The Kia EV6 brings the brand’s first all-electric vehicle built on a dedicated EV platform to the SUV marketplace. The clean sheet design of the EV6 features a low-mounted battery pack, the benefits of which include a lower center of gravity and increased interior space.
Stylish, powerful and quick to charge, the EV6 provides as much as 310 miles of range.
When it comes to range, even the base Light trim offers up to 232 miles on a full charge, as does the EV6 Wind RWD featured here, while the top-tier rear-wheel-drive equipped GT-Line goes up to 310 miles. The EV6 features an 800-volt multi-charging architecture that enables ultra-fast DC fast charging, which as we confirmed during our testing can add over 200 miles of range in the time that it takes you to walk from the charger to the mall men’s room and back. A 240-volt home charger can charge up the EV6 in just under 6 hours, which is plenty for the average American driver. The EV6 also offers Vehicle-to-Load capability, which provides up to 1900 watts of power for electrical appliances, power tools, or other electronics.
The roomy interior of the EV6 seats five passengers, comes with plenty of tech and offers loads of cargo space.
The EV6 has received a multitude of props from reviewers for its nimble, dynamic handling. The upcoming launch of a 576-horsepower EV6 GT edition is expected to revolutionize the ‘hot hatch’ segment.
On top of all its performance attributes, the EV6 comes loaded with a bounty of tech features including a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster display and a 12.3-inch navigation display with natural voice recognition, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Kia’s Drive Wise suite of safety technologies includes standard Forward Collision-Avoidance, Blind-spot Monitoring, and Lane Keep Assist among its many driver assist features.
Beyond the futuristic styling, when you factor in the abundant standard technology features with the all-electric performance, the EV6 delivers a lot of car for its $41,400 base price.
RPM News Weekly Photos by Rich Taber
EV6 LIGHT RWD – STANDARD FEATURES
MECHANICAL
58.0 kWh Lithium Ion Battery / 232mi All-Electric Range
Although the New England Motor Press Association Ragtop Ramble starts off as a showcase of some of the latest and greatest new cars in today’s automotive marketplace, it isn’t exactly a car show – at least not in the traditional sense. Nor is it a bevy of convertibles parading in the summer sun with their tops down. Actually, the annual event is a private road tour that kicks off from the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline Massachusetts and makes its way north to the Colony Hotel in Kennebunkport, Maine where a lobster picnic dinner awaits.
On the way, the Ramble creates an opportunity for the automotive journalists who make up the New England Motor Press to sample (i.e. test drive) some of the newer and sometimes more exciting cars on the market. This is helpful because higher-end and specialty cars often are not available for typical weeks-long evaluations.
All Photos by Peter Ciani for RPM News Weekly (except as noted)
There used to be lots more convertibles – a.k.a.“ragtops” – in the marketplace back when this event originated. Many would take part in the drive. In that spirit the name lives on.
Gathering at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum
The day begins with breakfast on the lawn at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum. Once again, Subaru served up tasty Suburritos from a Burritomobile, assuring that no one would be driving on an empty stomach. Then, to be certain that everyone knew where the day was headed, T-shirts emblazoned with the image of a lobster were available for everyone along with a detailed roadmap.
NEMPA members, OEM reps, and Automotion staff gather outside the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline, MA for the start of the 2022 Ragtop Ramble.
If you’re a fan of automobiles in New England, then you probably are familiar with the Larz Anderson Museum. It’s home to what is recognized as the oldest car collection in America, but what distinguishes the museum from just a random assortment of old cars is that it features themed exhibits. For example, their current displays are ‘Hidden Treasures’ showcasing cars that are normally locked away in private collections, and ‘Born of Necessity’ charting the evolution of the pickup truck from makeshift, homebrew DIY farm trucks to mass production and adoption.
The Larz Anderson is also known for its monthly Cars and Coffee gatherings and themed lawn events, which include the upcoming Porsche Day, VW Transporterfest, Japanese Car Day and Extinct Car Day, just to name a few. The most recent events were Swedish Car Day and Alternative Motor Day where according to the museum website “All forms of mobility using alternative fuels are welcome!”.
Pick a Car, Any Car!
At around 8 a.m, automotive writers from around New England begin to converge on the front lawn of the museum where the cars are lined up and readied for the ride. This part of the event is sort of like a traditional car show, although it’s not advertised to the public. Nevertheless, people walking by or visiting the museum can (and do) stop and check out the cars.
For the first leg of the tour, journalists don’t get to choose the car they’ll be driving. Instead, keys are put into a so-called hat, in this case, a Cheez-Its box, and are blindly picked at random. Some of the cars up for grabs were a 70th anniversary C8 Corvette Convertible, Lexus LC Hybrid, and a Charger SRT Hellcat.
My Rides of the Day, or Should I Say, “My #SaveTheManuals Day?“
#1 – 2022 Hyundai Elantra N
2022 Hyundai Elantra N
I started my morning by driving to the event in the 2022 Hyundai Elantra N. Sure, it’s no modified Mustang or Hemi ‘Cuda, but the way I see it, even classic car enthusiasts need a winter ride and this car fits the bill.
