Heavily Camouflaged Kia EV6 Refresh Hints at Major Changes Inside and Out

The EV6 is Kia's take on a sporty compact EV. It is still hesitating between crossover and hatchback body styles just like its cousin, the Hyundai Ioniq 5. The Kia EV6 is decidedly less crossovery, which conveys an even sportier stance. The EV6 design is as unconventional as it can get, but the Korean brand thinks it can do better than that. The jury is still out on whether this means looking even more outlandish or returning to conventional values.

Whatever the case, Kia is preparing a significant redesign for the EV6 with the mid-cycle refresh. The thick black cladding surrounding the prototypes hides bigger changes than a refresh usually offers. Rumors indicate that Kia might try to monetize the EV9's popularity and offer the EV6 a similar front design, perhaps in line with the recently unveiled EV5 crossover. In that case, we should expect a flatter nose with a horizontal light strip and triangular headlights.

Unfortunately, the prototype caught charging at an Ionity station was carefully covered not to offer any visual hints. However, since it was resting next to a current Kia EV6, it allowed a side-by-side comparison, revealing changes to the headlight design. As you can see in the gallery, the upcoming Kia EV6 will have a new light signature, with the headlight cluster moved lower than before. This will be complemented by a new bumper design.

Significant design changes are also expected at the rear, with new taillights and a redesigned bumper as the most obvious candidates. As with other camouflaged prototypes, this Kia EV6 sports a fake hump hiding all the details under thick cladding. We don't know what the doors have to hide, considering that they, too, are covered, but we should find out soon enough.

There are no interior pictures of the upcoming model, but we know Kia is preparing a mini-revolution. Similar to the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which was recently updated, the Kia EV6 will feature the cutting-edge infotainment system known as ccNC (connected car Navigation Cockpit). This features a more intuitive interface and advanced connectivity options.

Kia will likely upgrade the EV6's battery pack to an 84-kWh capacity, up from the current 77.4 kWh. This should give it a range boost of about 20 miles (32 km), reaching up to 330 miles (530 km) in the most frugal configuration. The EV6 will still feature its impressive 800-volt electrical system, which allows it to charge from 10% to 80% in roughly 18 minutes in the current model. This shouldn't change much despite the small increase in battery capacity.

If the Kia EV6 takes the same route as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, we should expect a more refined ride, thanks to new shock absorbers. Cabin noise will also be improved by installing additional sound-deadening material. Finally, the driver assistance systems will be overhauled, keeping the EV6 safer with the latest technologies.