Kia EV6: GT-Line to account for 80 per cent of sales

Kia Australia is anticipating four out of five customers (or 400 out of 500 of this year’s confirmed allocation) will opt for the more expensive GT-Line variants of its new EV6 dedicated electric vehicle.

Speaking at the brand’s annual Australian Open media event, Kia Australia’s chief operating officer, Damien Meredith, said the local arm is looking at a 40:40:20 sales split between EV6 GT-Line (RWD:AWD) and EV6 Air.

That means the brand is expecting more customers to fork out between $74,990 and $82,990 (RWD/AWD) for an EV6 rather than the rebate-friendly $67,990 sticker for the entry-level Air.

At $82,990 before on-road costs, the EV6 GT-Line AWD is Kia Australia’s most expensive vehicle ever, topping the Sorento GT-Line Plug-in Hybrid SUV ($81,990 D/A), and likely to break the $90,000 barrier once it’s parked in your garage.

For your spend, you get a 239kW/605Nm dual-motor drivetrain, a claimed 0-100 time of 5.2 seconds, 484 kilometres of claimed driving range, and a pretty long list of standard equipment.

That gives an indication the flagship EV6 GT, with its 430kW power output and supercar-rivalling 3.5-second 0-100 claim, could be the first Kia to eclipse the $100,000 barrier in Australia when it arrives very late in 2022 or in the early stages of 2023.

EV6 GT-Line highlights include:

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Acoustic front window glass
• Rear privacy glass
• Auto-folding flush door handles
• GT-Line exterior styling
• V2L exterior
• ‘Wide’ sunroof (GT-Line AWD only)
• Leatherette/suede seat upholstery
• Stainless steel luggage area sill plate
• 64-colour ambient interior lighting
• Active Sound Design (engine sound modes)
• Augmented reality head-up display
• 14-speaker Meridian audio
• Power driver seat with 2-position memory
• Premium Relaxation Seats (front)
• Heated/ventilated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Remote Smart Park Assist
• Power tailgate
• Blind Spot View Monitor
• 3D surround-view camera system

That’s on top of the EV6 Air’s inclusions:

• 77.4kWh long-range battery
• 19-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights (reflector-type)
• LED daytime running lights
• LED tail lights
• Acoustic windscreen
• Solar glass (windscreen and doors)
• Automatic wipers
• Flush door handles
• Power-folding mirrors
• Dial-type shifter
• Paddle shifter for regen braking
• Leatherette steering wheel trim
• Cloth/Leatherette upholstery
• Power driver lumbar adjustment
• Remote-folding second-row seats
• LED interior lighting
• V2L interior power outlet
• Auto power windows (front)
• Dual curved 12.3-inch displays (infotainment + cluster)
• Satellite navigation
• Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wired)
• Wireless phone charger
• USB chargers in front seatbacks
• 12V outlet in luggage area
• Smart key with push-button start
• Dual-zone climate control
• Electro-chromatic rear-view mirror

Electric rivals for the EV6 GT-Line include the Tesla Model 3 Long Range ($73,200) and Performance ($84,900), the Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor ($69,900), the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (from $72,500) and Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric Dual Motor ($79,900).

If you consider the EV6’s classification as a ‘Large SUV’, you could hypothetically line it up against the BMW iX (from $134,900), Jaguar I-Pace (from $137,832) and Audi e-tron (from $137,100).

Kia’s own electrified large SUV alternative comes in the form of the Sorento GT-Line PHEV ($81,990 D/A), which offers up to 68 kilometres (NEDC) of electric range but adds the safety net of combustion power for longer journeys and more convenient refuelling, as well as a third row of seating and more cargo volume. A very different customer though, we assume.

The Kia EV6 will hit showrooms in February, with just 500 units confirmed throughout the course of 2022, and unlike the Hyundai with the Ioniq 5, Kia will sell the EV6 via its national dealer network rather than via direct online sales.

MORE: Everything Kia EV6