See all Motoring NewsKia's highly anticipated electric crossover, the EV6, is set to offer a range of high-level safety equipment, including an advanced suite of driver assistance systems and high-tech features aimed to reduce many of the inherent hazards and stresses of driving.
The EV6 features Kia’s latest Highway Driving Assist 2 package, which uses radars located around the vehicle to help the driver to maintain a set distance and speed from the vehicle ahead. It also come equip with Lane Following Assist technology that centres the vehicle in its lane. Using Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control with Curve Control the system can reduce the vehicle speed through curves and reset the speed once conditions allow.
Another safety feature present in the EV6 is Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM) and Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA) systems to ensure lane changes are made safely every time. BVM acts as a second pair of eyes by eliminating the driver’s left- and right-hand side blind spots by displaying a high-definition view within the EV6’s fully-digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster. BCA uses radar sensors to warn the driver of approaching vehicles, with the system activating the brakes if there’s a risk of a collision during lane change manoeuvres.
Safely navigating junctions, particularly those that feature multiple lanes, can often be a stressful experience for many drivers. Kia’s Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) system now includes Junction Turning aimed at providing maximum preventative safety when navigating junctions. If the EV6’s turn signal is activated, the system will warn the driver if there is a collision risk with an oncoming vehicle.
Key to a vehicle’s safety is the ability to see and be seen. To provide the very best levels of illumination, the Kia EV6 features the new Intelligent Front-lighting System (IFS), a technology that enables each LED to light independently to deliver a precise lighting experience. IFS allows the driver to travel with a permanent high beam without any risk of dazzling oncoming traffic. A front view camera featuring vehicle recognition technology automatically dims or brightens each individual LED, enhancing the driver’s forward vision while protecting oncoming traffic from glare in real time.
Parking and other potentially tricky manoeuvres are made easier with Surround View Monitor (SVM) which is standard on GT- Line only. Cameras display a 360-degree view around the car, with the display conveniently located on the EV6’s infotainment screen. Reversing out of a tight space is also made safer thanks to Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA). This high-tech system detects oncoming vehicles approaching from either side when reversing. Should a potential collision be detected, the system will automatically brake the vehicle.
For those really tight parking spaces, drivers can call upon the EV6’s Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) system to take the hassle out of parking entirely (GT- Line Only ). RSPA is a feature that enables the vehicle to park itself autonomously, whether or not the driver is in the vehicle. Using surround view cameras and ultrasonic sensors, the EV6 can highlight a parking space of a suitable size and automatically steer itself into the space, with automatic control of accelerator, brakes and gearshift. What’s more, RSPA can park the vehicle in both perpendicular and parallel parking bays.
Once parked up and should rear seat passengers open the doors to disembark, Kia’s Safe Exit Assist (SEA) system will automatically provide a warning and lock the door if an approaching vehicle from the rear side is detected within the EV6’s blind spot, helping to reduce the risk of a collision and enhancing safety at the end of a journey.
For added convenience, the EV6 also features Kia’s Smart Power Tailgate. By pocketing the EV6’s Smart Key and approaching the rear of the vehicle, the system will recognise the key and will open the tailgate automatically, allowing easy and convenient access to the boot, a boon for those whose hands are full.