Kia EV6 Review: Should you buy it

 

The newly launched Kia EV6 has made its arrival in India. It is Hyundai's first dedicated EV and recently made its global debut. In India, in terms of pricing, the Kia EV6 rivals the Hyundai Ioniq 5, BMW i4, and the Volvo XC40 Rechrge, to name a few. Kia India will follow the CBU route for the EV6. As for 2022, the Indian market will have only 100 units allotted. And besides that, Kia claims to have increased the allotment numbers to meet the soaring bookings. So, is the Kia EV6's potential enough to beat its rivals in terms of features and price? Let's find out in this Kia EV6 review.

 

Kia EV6 interior: Design and Features

The Kia EV6 has a long list of features. Inside the spacious cabin of the EV6, you'll find a curved dual-display: one for entertainment and another for the instrument cluster. Both measure 12.3 inches. It also gets an augmented reality HUD, a 14-speaker Meridian sound system, a 10-way power adjustable and front ventilated seats, a 360-degree camera, etc. On the safety front, the Kia EV6 features ADAS technology that includes forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot assist, rear-cross traffic assist, and driver attention warning, to name a few. However, interestingly, the Kia EV6 interior is made using substantial materials, such as vegan leather seats and nearly 111 recycled plastic bottles to make the cabin. For detailed information on Kia's EV, check out the EV6 review.

 

Kia EV6 Exterior: Design

The Kia EV6 has a futuristic and aggressive look. The headlamps are enveloped inside by flashing DRLs. The front bumper also gets the signature narrowed tiger-nose faux grille, whereas the lower section of the bumper gets active air intakes. You must be wondering why an exposed grille is on an EV. It's to keep the battery and HVAC system cool. The Kia EV6 exterior also gets flushed door handles and black inserts on the front and rear bumpers, ORVMs, and pillars. At the rear, it also gets chrome inserts, an integrated spoiler, and a running tail light with C-shaped indicator lights. The lower section of the rear bumper also features a brake light, as seen on F1 cars. However, the overall design of the EV6 is an absolute head-turner!

 

The Money Bits

As mentioned earlier, the Kia EV6 is solely available in the top-line GT trim. However, there are only options for the drivetrain. The Kia EV6 GT Line RWD's price is Rs 59.95 lakh (ex-showroom), while the EV6 GT Line AWD's price is Rs 64.95 lakh (ex-showroom). All are introductory prices.

So, if you want a detailed review, refer to the "car reviews" section under the "reviews" category on autoX.

Under 15 Lakh: Cars to consider

 Amid the soaring sales of SUVs in India, the sales of hatchbacks and sedans are majorly affected. As per some market surveys, SUVs are ahead of hatchbacks and sedans in terms of sales. SUVs of all sizes have and are making their way to India. From Kia to Hyundai to Tata to Mahindra, all of them have launched sub-and compact SUVs. However, that doesn't indicate that sedans and hatchbacks have gone extinct.

So, if you're planning to buy a car, below is a list of a few popular cars under Rs 15 lakh in India.

 

Kia Carens: It has been a few months since the Kia Carens came to India. For its price, the Kia Carens has a long list of features. It sports 64-colour ambient lighting, connected car technology, ventilated front seats, and six airbags, to name a few. Under the hood, it gets a 1.5-litre petrol engine that churns out 113bhp and 144Nm of torque. Additionally, it gets a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine with 138bhp and a torque of 242Nm. 

Moreover, there is a 1.5-litre diesel unit available as well. It churns out 113bhp and 250Nm of torque. The powertrain option depends on the variant. 

Transmissions offered in the Carens are a 6-speed manual, a 7-speed DCT, and a 6-speed automatic.

The Kia Carens price starts from Rs 9.60 lakh (ex-showroom) onwards.

 

Mahindra Thar: It is one of the best cars under Rs 15 lakh in the country. One of the most capable SUVs in the country. The Mahindra Thar rivals directly with the Force Gurkha. Pricing wise, it rivals the Volkswagen Taigun, the MG Astor, and the Skoda Kushaq, to name a few.

Since it's an off-roader, it gets a standard 4x4 drivetrain across all variants. In terms of convenience, the Mahindra Thar also gets a washable interior and removable roof panels. The starting price of the Mahindra Thar is Rs 13.53 lakh and goes up to Rs 16.03 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

 

Volkswagen Taigun: The compact SUV offered by the German carmaker, Volkswagen, is gradually gaining popularity in India. It has already received price hikes. The Taigun has two trims on offer: Dynamic Line and Performance Line. 

In terms of comfort, it gets ventilated front seats, auto HVAC, an engine start/stop button, etc. It also gets a sunroof, six airbags, a tyre pressure monitoring system, and a rear-view parking camera, to name a few. The Taigun engine specifications include two turbo-petrol engines: a 1-litre TSI and a 1.5-litre TSI.

The starting price of the Volkswagen Taigun is Rs 11.4 lakh (ex-showroom pan India).

 

Hyundai Creta: The Hyundai Creta has tasted great success since its first generation. It has a long list of features and a long waiting period. The Creta features a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, ventilated front seats, a digital instrument cluster, a touch-screen infotainment screen, etc. 

The ex-showroom Delhi price of the Hyundai Creta starts at Rs 10.44 lakh and goes up to Rs 18.18 lakh. To view a curated list of cars under Rs 15 lakh, visit the cars section on autoX.