Kia selling 2023 EV6 GT-Line for PHP 3.788M
Kia Philippines offering EV6 in GT-Line Long Range variant
For several months, Kia Philippines has been teasing us with the EV6. After its 2022 Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) preview last year, Kia Philippines puts its first battery electric vehicle (BEV) on the market with the EV6 GT-Line crossover.
Underpinned by the award-winning E-GMP platform, the EV6 GT-Line measures 4695 mm long, 1890 mm wide, and 1550 mm tall with a 2900 mm long wheelbase. Those numbers alone would easily classify the EV6 GT-Line in the compact crossover segment. However, its 160 mm ground clearance puts it somewhere between a crossover and a shooting brake.
With such a long and low-slung design, the Kia EV6 GT-Line's proportions make it radically different from the likes of the Sorento and Sportage models. It's the first model to bear Kia's “Opposites Unite” design language, and features the aggressive “Digital Tiger Face” design up front with the sharp LED headlights; a departure from the tiger-nose grille we've come to know in modern Kia vehicles.
At the side, the EV6 GT-Line has a swept-back windshield and a steeply-raked rear glass that forms its unique silhouette. The door handles are flush with the body, while the large wheel wells house 20-inch two-tone alloy wheels wrapped in 255/45R 20 tires.
The rear end of the EV6 GT-Line is dominated by slim full-width LED taillights. Its design gives the EV6 a unique character when being followed on the road.
Inside, the EV6 GT-Line has a simple yet modern-looking cabin. Kia opted for simple lines on the dashboard that houses two 12.3-inch digital displays – one is a multi-function screen for the driver and the other a panoramic curved display unit for the infotainment system, which has Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity.
Kia says the cabin of the EV6 GT-Line was made using sustainable materials, with vegan leather and recycled PET for the EV's upholstery and trim panels. The seats are finished in black suede and white leather accents with 8-way power adjustment, two-way lumbar, and cooling function.
Meanwhile, the aural experience is courtesy of Meridian's 14-speaker surround sound system that plays the crossover's artificial engine sounds and your favorite tunes at the same time.
Kia only offers the EV6 in the GT-Line Long Range variant and with only one powertrain option that makes 229 PS and 350 Nm of torque from its Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM). Powering the electric motor is a 77.4 kWh lithium-ion battery that gives up to 528 km of all-electric range.
In terms of battery charging, the EV6 GT-Line's 800V architecture is capable of topping up the batteries from 10% to 80% charge in just 18 minutes. The crossover's batteries can also power up electric devices during camping trips and power outages through its vehicle-to-load function (V2L).
When it comes to advanced driver assistance systems and safety features, the Kia EV6 GT-Line EV crossover is fully loaded. It has smart cruise control, blind spot detection, lane keep and follow assist, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree around view monitor as standard. Furthermore, it has front, side, and curtain airbags, plus a tire pressure monitoring system and ISOFIX child anchors.
Customers can choose five colors: Moonscape, Snow White Pearl, Runway Red, Yacht Blue, and Aurora Black Pearl. Every purchase of the Kia EV6 GT-Line includes a portable charger, a 5-year, 160,000-km vehicle warranty, 8 years or 160,000-km battery system warranty (whichever comes first), 5 years of free Preventive Maintenance Service (PMS) and 5 years free 24/7 roadside assistance.
So yes, the long wait is over for those who are interested in a Kia EV, but that might not be the case after the price reveal.
Kia Philippines is now selling the EV6 GT-Line crossover for PHP 3.788 million. That's significantly more than what would be its prime competitor: the Hyundai Ioniq 5 which starts at under PHP 3.1 million with a higher variant closer to PHP 3.7 million.
Does the spec justify the added cost? We'll have to see over the next few months how customers will react to the EV6. If we see a lot of examples of the EV6 on the road, we'll have our answer.
