Kia EV6 - On Point, On trend

The fact that the Kia EV6 is a looker need not be overstated. But it takes someone steeped in design to actually appreciate a design-forward icon. That’s one reason why we recently introduced the Kia EV6 to Sandeep Gonsalves. Gonsalves is one half of Mumbai-based bespoke design label Sarah & Sandeep. Gonsalves and his partner Sarah set up Sarah & Sandeep (originally SS Homme) in 2012, and have since risen to be among the city’s go-to brands when it comes to custom-made menswear and womenswear. Their clients include Akash Ambani, Shahid Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, and Ayushmann Khurana, among others. “We have always been about merging contemporary design and advanced tailoring. The main aim is to create power pieces that make a strong yet understated impression,” says Gonsalves, who puts great emphasis on fluid tailoring, minimalistic sensibility, and geometric detailing.

That’s something that will resonate with the designers of the Kia EV6, which picked up the Design and Styling award at the Autocar India Awards earlier this year as well as the prestigious Red Dot Design Award last year. The EV6’s design is shaped by Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ philosophy, which is rooted in contrasting qualities and finding synergies between opposing concepts. And it all comes together rather well, from the clamshell bonnet and large, angular headlights to the swept-back windshield and the sloping C-pillar with wide rear haunches. What gets your attention time and again are the LED daytime running lights that, quite aptly, take forward Kia’s ‘Tiger Nose Grille’ into the electric age by forming a ‘Digital Tiger Face’. 

Cabin Crew

The visual sophistication continues inside the cabin as well and also encompasses textures. Kia deploys several natural and recycled materials and finishes that are sympathetic to the environment in the EV6. So, you’ll find vegan substitutes for natural leather and yarn made from recycled bottles is used for cloth and matting. Gonsalves, who takes pride in creating sustainable clothing, appreciate the direction Kia is going in. He is especially proud of the bamboo jacket he created after several years of research. It feels light as a cloud and is particularly fetching. The EV6’s futuristic cabin is not just about sustainability – there’s stuff inside that is designed to make life easy and convenient on the road while at the same time shutting the cacophony outside. The slim dashboard houses two curved screens for the digital instrument cluster and the infotainment system. Some of the things we especially love are the two-spoke steering wheel with integrated buttons, the haptic buttons for HVAC controls and the sheer roominess created by the EV6’s cab-forward design (we are talking about a 2,900mm wheelbase!). 

Custom comfort

The thing with bespoke clothing – irrespective of whether one is talking about suits, tuxedos, or sports jackets – is that it is not just about sharp cuts and structured silhouettes. It takes into account body shape and posture unique to a particular customer. “Customers have so many distinctive preferences, which we try to incorporate within their personal bespoke garment requests, all through a contemporary lens.” In other words, it aims for as perfect a fit as possible. Talking of fit, the Kia EV6 is a creature that is built to fit a variety of lifestyles and driving environments. The crossover has some impressive specs: 0 to 100kph in 5.2seconds, for instance. That’s thanks to 605Nm of instant torque. And you can switch from its default AWD setup to RWD in a snap (0.4 seconds to be precise) just in case you are feeling like some fun. The highly manoeuvrable EV6 comes with three driving modes namely Normal, Sport and Eco – accessed via the paddles -- that enhance its city-friendliness. The EV6 also features the very handy single-pedal driving mode. The single pedal mode allows the EV6 to have enough retardation to come to a halt the moment you let go of the throttle so that you can use your right foot only for the accelerator pedal.

Open Sesame

If you are ambitious and creative, you have to get out of the city every once in a while: to recharge and reboot. Gonsalves does it ever so often, and we were only too happy to leave the haze and grime of Mumbai behind and hit the highway to verdant Kamshet. If EV6 makes a strong case for itself in the city, it also sparkles when shown an open road. The acceleration is strong and linear pretty much into the higher reaches of the speedometer (the EV6 has a 192kph top speed), and you’ll find yourself achieving serious speeds in no time at all, especially in ‘Sport’ mode. Now, the EV6 is a near two-tonne car, but it handles remarkably well and is eager to attack corners. The Kia’s scintillating performance is backed by an equally efficient 77.4kWh lithium-ion battery that equips it with a fantastic range of 708km (ARAI certified). And ultra-fast charging with 800V charging capability allows you to charge the EV6 from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 18 minutes when connected to a 350kW charger. The EV6 also scores big when it comes to safety, with eight airbags, ESC,  and a range of ADAS features, including forward collision assist (car/pedestrian/cyclist/junction turning), lane keep assist, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, rear-cross traffic avoidance assist, safe exit assist, lane follow assist, blind spot detection, driver attention warning and adaptive cruise control. Clearly, if you are in the market for a luxury EV, the EV6 checks all the boxes and then some. It is, in short, the perfect fit.