The only worthwhile way to get an EV just a few years ago was to buy a Tesla, but the 2022 Kia EV6 shows there’s other options out there.
A flurry of new electric cars have now hit the market.
The EV6 is just the latest, and we spent the week with it to see how Kia plans on spicing the EV market up with this new entrant.
First up, it’s a great thing to drive with all the power and performance you’d expect from an electric vehicle.
But if you dig a little deeper – it’s got some seriously cool design features that help it feel fresh even next to a Tesla.
Here are our five favorites from the top-spec 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line we got to drive.
1. Curved driver display
Screens are one of the fastest evolving bits of tech in modern cars, and the screen in the EV6 is one of the most forward-thinking.
Many car brands simply angle the center screen toward the driver for convenience, which certainly does the job.
Kia really makes you feel cocooned behind the wheel with this massive curved screen that wraps around you.
Featuring two 12.3-inch screens, everything you need to see is clearly visible and legible.
It’s obvious Kia designed the EV6 with drivers in mind when it comes to touches like this.
Oh, and the screen shows not just a 360-degree view around the car when reversing, but a 3D view around it as well.
Even the other controls on the dash are on a screen; this panel doubles up as both the climate controls and radio controls at the tap of a button.
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2. Augmented reality HUD
If you thought the curved screen was cool, just wait until you see the head-up display in the 2022 Kia EV6.
To make directions really clear, it uses augmented reality tech to project arrows in the direction you need to go.
The closer you get to a turn, the bigger they get, clearly guiding you in the right path.
If you stray over the lane lines when driving, it’ll put up orange arrows to guide you back into your lane as well.
3. You can drive the EV6 like an RC car
Grown-up kids, rejoice – the 2022 Kia EV6 can function as a remote-controlled car for adults.
That’s right, the EV6 has a remote parking function that allows you to move it using buttons on the key fob without you behind the wheel.
The function is primarily designed for getting the car in or out of tight parking spaces when you can’t get behind the door.
Really, though, it’s just going to be a gimmick you show off to your mates.
4. Clever interior storage solutions
The designers of the EV6 have clearly thought out this interior so there’s a place to put everything you’ll have with you.
On the back of the front seats, for instance, there are integrated coat holders.
They could be bag hooks as well, depending on how you look at them.
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There are also USB-C chargers in the seat-backs as well – perfect for charging a tablet while you watch something on it.
You could even hang it from the coat holder with the right case as well.
There’s also a massive storage cubby between the front seats that’s perfect for a big purse or handbag.
5. Hidden door handles and charging flap
Nothing was going to spoil the lines of the 2022 Kia EV6 – not even door handles.
That’s why the handles are hidden away in the doors, only popping out when you need to open them.
This also helps with aerodynamics as well – important for improving an EV’s range.
Hidden door handles like this might be more common on expensive sports cars, but it’s a surprise to see them on a reasonably-priced Kia.
The charging port flap wasn’t going to spoil the lines of the EV6 either.
That’s why it’s been hidden away inside the rear taillights.
Yet more clever design on a very clever car.
