acquainted however with a number of notable tweaks. The steering wheel has been completely redesigned, and the EV6 lastly will get the absolutely up to date Linked Automotive Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) working system that gives faster speeds, higher-definiton graphics, and over-the-air (OTA) updates—one thing the present EV6 has solely executed with navigation and a handful of different core options. Principally, the software program setup on the EV6 now mirrors that of the EV9, which will get excessive marks from us. And just like the EV9, you now get entry to the new Kia Join Retailer for downloads like shows themed after your favourite NBA groups. (Sure, actually.) The Digital Key setup has been improved to supply true smartphone-activated door unlocking, distant beginning and driving.
And at last, the flush door handles now pop open routinely throughout all trim ranges. That fixes certainly one of my largest gripes concerning the present EV6 and will justify an improve on that alone.
Kia’s sadly not telling us a lot concerning the EV6’s legendary fast-charging. The automobile can go from a ten% cost to 80% in nearly 18 minutes on a 350-kilowatt DC fast-charger, and we do not anticipate that to vary. Nonetheless, just like the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and up to date Genesis Electrified GV70 that additionally debuted on the LA Auto Present this week, the revised EV6 packs a NACS plug from the manufacturing unit now. And it has been moved to the opposite aspect of the automobile—the driving force’s aspect as an alternative of the passenger’s—to make charging at Tesla’s Supercharger stations a little bit simpler.
What Now?
Picture by: Kia
And better of all, the revised EV6 is now American-made, similar to the 2025 Ioniq 5. This one is made at Kia’s West Level, Georgia meeting plant alongside the EV9, so it ought to qualify for no less than a number of the $7,500 EV tax credit when bought. These could quickly vanish, so make the most of them when you can. (The EV6 GT will proceed to be in-built Korea.)
Kia says that just like the outgoing automobile, the 2025 EV6 can be out there in Gentle (RWD solely), Gentle Lengthy Vary (RWD or AWD), Wind (RWD or AWD), GT-Line (RWD or AWD), and GT (AWD) trims. The automaker says it is anticipated to go on sale within the first half of subsequent 12 months. Pricing and different specs can be introduced at a later date.
All in all, the 2025 mannequin 12 months represents an enormous improve for one of many best-equipped, best-looking and best-performing EVs in its class. Count on extra on this as we get it.
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