Yes, it comes with some great safety and infotainment tech, but for Hyundai, the Elantra N is quite the bold offering actually. Performance equipment that one normally wouldn’t see in a budget-friendly compact sedan, such as a 276-horsepower turbocharged 2-liter engine and a crazy, manually controlled shifting device with 6 numbers on and an extra pedal on the floor – that’s what this little gem is all about.
The Elantra N also features performance brakes, chassis braces, a limited-slip differential, and an electronically controlled suspension. Not too shabby for an efficient car with a 10-year powertrain warranty and a $32,000 starting price.
#2 – 2022 Subaru WRX
2022 Subaru WRX
When it comes to modern performance cars, the Subaru WRX needs no introduction. That said, here is my personal introduction to the 2022 Subaru WRX Premium in the gorgeous WR Blue Pearl color…
This was my blind pick of the day, and I’ll admit when I first saw the Subaru logo on the key I was hoping that it belonged to the new BRZ that my partner at RPMNewsWeekly.com, Rich Taber, drove to the event. Not that I consider the WRX a second-place prize, but it would have been nice to experience the next generation BRZ, too.
2022 Subaru BRZ Photo by Rich Taber
The WRX is all new for 2022 and features a more rigid chassis, more technology features, and increased power. The styling of the new WRX is a bit of a controversy for fans, but I’m more concerned about the performance, and even though my time in the WRX was fairly brief, I’d say that it didn’t disappoint.
The suspension felt a little stiff while I was driving out of the Boston area, but I wouldn’t exactly call it a deal breaker. Hey, it’s a WRX. Considering that I was driving mostly on some surly stretches of Massachusetts’ roads in this part of the journey, I’d say it was still pretty comfortable.
It’s kind of sad to think that in many ways this generation of the WRX is an end-of-an-era car before they introduce some kind of electrification to the model. Don’t get me wrong, electrification is great when used properly, but it just won’t be the same.
I was surprised a bit by the price of the WRX. For some reason I was thinking it was more expensive than it is. The Premium model that I drove was on par price-wise with the Elantra N, while the base WRX sells for just under $30k. Oh, and you may have heard, that there is no STI – not yet anyway.
Thankfully, the WRX still offers a 6-speed manual. There are very few manual-transmission-equipped performance sedans, especially with AWD. If you live in New England, or anywhere else in the world that has bouts of bad weather and would like a year-round performance car, this should put the WRX at the top of your list.
#3 – 2023 Acura Integra A-Spec
Getting to swap out of the WRX at a New Hampshire rest stop and into the new Integra A-Spec was a pleasant surprise and I’ll admit, at first glance, I didn’t even realize that it was on hand. Unlike the Elantra N with its boy-racer looks and red exterior trim, or the bright blue WRX, the Integra with its somewhat understated gray exterior color known as Liquid Carbon Metallic just seemed to be hiding quietly in the background.
At first glance, the gray Liquid Carbon Metallic finish of the Acura Integra A-Spec seemed to hide the vehicle from the author’s observant eyes.
It’s no surprise that the new Integra shares a powertrain and platform with the Civic Si, but unlike the Civic Si, the Integra’s turbocharged 1.5-liter engine can be paired with a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). Nice for volume sales and all, but I’ve been talking about manual transmissions here, so fortunately, I can tell you from my test ride that the Integra has one of the smoothest shifting manuals that I’ve driven recently.
The clutch pedal itself is super light and although the 1.5-liter puts out only 200 horsepower, it certainly feels like more. Sorry, you might not be able to live your life “one quarter-mile at a time” without some mods, but at the same time the Integra sure was a blast on the curvy back roads of Maine.
The manual-equipped Integra also includes standard down-shift rev-matching. You’ll have to opt for the A-Spec with Technology package if you plan to do your own shifting, and that’s $5,000 over the base price. So, I guess you really have to be dedicated to the #savethemanuals cause.
Even though there were a few muscle cars on hand for the Ragtop Ramble, I’m glad that I got to drive other performance cars instead that represent a segment that many people including myself might not normally consider.
Here’s a look at some of the other cars that participated. Special thanks to the New England Motor Press Association, the staff at Automotion, the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, and the various manufacturers and their reps who were on hand for the day.
With a ride that feels confident, steering that’s tight and performance that’s rousing enough to question its $32K compact sedan pricing, the all-new, all-wheel drive 2.5-liter turbocharged Mazda3 with Premium Plus Package advances the award-winning legacy of its predecessors.
When Hyundai describes the 2021 Venue as an urban crossover SUV, consider it a marketing-speak sort of way of saying that it’s a handy, well-sorted runabout that doesn’t cost a bundle to own.
With a base price starting around $18,750 ($19,935 with destination) including plenty of what used to cost extra, the 159-inch, 2612-pound Venue certainly holds its own in the cheap, nimble, and efficient categories.
