It’s a known fact that cars have faces, and those faces get updated every so often to keep showroom appeal strong. Case in point: The Kia EV6 is getting a round of updates that make it look a bit angrier while promising some quality of life improvements. Just take a look at the Korean version that was unveiled this week.
This two-row electric crossover is already a solid pick, with almost wagon-like styling, an 800-volt architecture, and impressive refinement. Although the 576-horsepower GT model is a bit serious for a performance car, it’s still objectively great at what it’s meant to do, as I found out by road-testing it last year. However, some of the new mid-cycle alterations promise to make it even better.
For the mid-cycle refresh, the biggest styling tweaks can be found in the face of the EV6. The front bumper and lighting setup are entirely new, with c-shaped lamp assemblies that wrap around painted sections of the bumper. It’s a dramatic effect, especially when combined with a toothy new valence on GT-Line models, and gives the facelifted EV6 the down-road graphic of a moderately pissed-off extraterrestrial cyborg. It won’t stack bodies, but it will shout ‘Hey, buddy’ in an accusatory tone.
Around the side of the EV6, the biggest visual change is the wheel design, which goes from a variation on a typical five-spoke design to something wildly more unique. Standard and GT-Line cars appear to get different alloy wheels, with far more spokes than before and some interesting choices on which sections are machined to a silver finish. Whether you love them or hate them, it’s hard to deny that they’re mildly bonkers, which matches what we’ve seen on the EV9 three-row crossover.
Out back, two new bumper designs correspond to standard or GT-Line trim levels. Most trims get a simplified valence and shiny black trim around the license plate, while the GT-Line trim gets a tall diffuser-aping element paired with black trim on the corners of the bumper. In addition, the reverse lights on the EV6 have moved up higher on the fascia, which should aid visibility to other vehicles.
On the inside, it seems that Kia’s dialed back its use of shiny black plastic, with what appears to be matte finishing on the console replacing the old fingerprint magnets. However, the bigger story is that the EV6 now gets Kia’s new infotainment setup, which allows for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Nice. In addition, the EV6 gets two new steering wheel designs — a fresh two-spoke unit on most trims and a three-spoke steering wheel on GT-Line models. A fingerprint reader and a camera-style rear view mirror round out the list of cabin changes, none of which are massive but all of which should add up to usability improvements.
Of course, the facelifted EV6 is more than just a fresh face, because it’s getting some mechanical tweaks too. Battery capacity jumps from 77.4 kWh to 84 kWh, which ought to translate to a slight gain in range. The B-pillar has been revised for added rigidity, there’s extra sound deadening around the rear motor, and Kia’s revised the dampers with the goal of improved ride quality. We’ll have to put that last one to the test, but so far, the under-the-skin changes seem meaningful.
While the prospect of a refreshed Kia EV6 is exciting, North Americans will have to wait to get their hands on the updated model. See, all these photos are of the Korean-market car, which means we could be waiting a model year for this updated EV. However, it’ll likely be worth the wait, as a little extra battery capacity and wireless phone mirroring promise to make one of the best EVs right now even better.
(Photo credits: Kia)
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I like both this and the Hyundai Ionic 5. Not in the market for anything EV and they both don’t have rear wipers.
Ioniq 5 now has a rear wiper, after the facelift. Coming to market next year.
Wasn’t aware of that. Still won’t buy one.
Why is it that Korean facelifts are almost always worse than the original?
Their design language moves too fast so inevitably they’re trying to plaster details from a newer generation onto an older design.
I think I prefer the original headlights; they just fit the angle of the hood better.
Honestly I’m mostly wowed by the fact that you can actually have the interior in actual colors now. Kia, for all their wild swings like the Stinger and the EV6, sure love pairing exciting exteriors with dull, lifeless mono-colored interiors
Does anyone else despise wireless Apple Carplay/Android Auto? I absolutely love the wired verison, but the latency on wireless coupled with phone battery drain is maddening. 9/10 times I’d rather just plug in my phone anyways, get a snappier UX, and a quick charge. I don’t want to pay extra for a worse Carplay experience and a wireless
chargerheaterI use a Motorola MA-1 adapter for Wireless Android Auto in my 2018 Sorento SX. Works perfectly with no lag. UX is just as responsive as the phone. Guess it depends on the quality of phone being used, health of that device, quality of the gear running AA or CarPlay. Power isn’t an issue – plug it in when I get in the car and close the center console lid. Out of sight, out of mind while I pay attention to the road.
I honestly don’t get how it’s better. What’s the problem with just plugging it in? Especially because these are usually paired with wireless chargers, now you have a ton of energy going in and out of the phone which just makes it more likely to overheat. I’ve never had a phone lose power or overheat when it was plugged into Android Auto via cable
Maybe Carplay uses more battery than Android Auto?
