Facelifted 2024 Kia EV6 here by Christmas

The facelifted 2024 Kia EV6 has been shown in Korea ahead of its Australian release in the fourth quarter of this year, but we’re yet to see the updated EV6 GT flagship.

Armed with new front and rear bumpers, fresh alloy wheels and a tweaked interior design, the updated EV6 looks far sleeker than the existing electric SUV, thanks largely to its much narrower front lighting signature and new ‘Tiger Nose’ grille – which is illuminated on the GT-Line.

The rest of the EV6’s body is largely unchanged, but the same cannot be said for the powertrain which – as expected – has been upgraded with a larger new 84kWh battery pack that lifts the maximum range from 475km to 494km.

However, it isn’t clear which testing cycle this is in accordance with, given the current EV6 is good for up to 528km (WLTP).

A meaningful improvement in range is all but confirmed, with the WLTP figure likely to approach the 550km mark.

Ultra-fast 350kW DC charging is still possible and will take the new battery from 10-80 per cent in a claimed 18 minutes.

But the bigger power source has had no impact on the outputs of the electric motors, with single-motor versions still developing 168kW/350Nm and dual-motors 239kW/605Nm.

Whether this applies to the range-topping GT remains to be seen, although we shouldn’t have to wait too long to find out since the new EV6 flagship is likely to have its own debut in the coming weeks and will arrive Down Under “a few months” after the Air and GT-Line variants.

Other enhancements away from the powertrain include retuned shock absorbers across the range, more rear-motor soundproofing, a thicker B-pillar and body shell in the name of safety, and upping the airbag count to 10.

Alterations within the cabin are far less conspicuous, but a few subtle changes have been made to select trim pieces and the curved panoramic display and its graphics, plus a new steering wheel, fingerprint authentication sensor and wireless charging phone pad.

The infotainment system’s new graphics are the first giveaway of the EV6’s upgraded, next-generation ‘ccNC’ operating system, which brings wireless smartphone mirroring, a broader range of over-the-air updates and a streamlined user experience.

Walkaway locking, automatic toll payments, hands-on detection, remote smart parking, a power-adjustable steering wheel, photocatalytic air sterilisation system, digital rear-view mirror and a 12-inch head-up display have also been added to the mix.

Kia has altered the EV6’s paint colour palette to match its new looks, with standard grades available in Ivory Matte Silver, Snow White Pearl, Interstellar Grey, Aurora Black Pearl, Glacier, Moonscape Matte Grey, Yacht Blue and Runway Red.

GT-Line colours will comprise Wolf Grey, Yacht Matte Blue, Snow White Pearl, Aurora Black Pearl and Runway Red.

Despite the numerous upgrades, pricing for the latest EV6 remains unchanged in Korea. Whether or not Kia Australia mimics this unusual move remains to be seen.

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