The Kia EV6 has been crowned 2022 European Car of the Year

The Kia EV6 has been named the 2022 European Car of the Year. It’s a significant honor for Kia, the South Korean car manufacturer that has ascended to the upper echelons of the automotive industry in what seems like a flash.

In truth, the climb has been anything but quick for Kia. From establishing its roots during World War II to nearly crumbling from the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, the steely brand has since inspired millions of motorists. As of 2019, Kia had sold over 2.8 million vehicles worldwide.

Despite the success, Kia isn’t resting on its laurels. It has continued to innovate amid the industry’s shift to electric mobility. Kia has released several all-electric vehicles in recent years, and some of them debuted with critical acclaim. The Kia EV6 crossover now joins that list as Europe’s top choice among many worthy competitors.

• Kia EV6: 279 points
• Renault Megane Electric: 265 points
• Hyundai Ioniq 5: 261 points
• Peugeot 308 191: points
• Skoda Enyaq iV: 185 points
• Ford Mustang Mach-e: 150 points
• Cupra Born: 144 points

Notably, nearly all of the listed finalists are electric vehicles (EVs). The only holdout is the Peugeot 308, but even that has a plug-in hybrid version, and the brand says an EV model is coming soon. One of the key categories for the award is technical advancement, something Kia has worked hard on with the EV6.

The EV6 made waves at launch with its ultra-modern design and rich feature offerings. The compact crossover can go about 500 kilometers in a single charge while 0 to 100 km/h in only 4.6 seconds. Inside, Kia touts the EV6’s driver-centric cockpit and advanced technology. There are two massive 12.3-inch touchscreen displays that offer Kia Connect capabilities as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Other key features include ultra-fast DC charging and Kia Drive Wise Driver Assist Technology. The latter enables advanced active safety features like highway driving assist, blind-spot detection, and navigation-based cruise control. These cutting-edge features likely helped the Kia EV6 win the 2022 European Car of the Year award. Now, the only question that remains is, will we ever see this EV in the local market? It seems unlikely for now, but only Kia Philippines knows the answer.