The all-new high-tech Kia EV6 crossover has been named the 2022 Car of the Year in the prestigious European Car of the Year (COTY ) awards.
This follows the EV6 winning the Continental Irish Car of the Year 2022 award earlier this month, and previously winning the WhatCar? Car of the Year award.
The innovative all-electric crossover was voted the overall winner by a 61-strong jury consisting of highly respected motoring journalists from 23 European countries.
The Kia EV6 was initially listed for consideration for the top award alongside over sixty models that launched during 2021. In November, the COTY jury whittled this long list down to a seven-strong shortlist, six of which were electric vehicles (EVs ), further demonstrating the growing importance of electric vehicles to consumers as society transitions towards a new mobility future.
From making the shortlist, the EV6 successfully fought off the competition to be crowned the 2022 European Car of the Year. The Renault Mégane E-Tech finished second, ahead of the third placed Hyundai IONIQ 5. Others on the shortlisted were the Peugeot 308, Skoda Enyaq iV, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and the Cupra Born.
The EV6 is Kia’s first dedicated EV to be based on the company’s Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP ). This high-tech architecture ensures the EV6 eliminates the many compromises faced by EVs that are created on platforms initially designed to accommodate internal combustion engine vehicles.
As a result of its E-GMP underpinnings, the EV6 has a class-leading interior space, a highly impressive 528km driving range and 800V ultra-fast charging capabilities that enables customers to carry out a 10 to 80 percent charge in just 18 minutes.
Signifying its high-tech positioning, the EV6 was the first global model to incorporate Kia’s new design philosophy ‘Opposites United’ which takes inspiration from the contrasts found in nature and humanity. At the center of the design philosophy is a new visual identity evoking positive forces and natural energy, with contrasting combinations of sharp stylistic elements and sculptural shapes.
The EV6 is the first of seven dedicated EV models Kia plans to launch by 2026. The all-electric crossover will play a key role in the company’s plans to become a leading global sustainable mobility solutions provider.
