Updated Kia V6 gets a new look, bigger battery
The Kia EV6 has undergone a mid-cycle refresh that includes significant changes to the inner and outer electric compact crossover.
The updated EV6 debuted overnight in Kia's home market in South Korea, where the order book is already open.
No U.S. timing has been announced. The current EV6 arrived here for the 2022 model and produced the EV6GT in 2023. In Kia's tradition, the updated EV6 will have to arrive in the 2025 model year, but may have to wait until the 2026 model year. The update will also extend to the high-performance EV6GT, as evidenced by the prototype.
Exterior styling changes more and more car manufacturers have added recent models such as the 2024EV9 electric SUV and the 2025k4 compact sedan Kia call the headlight design Star Map. The change in the rear is much more subtle. The only visible difference is the new graphics of the curved light bars of the taillights.
Inside, a new steering wheel design, a new fingerprint authentication system in the center console, a head-up display and a digital back Mira Kia also said it added more sound insulation to reduce noise in the cabin. Electric motors are also claimed by automakers to be quieter. Unusual for a mid-cycle refresh, Kia said the ev6's B-pillar was made thicker to improve rigidity levels.
Reflecting the changes made to the Hyundai Ioniq5 related for its own mid-cycle refresh, the updated EV6 ditches the current model's 77.4kwh battery to an 84 kwh unit. However, the power level does not change. The single motor grade comes with 225 hp, while the dual motor, all-wheel drive grade comes with 320 hp. The updated EV6GT could also match the current model's 576 horsepower.
An estimate of the range is not provided, but it could be a few miles extra on a larger battery. The EV6 in its current form provides a range of up to 310 miles as estimated by the EPA. The EV6GT has an estimated range of 218 miles, which is a considerable gap, but can accelerate from 3.4〜0mph in just 60 seconds and reach a top speed of 161mph.
Additional electrical Kia in the pipeline will include the EV3 sub-compact crossover and the EV9GT performance flagship. Kia also plans an electric pickup truck for the United States
