KIA EV6 NAMED 2022 CAR OF THE YEAR
The Kia EV6 has been named the 2022 Car of the Year in the prestigious Car of the Year (COTY) awards. The innovative all-electric crossover was voted the overall winner by a 59-strong jury consisting of highly respected motoring journalists from 22 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 cut 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.
The Kia EV6 received a total of 279 points to claim victory and be crowned 2022 Car of the Year, followed by the Renault Mégane E-Tech (265 points), Hyundai IONIQ 5 (261 points), Peugeot 308 (191 points), Škoda Enyaq iV (185 points), Ford Mustang Mach-E (150 points) and Cupra Born (144 points).
-
Frank Janssen, President, Car of the Year Jury, said: "It's a nice surprise to see the Kia EV6 receive this award. It was about time that the brand and the group were rewarded, as they have worked so hard on this car. Kia's pace of progress is really impressive.”
Jason Jeong, President at Kia Europe, commented: “It’s a great honour to have won the 2022 Car of the Year with the EV6, the first ever Kia to win this prestigious award. The EV6 is truly a landmark development that’s been designed from the outset to make electric mobility fun, convenient and accessible by combining a highly impressive real-world driving range, ultra-fast charging capabilities, a spacious high-tech interior and a truly rewarding driving experience. The EV6 is an exciting sign of what’s still to come in our evolving electrified line-up.”
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 328 mile 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 centre 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 2022 Car of the Year award is the latest in a growing number of globally renowned awards bestowed on the EV6 since its introduction last year. Other titles recently claimed include: 2022 Irish Car of the Year; 2022 What Car? ‘Car of the Year’; ‘Crossover of the Year’ at the TopGear.com 2021 awards; ‘Premium’ winner in the German Car of the Year 2022 awards; and joint winner of the inaugural ‘Best Cars of the Year’ 2021/2022 awards.
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.
