2022 Kia EV6: Five fast facts for Australian buyers

Kia has included a range of eco-friendly materials in the EV6 in a bid to improve sustainability.

The interior is made up of 100 per cent PET recycled carpets and felt door map pockets, recycled post-consumer plastics on the dash, along with recycled fabric on the seat coverings.

Kia claims the EV6 is the first Korean car to achieve a ‘product carbon footprint certified’ rating by The Carbon Trust, awarded by the introduction of recycled materials throughout the cabin.

This certification system looks at the vehicle's whole-of-life impact, including acquiring raw materials, procurement and transportation of parts, vehicle assembly, distribution, use, and end-of-life recycling.

The Kia EV6 is a Hyundai Ioniq 5 underneath, but with unique bodywork and interiors.

Kia and Hyundai are jointly-owned sister brands and share vehicle development.

In this case, both vehicles are based on the same Hyundai Motor Group's E-GMP platform with an 800V battery system, offering the option of single-motor rear-wheel-drive or dual-motor all-wheel-drive layouts.

Driving range differences? The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has a maximum range of 480km, while the Kia EV6 has a maximum driving range of 484km or 528km, depending on the model.

Kia (and Hyundai) say these sleek-looking machines with low-profile tyres are SUVs.

Despite the raked and racey fastback styling, the Kia EV6 actually rivals Kia's seven-seat Sorento for size.

Compared to the Sorento the Kia EV6 measures 4860mm (length), 1880 (width), 1550 (height), with a wheelbase of 2900mm. The Kia Sorento's measurements are 4810mm (length), 1900 (width), 1700 (height), and with a 2815mm wheelbase.

The Kia EV6 is classified in the same Large SUV category as the Sorento, along with vehicles such as the Toyota Prado and Mazda CX-9, although unlike the majority of SUVs in the class, the EV6 is a five-seat vehicle, not a seven seater.

The Kia EV6 is equipped with a long-range (77.4 kWh) high-voltage battery pack promising three different levels of driving range.

In ideal conditions, the entry-level rear-wheel drive single motor EV6 Air can travel 528km on a single charge, the rear-wheel drive single-motor GT-Line has a range of 504km, while the optional all-wheel drive GT-Line promises 484km.

These claimed ranges beat the likes of the MG ZS EV (320km), the Jaguar I-Pace EV400 (446km) and the Mercedes-Benz EQA (480km).

The Kia EV6 is equipped with Smart Park Assist, which allows the vehicle to drive forward or back in and out of tight spaces.

This is designed to avoid banging your doors into adjacent vehicles, poles, or walls.

Using the key fob, owners are able to park the vehicle while standing next to it as it moves autonomously out of a front-and-back parking space (in a straight line forwards or backwards). For now this feature is offered on the top-grade GT-Line.