Among the three vehicles Kia is debuting in LA this week, there’s the updated 2025 EV6 electric SUV. While we already had a glimpse of what it would look like through early images of the South-Korean model, it’s finally here in North-American guise with slightly revamped looks, a freshened up interior and new running gear that should allow it to last longer on a single charge. Here’s the full rundown of what to expect from the 2025 Kia EV6.
2025 Kia EV6 Gets Slightly More Range From Two New Batteries
The biggest mechanical highlights about the 2025 Kia EV6 essentially follow along the Hyundai IONIQ 5’s improvements, the EV6’s corporate twin. Two new batteries are now offered, with the entry level one now rated at 63 kWh (versus 58 kWh) and the top-spec at 84 kWh (versus 77.4 kWh).
These upgrades inevitably increase the advertised range for all trim levels. For reference, the range leader, the RWD Long Range with the 63 kWh battery, is now rated at 319 miles (up from 310 mi). Kia hasn’t yet specified range figures for the rest of the lineup, but we expect all versions of the 2025 Kia EV6 to receive a slight bump in that respect.
The updated battery also affects the overall performance for the top-dog GT model, which gets a bump in output from 576 hp and 545 lb-ft, to 641 hp and 568 lb-ft. It basically gets the same performance treatment as the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N, complete with the simulated gears and sound effects that go along with it. The new 84-kWh battery also helped increase the EV6’s max towing rating from 2,300 to 2,700 pounds.
Relocated Charge Port With NACS Compatibility
Kia also made some changes to the position of the EV6’s charge port (except for EV6 GT). It’s now on the driver’s side, still in the rear, to ease access. But the biggest news is the integration of Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) directly at the factory (except for EV6 GT). This allows the EV6 to be compatible with Tesla’s Supercharger network, but it’s still unclear how Kia will deal with existing Combined Charging System (CCS) chargers. Will it sell an adapter separately, or give it for free upon purchase? This is still to be determined.
The rest of the EV6’s midcycle updates are the classic stuff we see in the industry. The front and rear fascia have been slightly massaged through redesigned headlights and bumper designs. There are new wheel designs and paint colors, as well as a slightly updated interior. Most of the interior changes affect the steering wheel, seats and infotainment system, which gets an updated interface with a new, fast-responding software as well as, finally, over-the-air (OTA) updates.
All versions of the Kia EV6, except for the GT, will be assembled at Kia’s plant in West Point, Georgia. The updated 2025 model is expected to go on sale in the U.S. and Canada in the first half of next year.
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