Configurator Challenge: Kia EV6

The Kia EV6 is high on the list of the cars we’re most excited to drive in 2022. Here’s how members of the Drive team would spec theirs.

Customisation is in vogue at the moment, but choice can be seriously confusing. In our configurator challenge, we let the Drive team loose on a manufacturer’s website to create their ideal combination for a certain model.

To celebrate the new year, this week’s challenge centres around one of the most anticipated new cars of the year, the all-electric Kia EV6 – due in showrooms in base and GT-Line guise in February or March, followed by the flagship GT in late 2022 or early 2023.

Let us know what your ideal Kia EV6 would look like in the comments section below, and the cars you’d like us to configure next.

Kez Casey, Production Editor

Call me crazy, because the performance potential of the EV6 GT is rather exciting – but I reckon I’d do just fine with the regular entry-level EV6 – not only that, but where there’s a choice of only five colours on the high-spec models, the base car is available in 11 hues, including some lovely bright shades like Yacht Blue and Urban Yellow. I’m not saying those are what Australia will get, but here’s hoping.

Deep Forest Green is my exterior of choice, and it matches up nicely to the beige and brown-hued vegan leather interior and textile dash pattern. No, it may not be the most kitted out of the EV6 range, but it still looks darn good to me.

Sticking with that base specification also means missing out on the GT’s 430kW all-wheel-drive powertrain and claimed 3.5-second 0-100km/h sprint, but the 77.4kWh long range battery and 168kW/350Nm rear-drive balance still feels more than reasonable to me.

Especially with a claimed range of over 510km – blistering acceleration is nice and all, but if I’m just churning through peak hour traffic grinds I’ll take the comfort of smaller wheels and softer suspension every time.

Emma Notarfrancesco, Senior Journalist

I went for the base EV6 as it provides more colour options, with my model finished in Deep Forest Metallic paint.

For visual appeal I also chose the bigger 20-inch wheels for a more aggressive look, and went for the higher-performance dual-motor set-up on offer, boasting 239kW.

Tom Fraser, Journalist

I was a little surprised by the lack of options on Kia’s EV6 configurator – for a brand-new model there isn’t a whole lot to play with. That said, I think this blue specification would suit me well. I’d go for the ultimate powertrain so I can scare my mates with its rapid acceleration, and I think the design works best in GT-Line specification.

I’m really looking forward to more EVs in 2022, especially after spending time with the EV6’s stablemate, the Ioniq 5.

Alex Misoyannis, Journalist

As my colleagues have noted, the expansive colour palette offered for the base EV6 isn’t available for the more expensive (and better-equipped) GT-Line and GT variants – bizarre, in my view, given all three variants are built on the same production line, and Kia is only disadvantaging customers that have committed to pay more.

With that said, I much prefer the look of the GT-Line’s body kit, compared to the more mundane base car. And with questions still hanging over how the GT will be priced – I’m not sure I could swallow it, if it’s over $100,000 drive-away (though it’s still on par with a Model Y Performance) – the all-wheel-drive GT-Line is more than enough for me.

I’ve selected the brightest exterior colour on offer (Runway Red), complemented by the sharp (but likely costly) 20-inch wheels available as an option. Some more interior personalisation would be nice – perhaps the option of the GT’s sports bucket seats (which, after experiencing them in the latest Hyundai i30 N hot hatch, are superb).

Should this spec reach showrooms at about $85,000 drive-away – reasonable, given an all-wheel-drive Hyundai Ioniq 5 is just over $81,000 on the road – it could be a compelling buy, with a 5.2-second 0-100km/h time and 505km of WLTP range.

Which Kia EV6 configuration is your favourite? Have a go designing your own, using Kia’s visualiser!

The post Configurator Challenge: Kia EV6 appeared first on Drive.

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