The all-new Kia EV6 has been named the 2022 Car of the Year in the prestigious European Car of the Year (COTY) awards. 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.
Initially listed for consideration for the top award alongside over 60 models that launched during 2021, the Kia EV6 made it through each of the rounds as the COTY jury whittled the longlist down to a seven-strong shortlist, six of which were electric vehicles (EVs). This further demonstrates the growing importance of electric vehicles to consumers as society transitions towards a new mobility future.
The Kia EV6 then fought off competition from the Hyundai IONIQ 5, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Škoda Enyaq iV, Cupra Born, Renault Mégane E-Tech and Peugeot 308, subsequently being crowned 2022 European Car of the Year.
“It’s a great honour to have won the 2022 European 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,” said Jason Jeong, President at Kia Europe.
The first dedicated EV to be based on the company’s Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), 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 features class-leading interior space, a highly impressive 528 km driving range and 800 V ultra-fast charging capabilities, enabling customers to carry out a 10 % to 80 % charge in just 18 minutes.
The EV6 was also the first global model to incorporate Kia’s new design philosophy ‘Opposites United’ taking inspiration from the “contrasts found in nature and humanity.”
The 2022 European Car of the Year award is the latest in a growing number of globally renowned awards bestowed on the EV6 since its introduction in 2021. 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.
