Facelifted 2024 Kia EV6 teased ahead of reveal

After being spied testing late last year, the facelifted 2024 Kia EV6 has been teased for the first time just a couple of days after the smaller upcoming Kia EV5 electric SUV was approved for sale in Australia.

Kia HQ has released a pair of revealing preview images showcasing the facelifted EV6’s overhauled front lighting signature and altered front facia, as well as its tastefully sharpened tail-lights.

It was clear from the November spy shots that the mid-life update would bring a radical new look for the EV6, which is adopting the same sunken headlight arrangement as the rest of Kia’s new models, including the 2025 Tasman ute.

This in turn leaves room for an angular new daytime running light design circumnavigating the top corners of the front facia, matched at the rear by a new toothed design for the full-width brake-light strip and tail-lights, emulating the new Tiger Nose grille arrangement up front.

The cosmetic overhaul is expected to be joined by a series of subtle chassis revisions, plus a revamped interior, more tech and, most importantly of all, a new 84kWh battery pack set to liberate a healthy increase in driving range.

A modest power increase somewhere along the lines isn’t out of the question either – especially for the flagship GT, given it needs to claw back some ground on the related but nuttier Hyundai IONIQ 5 N.

All the above upgrades have been previewed via the mainstream IONIQ 5 variants that debuted in March following the local release of the N hero.

Speaking of local releases, the 2024 Kia EV5 has just been approved for Australian roads with an interesting mix of trims and powertrain combinations being given ADR approval.

Kia Australia has already confirmed the Air and Earth trims will arrive in the coming months – offered in front- and all-wheel drive – before the flashier GT-Line materialises in the fourth quarter of this year.

Thus far, five different variants have been certified by the government, specifically comprising the Light Standard Range 2WD, Air Standard Range 2WD, Air Long Range 2WD, Earth Long Range 2WD and Earth Long Range 4WD.

Both Standard Range versions are listed with 18-inch wheels and the previously confirmed 64.2kWh battery pack, whereas the Long Ranges nab 19s and a significantly bigger 88.1kWh power pack.

The data also confirms the promised 160kW peak power output of the single-motor variants, while the dual-motor is shown to have scored a 3kW bump given it’s been homologated with 233kW, but a torque figure for either system is still MIA.

All sub-GT-Line variants will share a common suspension set-up in terms of travel and articulation, though carsales understands each powertrain will have its own unique spring, stability control and ABS tunes to help manage the varying weights.

The dual-motor, meantime, will go one step further with a beefier rear swaybar due to its rear motor.

Pricing for the EV5 is expected to start in the low-$60,000 range – roughly $10,000 less than the current EV6 – but a notable price increase for the fastback electric SUV should be expected with the facelift, more information on which will be announced later this month.

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