By Ronald delos Reyes
Kia Philippines has finally rolled out its much-awaited full electric vehicle, EV6 in the local market at a competitive price of P3.788 million.
Kia’s global EV icon first made its appearance during the 8th Philippine International Motor Show last September at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. After its brief stint there, people started talking. Finally, after a few months, the Korean carmaker officially unveiled it at a busy district in Makati in front of hundreds in attendance.
“It is truly our honor to introduce this latest innovation by Kia: A sustainable car with zero emissions, and a step toward Kia’s ambitious yet important transition into a future mobility solutions brand,” Kia Philippines president, Manny Aligada said.
“Our one true message to the public aims to open their eyes to the reality and potential of Fully Electric Vehicles, and that Kia PH is here to make EV ownership convenient, worry-free, and enjoyable,” he added.
The EV6 is Kia’s first dedicated battery electric vehicle. From its full-electric, zero-emission powertrain system, it churns out 229PS and 350N-m of torque. While its 77.4 kWh lithium-ion battery can sustain the car up to over a 500-kilometer range on a single charge.
According to Kia Philippines, it made sure to put the charging architecture in place long before the arrival of the EV6.
“Our strategically located charging stations are proof of our commitment to electrification. We are using the whole Ayala ecosystem to support the growth and adoption of EVs in the Philippines. We expect EV take-up to grow rapidly, and EVs to be the dominant transport technology in a few years,” Ayala Corporation president and CEO Bong Consing, meanwhile, for his part, said.
He also reiterated that the Ayala Group is committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
“Ayala believes that positive climate action is an investment that will benefit future generations,” Consing continued.
Sleek stunner electrified
At the onset, the Kia EV6 is visually evoking with its mixed combination of sharp stylistic design elements and sculptural shapes. Its cocoon-shaped body with sleek side character lines all the way to its rear, complementing its
prominent wing-type roof spoiler gives this stunner a futuristic appeal and superb aerodynamics.
Inside, this sport utility vehicle features a minimalistic design appeal in its cabin. For this, it gives the vehicle its unique versatility and more room, thanks to it flat-under floor battery. Digital technologies inside are also human-centric, providing both driver and passenger more comfort and convenience.
This Korean EV prodigy is also a five-star Euro NCAP rating recipient with a number of ita exceptional safety features, such as: Forward collision-avoidance assist with junction turning detection, blind spot detection and monitor, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, lane keeping and following assist technology, smart cruise control with stop and go, safe exit assist, and 360-view monitor.
The vehicle is also equipped with a water-sensing system, wherein during an unlikely event of water intrusion, it will automatically shut off the EV system.
Moreover, for added convenience, unlike internal combustion engines (ICE), the EV6 doesn’t need engine oil changes, oil filters, spark plugs, and other lubricants. It is estimated that one will only spend about P25,000 for five years in maintaining it compared to four times its cost when keeping a regular ICE vehicle over the same period.
With these outstanding features, the Kia EV6 has garnered various accolades itself, such as the 2022 iF Design Award, 2022 Red Dot Award, 2022 European Car of the Year, and US Car of the Year.
