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With its MSRP of $40,900, the all-electric EV6 is designed to inspire you to grab its wheel.

Kia unveiled the all-new Kia EV6 in August 2021 after teasing us with a series of photos four months prior. Developed under the codename CV, Kia EV6 is a battery-all-electric compact C-SUV, the marque’s first-ever fully electric vehicle, as well as the first Kia to be developed on Hyundai’s new e-GMP platform.

As you might know, the South Korean Hyundai Motor Group assumed the position of Parent Company to Kia after acquiring a controlling stake in the Korean International Automotive company. Also, the two Korean automotive giants have maintained a close and cordial relationship that allows them to share platforms often. The Kia EV6, for example, shares the same Electric Modular Platform (e-GMP) as the Hyundai Ioniq 5.

The e-GMP is a skateboard-style chassis, battery, motor, and electrical system-inclusive platform designed for battery electric vehicles that, according to Hyundai, offers drivers many more reasons to go electric. Thanks to the e-GMP’s scalable wheelbase, the platform will form the basis of various Hyundai and Kia vehicles of the future, counting the projected all-new Kia EV ranges EV1 to 9, of which the 2022 EV6 won the European Car of the Year.

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Kia offers the EV6 in three trim levels; GT, GT-Line, and the base level. With a $40,900 starting price, EV6 is a competitively priced electric SUV compared to same-class alternatives such as the 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E ($37,290 starting price), the 2022 Tesla Model Y ($62,990 starting price), and the 2021 VW ID ($41,190 starting price).

Highlighting the vehicle’s practicality is the dual panoramic curved 12-inch anti-glare display panel, a stylish and economical dashboard configuration that improves the interior space and imbues the car with an overall Mercedes-like ambiance. At the same time, the controller underneath the navigation screen for toggling between the infotainment and the HVAC system, plus the touch buttons for controlling the seats and steering wheel heating functions, further improves practicality and driver-friendly usability.

It has a long rolodex of safety and convenience features such as remote smart parking assist, AR head-up display, Lane Follow Assist, Safe Exit Assist, optional 360° camera, AEB collision avoidance, and remote-controlled parking. What you might consider cherry topping on the hi-tech safety features is the Level 2 semi-autonomous driving capability with HAD-2 (Highway Driving Assist 2), which is basically semi-autonomous adaptive cruise control plus auto lane-changing capability.

Inside, the EV6 is surprisingly more voluminous than you’d expect from a C-SUV. The trick though is the dedicated e-GMP "skateboard" platform designed to accommodate the powerplant and driveshafts, promoting a flat floor and allowing the cabin to eat into more of the car’s exterior length. Measuring 114.2 inches, the SUV has the same wheelbase as the 3-row Kia Telluride midsize C-SUV.

Enhancing the decent passenger space is the unique front seat design made from ultra-light steel and a thin frame. A trunk volume of 27.7 cubic feet is average, although the volume increases to 53.5 with the 60/40 split/folding rear seats folded down. Plus, the absence of ICE means you get a small front trunk where the engine would normally be.

Environmentally-conscious drivers will be happy to hear that the EV6’s interior, including the garnish, Nappa “vegan” leather seats, door pocket, mood lighting, and crash pad, is furnished with sustainable materials from recycled plastic. Let’s move to the powerplant.

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Initially, customers have two battery power options: a lower-strength 58 kWh and a higher-strength 77.4 kWh battery. Now, if you pair the lower-strength battery with just one motor, your EV6 can do 225 horsepower. Get the higher-strength 77.4 kWh battery pack and pair them with two motors, and your EV6 can churn out 320 horsepower traveling on AWD. This also means it can make the 0 – 60-sprint in 5.1 seconds.

However, go for the GT trim level, and the 2022 Kia EV6 boasts an even more impressive power output, a combined 576 horsepower, and the oomph to cover 60 mph in 3.5 seconds.

To improve battery life, Kia equipped the EV6 with a kind of heat pump that transfers what would've been waste heat from the coolant system to the battery. This is arguably our coolest feature on the car, but we have more. As for the motors, they're oil-cooled and include a square-section wire intended to increase the amount of copper and torque density. The exterior styling is not exactly groundbreaking, but the novel styling of the rear featuring an ultra-thin strip of taillight cluster is truly unique.

While our features aren't innumerable, they're however quite weighty. Take the heat pump, for instance. It's nothing short of an innovative approach to sustainably preserving battery life.

The heat would've escaped into the atmosphere (not good). Meanwhile, cold weather impacts battery life negatively. Instead of wasting the heat from the cooling system, the heat pump channels the battery that needs it. The automaker explained that "an EV6 in temperatures of 20 degrees F (about minus 7 degrees C) would retain 80 percent of the battery's energy than it would have at a pleasant 77 degrees F (25 degrees C)."

Secondly, we think the meridian 14-speaker surround sound system is more than a nice touch completing the comfortable interior. Kia's vehicles have always been a favorite for audiophiles, and the EV6 does not disappoint in that regard at all.

And the front trunk is quite useful as well. One might be tempted to dismiss the gesture since it’s quite small. But considering that some marques don’t even bother making the area accessible, we say it’s a thumbs up for Kia.

Last but not least. We love that the Kia EV6 is compatible with the latest high-output DC fast-charging stations. According to the automaker, “the EV6 versatile system works with both 400v and 800v DC fast chargers. Using a 800V DC fast charger provides up to 217 miles of range in only 18 minutes.” It has an EPA-estimated range of up to 310 miles. Kia proudly reminds everyone who cares to listen that the EV6 is faster than the Porsche Cayenne Coupe, and we think that's amazing.

Philip Uwaoma, this bearded black male from Nigeria, is fast approaching two million words in articles published on various websites, including toylist.com, rehabaid.com, and autoquarterly.com. After not getting credit for his work on Auto Quarterly, Philip is now convinced that ghostwriting sucks. He has no dog, no wife- yet- and he loves Rolls Royce a little too much.