The Cheap:
Just to clarify, when I say cheap, I don’t mean cheap as in stingy or poorly constructed. I mean cheap as in inexpensive. The Venue is one of the cheapest small SUVs on the market, and, even at the base level, a buyer gets a very decent amount of tech and safety features.
Our test car was an SEL with the optional Premium package that adds LED headlights and LED driving lights, heated mirrors, heated seats and a power sunroof.
Inside, the 5-passenger Venue offers a clean, easy-to-operate layout with buttons and knobs. It may seem odd to be excited about a car with a volume knob, but not everyone is in a rush to the future. If you’re NOT looking for a car with zero buttons and a giant touch-screen that controls everything this might be the car for you. Or, if there’s a new driver in the house, the Venue would certainly make a great starter.
There aren’t many interior color choices for the Venue, but the available two-tone color schemes found in the SEL and (more so) the Denim trims, give the interior a bit more of an upscale appearance. Sure, you won’t find a lot of soft-touch materials in the Venue, but keeping the market-level and low entry-cost in mind, that’s not unexpected.
Some reviewers knock the Venue for this, but I think they lose sight of where an inexpensive car sits in the marketplace. Personally, I’ll take more standard tech and safety features over extra dashboard padding any day.
On the technology front, the base Venue SE includes an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity with voice recognition, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. The touchscreen is mounted high up on the dash for easier visibility and the menus are about as simple as you can get in a new car. If you want embedded navigation then you’ll have to step up to the SEL or Denim.
Having a built-in navigation system can be handy, but with the standard 8-inch touchscreen paired with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, you probably won’t miss it. In fact, with all the cars I’ve driven, I find myself using the automaker’s embedded navigation systems less and less after giving them the obligatory testing.
Strangely, if you order a Venue with the navigation system you can’t get wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, which seems a bit backward.
Standard safety features on the base Venue include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Brake Assist, Lane Keep Assist, and Driver Attention Warning.
The SEL trim adds Blind-Spot Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning, while the Denim adds Cyclist detection to the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist system.
The IIHS named the Venue a Top Safety pick for 2020 and 2021. Outside of the Toyota brand, that’s not something a lot of small vehicles can claim. Another plus for families looking for a safe car for their new driver(s).
Another value advantage that the Venue has over the competitors is the brand’s 10-year / 100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty. For those who hold onto a vehicle for a long while, not having to worry about repair costs years after the car payments end is a big plus.
The Nimble:
Remember, the Venue is Hyundai’s urban crossover SUV and although I’m not entirely sure what they mean by that description, for me it references a small vehicle that can dart between large SUVs and trucks in traffic and park in ridiculously small parking spaces with little effort.
The Venue certainly checks those boxes. Fortunately, I’m not needing to play that urban driving game very much since moving out to the sticks. Even so, here’s a surprise: the Venue also makes a good backroad driver for us country folks (sorry marketing gurus).
The Efficient:
The Venue is powered by a 1.6-liter inline 4-cylinder engine sending 121-horsepower to the front wheels through what Hyundai calls an Intelligent Variable Transmission. That might not sound like much horsepower, but the Venue is a small, very light SUV so it definitely has a fair amount of pep around town.
All-wheel-drive isn’t available, which may be a negative here in New England (a.k.a. Subaru country), but most entry-level compact SUVs don’t offer it either. There is an optional snow mode, but if not having all-wheel-drive is a deal-breaker, you may want to move up to the Hyundai Kona.
Fuel economy ratings for the Venue are 30 mpg city and 33 mpg highway with a combined city/highway of 31 mpg. During my week of mixed highway and backroads, I actually was getting above the combined rating. At last check, I was averaging around 34 mpg – not too thirsty in my book.
The available sport mode adds a bit of a kick on take-off, but eventually, the transmission seems like it really needs to shift once you get up to speed in this mode, especially on the highway. Consequently, I found myself using Sport mode to get up to speed, then switching it to normal. Also, the Venue could use a little more sound deadening to counter the engine noise, but again, we’re talking about a car that needs to fit a certain price point.
Speaking of the transmission, I don’t mind the CVT…urrr, IVT, and it does include a manual shift mode that works pretty well, but I would have loved to test this car with the now discontinued 6-speed manual. Even though the Venue made its debut just a little over a year ago for the 2020 model year, the manual transmission didn’t make it to 2021. It’s a shame really, but if the business case wasn’t there for it , then you can’t blame Hyundai for simplifying.
In fact, a quick search on CarGurus for a manual transmission-equipped Venue only turned up 5 examples nationwide. The closest to me is 669 miles away, so I guess that says a lot about its take rate.
The compact crossover / SUV market is pretty crowded these days, and yes, there may be more exciting cars than the Venue on the market if you’re willing to spend well into the high 20’s. Truth is that not many can touch the value of the 2021 Hyundai Venue.
Back in the day, when you got an entry-level car, you likely got a car with roll-up windows, black bumpers and rubber floor mats. If you haven’t noticed, times have changed. Put the 2021 Hyundai Venue high on your list of vehicles to check out and see for yourself.