I just got a Samsung S23 FE last year so maybe my opinion isn’t representative, but even with my battery saver turned on all the time (80% charge maximum to prolong battery life), I can drive for 3+ hours in a day while using wireless Android Auto without needing to charge the battery before bed time, or really even getting close.
I’ve found it to be responsive enough.
Yes! 100% with you. I also hate wireless chargers and literally removed it from my car over the weekend to provide more useful storage (’20 Outback).
Agreed. I charge my phone in the car anyway—perfect little boost of electrons for my little SE 3, so the idea of wireless CarPlay doesn’t really make any sense. To be fair, I don’t use wired CarPlay either because my car is from 2012.
it’s like anthropomorphism but for Predators
Does the refresh include it getting a NACS plug?
I bet they don’t know yet as this one is Korea-spec. They’re still waiting for the US model to be released yet.
I like the look because while it’s aggressive, it’s still a pretty “clean” design. The aggressive elements look integrated and not tacked on.
Take notes, Toyota and Lexus. If you want to do aggressive, this is how you should do it.
One thing I don’t like is the overall taillight area. I would prefer at least a little larger total surface area lit up. They can make up for that with brightness, but that brings additional glare, especially during wet weather.
Show it with the headlights on, not just the DRL’s
Good. The current cheap looking drl is awful. Any news on the 58 Kwh battery? It is a global product, after all. Ok, with the 800 V charging tech the size is less of an issue, but..
The exterior styling doesn’t impress me. The improvements to handling and noise deadening would be nice. But getting away from the shiny black plastic is the big one for me.
I’ve been wanting to change out the Niro PHEV for a slightly larger EV, and the EV6 and the Equinox are the major shortlisters. I’d like to get away from Kia, but this is a pretty compelling wagon.
I’m excited to see how the new GT shapes up. I like the Ioniq 5N but I think I like the EV6 form factor a bit better as it feels more like a wagon. Maybe I can sell my Niro EV next spring and lease one.
How do you like the Niro? I’ve been thinking about the PHEV version.
I have the HEV version and it’s great, plenty of room, excellent ride, handling, and a generally nice looking wagon.
I have a 2019 for reference. The BEV is great, but oddly missing some quality of life features that the PHEV has. The top trim PHEV has seat memory which they inexplicably left off the top trim BEV. Otherwise the big benefit of the BEV is DCFC. It’s a solid car for moderate road trips even. Lane keep and ACC work great too. The BEV has 250 lb/ft torque to the front wheels which is surprisingly fun.
Why can’t we just have cheerful cars?
I ask myself that too every day. Is it because we’re all angry and unhappy or are angry looking cars making us feel and drive that way?
Don’t drive angry.
**Insert picture of Bill Murray and the groundhog**
Honestly, one of the reasons I’m interested in the Chevy Equinox EV is that the blue with white roof is one of the more cheerful vehicles out there right now (though it’s still also somewhat aggressive, especially in other colors). I keep hoping we’ve hit peak aggression saturation and we’ll start to see cheerful cars come back. I continue to be disappointed.
And all the small, cheerful EVs right now have annoying compromises, with both the Fiat 500 and Mini SE having under 150 miles range. Maybe those are fine if you are a true city dweller, but in my area I need to be able to make a 30-40 mile each way trip without having to plan it out to the point of making sure the car is completely charged. The 250 miles my Niro EV has is perfect in that respect, so I can go a few days or have plans change and rarely have to DC fast charge except on long trips. DCFC is totally fine on road trips but when going to an appointment or something it’s a little more annoying than going to the gas station because they are less common and your chances of arriving to broken or just taken chargers is high enough to make it stressful.
Yeah, I would love a Fiat or Mini EV with at least 250 miles of range and good fast charging. But those are city runabouts only, and all the road trip machines need to look aggressive enough for longer range. I guess people traveling farther need more room and need to scare off the other scary people in the other aggressive vehicles?
The 2025 Mini SE is expected by Car and Driver to have ~200 miles of range. Plenty good enough for a suburban commuter, but I wouldn’t want that as my only car.
Chevy is bordering on self caricature with all the generic squinty robot faces of their latest vehicles. Still, I have to say, I like the Trax overall for what it offers for the buck.
I’m reminded of a Chevy ad from the teens – those “Real People” ads that Mahk would…mock. In one there’s a hipster “Man Bun Boy” who looks at the car and says in a bit of a whiny voice “It looks aggressive”.
Only 17.3%? I would have said at least 36.4%
I still think they should have rastafied it by 10% or so
So it’s proactive?
It’s a totally outrageous paradigm
Personally I think it’s more like 23.2%
I could agree, 36.4% uglier, but only 23.2% angrier.
Basically me when I turned 40
Ya suddenly feeling the urge to yell at some kids on your lawn?
When they see my face I don’t need to yell.
My kinda old guy!