More driving range for breakthrough electric car: 2025 Kia EV6 preview arrives early in Australia with new look to challenge Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ford Mustang Mach-E

Kia has brought a facelift of its breakthrough electric car to Australia ahead of its official release. 

The new-look Kia EV6 is on display at the Australian Open tennis tournament and gives a glimpse of what to expect come the second quarter of this year.

New looks, vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality and upgraded technology join a retuned chassis, more punch and simulated gear shifts for the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, Ford Mustang Mach-E GT and Tesla Model Y Performance rivalling EV6 GT.

“The original EV6 was a game-changer for Kia in Australia upon its introduction in 2022,” said Damien Meredith, Kia Australia Chief Executive Officer.

“The new features and updated styling of the upgraded EV6 really takes the game forward yet again.”

Speaking of, at the front the EV6 has been extended 15mm with a redesigned front bumper with sharper lines. Like the rest of Kia’s latest electric cars, the new EV6 adopts the brand’s ‘Star Map’ lighting signatures. 

There’s also a new rear bumper accentuating the EV6’s width and three-dimensional tail-lights. The wheel designs, in 19, 20 and 21 inches depending on trim, are new, too. 

Like the lights, the cabin layout echoes the larger EV9 and new EV5 with twin 12.3-inch monitors linked up as the digital driver’s display and multimedia touchscreen. 

New ‘ccNc’ software has a fresh graphics package and now supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with over-the-air software updates and phone connectivity. 

Kia has also ditched the EV6's controversial two-spoke steering wheel replacing it with a tidy three-spoke design.

Underneath the skin, a larger 80kWh (usable) battery pack supports a significant range boost from 528km in the pre-facelift GT-Line RWD to 582km (WLTP combined) in European models. Australian figures are yet to be announced. 

Along with borrowing the gear shift simulation technology from sister brand Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N, the EV6 GT also gets an 18kW boost to 448kW. 

Refinements to the chassis include a stiffer rear sway bar, softer front springs and new power-assisted steering system. Additional tuning from Kia’s Australian team has been carried out for “improved rough road and driving limit confidence,” says the brand. 

Though an early entrant in the second wave of electric cars, the Kia EV6 has not been a huge seller. Last year, 1785 new examples were registered, down a little from 2023. The EV5 is Kia’s hope for volume sales, though, with the EV6 to remain a more niche proposition even in facelifted guise.

Kia is yet to announce pricing for the facelifted EV6 and we expect an increase from the current $72,590 entry point and $99,950 flagship owing to the bigger battery and newer tech. 

Along with the new-look EV6, Kia is readying to launch plenty of products in 2025 starting with the K4 sedan and hatch to replace Cerato, the cut-price Kia EV3 small electric SUV and Tasman, the brand’s first ever ute.