Kia’s new EV6 is due in Irish dealerships toward the end of next month, and the brand claims its new electric crossover offers “class-leading safety and convenience”, including an advanced suite of driver assistance systems.
To ensure safety and convenience on the motorway, the EV6 features Kia’s latest Highway Driving Assist 2 package. Using radars located around the vehicle, the system can help the driver to maintain a set distance and speed from the vehicle ahead while lane following assist technology centres the vehicle in its lane.
Using navigation-based smart cruise control with curve control (NSCC-C ) the system can reduce the vehicle speed through curves and reset the speed once conditions allow. In case of an adjacent vehicle driving in close proximity, Kia says HDA 2 assists by adjusting the EV6’s path, avoiding any possible risk of collision.
Kia says changing lanes is also now easier than ever. With the driver’s hands on the steering wheel and above a certain speed, a click of the indicator stalk will automatically move the car into the corresponding lane. The HDA2 package will be available in Ireland on the GT model which will be launched in Q3 2022.
The EV6 features blind-spot view monitor and blind-spot collision avoidance assist systems to ensure lane changes are made safely every time. BVM acts as a second pair of eyes, eliminating the driver’s left and right-hand side blind spots by displaying a high-definition view within the EV6’s fully-digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster. Kia says BCA uses radar sensors to warn the driver of approaching vehicles, with the system activating the brakes if there is a risk of a collision during lane change manoeuvres.
Safely navigating junctions, particularly those that feature multiple lanes, can often be a stressful experience for many drivers. Kia says its forward collision-avoidance assist (FCA ) system now includes junction turning aimed at providing maximum preventative safety when navigating junctions. If the EV6’s turn signal is activated, the system will warn the driver if there is a collision risk with an oncoming vehicle, the brand claims.
Key to a vehicle’s safety is the ability to see and be seen. To provide the very best levels of illumination, the Kia EV6 features the new intelligent front-lighting system (IFS ), a technology that enables each LED to light independently to deliver a precise lighting experience. IFS allows the driver to travel with a permanent high beam without any risk of dazzling oncoming traffic. A front view camera featuring vehicle recognition technology automatically dims or brightens each individual LED, enhancing the driver’s forward vision while protecting oncoming traffic from glare in real time.
Parking and other potentially tricky manoeuvres are made easier with surround view monitor (SVM ) which is standard on GT Line only. Cameras display a 360-degree view around the car, with the display conveniently located on the EV6’s infotainment screen. Reversing out of a tight space is also made safer thanks to rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist. This high-tech system detects oncoming vehicles approaching from either side when reversing. Should a potential collision be detected, the system will automatically brake the vehicle.
For those really tight parking spaces, Kia says drivers can call upon the EV6’s remote smart parking assist (RSPA ) system to take the hassle out of parking entirely (GT Line only ). RSPA is a feature that enables the vehicle to park itself autonomously, whether or not the driver is in the vehicle. Using surround view cameras and ultrasonic sensors, the EV6 can highlight a parking space of a suitable size and automatically steer itself into the space, with automatic control of accelerator, brakes and gearshift. What’s more, RSPA can park the vehicle in both perpendicular and parallel parking bays, according to Kia.
Once parked up and should rear seat passengers open the doors to disembark, Kia’s safe exit assist (SEA ) system will automatically provide a warning and lock the door if an approaching vehicle from the rear side is detected within the EV6’s blind spot, helping to reduce the risk of a collision and enhancing safety at the end of a journey.
For added convenience, the EV6 also features Kia’s smart power tailgate. By pocketing the EV6’s smart key and approaching the rear of the vehicle, the system will recognise the key and will open the tailgate automatically, allowing easy and convenient access to the boot, a bonus for those whose hands are full.
