Kia PH officially launches Kia EV6 electric vehicle

Since its global debut, the Kia EV6 has racked up awards and gained international recognition not only because of its design but also because of its cutting-edge technology. Thanks to the EV6, what was once in the realm of the imagination when it comes to electric vehicle performance and range is now grounded in reality.

Today, Kia Philippines is proud to announce the official launch of the EV6.

The EV6 will cater to the discerning EV market which expects a convenient and enjoyable user experience. With charging options manufactured by Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc. (part of the Ayala Group) and its partner Greenstrum, and an expanding charging system network provided by Ayala Land, all an environment-conscious owner has to do is get in and go for an exciting and worry-free drive.

“It is truly our honor to introduce this latest innovation by Kia: A sustainable car with zero emissions and a step toward Kia’s ambitious yet important transition into a future mobility solutions brand,” says Kia Philippines’ President Manny Aligada. “Our one true message to the public aims to open their eyes to the reality and potential of Fully Electric Vehicles, and that Kia PH is here to make EV ownership convenient, worry-free, and enjoyable.”

“We made sure to put the charging architecture in place long before the arrival of the EV6,” says Ayala Corporation President and CEO Bong Consing. “Our strategically located charging stations are proof of our commitment to electrification. We are using the whole Ayala ecosystem to support the growth and adoption of EVs in the Philippines. We expect EV take-up to grow rapidly, and EVs to be the dominant transport technology in a few years.” Consing also reiterates that the Ayala Group is committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. “Ayala believes that positive climate action is an investment that will benefit future generations,” he adds.

Technology

The EV6 is Kia’s first car to be based on the company’s dedicated new platform for battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The EV6, as the first dedicated Kia EV, is a showcase of human-centered, progressive design, and electrified power that yields an output of 229PS and 350Nm of torque.

It is a distinctive model that will define Kia’s future. Notable accolades include the 2022 iF Design Award, 2022 Red Dot Award, 2022 European Car of the Year, and US Car of the Year.

The EV6 is versatile and spacious inside thanks to the flat under-floor battery. The interior design benefits greatly from the application of Kia’s dedicated Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). Despite the EV6’s compact exterior dimensions, its 2,900mm wheelbase results in cabin space similar to many midsize SUVs. This configuration also guarantees a very smooth ride.

At the center of the design philosophy of the EV6 is a new visual identity evoking positive forces and natural energy, with contrasting combinations of sharp stylistic elements and sculptural shapes. This futuristic yet classy look is embodied by the elegant clamshell hood which is a highlight of the impactful exterior.

The side profile displays a crossover-inspired silhouette, which is modern, sleek, and aerodynamic. A character line runs along the bottom of the doors, curving upwards towards the rear wheel arches to visually elongate the car’s profile. Designed in part to realize ultimate aerodynamic performance, the rear displays a sloping C-pillar with an integrated black glossy insert that appears to extend the window glass.

Above this sits a prominent wing-type roof spoiler that channels air downwards towards a raised lower spoiler, which sits atop the car’s unique rear light cluster. Advanced aerodynamics plays a huge role in the EV6’s exceptional 528-km range (based on EPA rating).

Range and charging

The EV6 GT-Line offers a fully-electric, zero-emission powertrain configuration with a long-range (77.4 kWh) high-voltage battery pack. The EV6 can travel over 500 km on a single charge (based on EPA rating). Even round trips to Baguio City from Metro Manila (251km) are possible and should quell any range anxiety concerns.

Safety

The EV6 is the recipient of the 5-Star Euro NCAP rating. Its safety features include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Junction Turning Detection, Blind Spot Detection and Monitor, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping & Following Assist Technology, Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Safe Exit Assist, and 360-View Monitor.

The battery system (which is mounted low to the ground and on the floor) utilizes Lithium-Ion battery cells. These are enclosed and resistant to large water splashes. This casing system has been given an IP66 international rating. This rating is one of the most commonly used for electrical enclosures with plastic hinges and waterproof gaskets.

The EV6 is also equipped with a water-sensing system. In the unlikely event of water intrusion, it will automatically shut off the EV system if water exposure is beyond safety standards.

For added peace of mind, Kia Philippines has all the tools and EV6-specific equipment to address any concerns. Locally-available parts and world-class trained technicians also support the EV6.

Maintenance costs

The EV6 is also a game-changer when it comes to maintenance as it is much more cost-efficient than cars powered by internal combustion engines (ICE). There is no need for engine oil changes, oil filters, spark plugs, and other lubricants. It is estimated that you will spend about PhP 25,000 for five years in maintaining an EV6, versus PhP 110,000 maintenance for a similar-sized ICE car over five years.

As an added capability, the EV6 is equipped with the Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) feature which can be used during power outages or camping trips to power up gadgets and devices.

Price and availability

The EV6 GT-Line, with all its inclusions, is competitively priced at PhP 3,788,000. It includes a portable charger; five years or 160,000-km vehicle warranty and 8 years or 160,000-km HV battery system warranty, whichever comes first; 5 years of free Preventive Maintenance Service (PMS); and 5 years of free 24/7 Roadside assistance.

The EV6 will be available in five cutting-edge and stylish colors: Moonscape, Snow White Pearl, Runway Red, Yacht Blue, and Aurora Black Pearl.  It will eventually be available at all 42 Kia dealers nationwide, but the initial roll-out of dedicated EV dealerships will begin with Kia New Manila in Quezon City, Kia Alabang in Muntinlupa, Kia Sto. Tomas in Batangas, South Luzon, and Kia Pampanga in North Luzon.

“Kia Philippines—with the EV6 as its flagship vehicle, will lead other Kia models in showcasing the brand’s technology, innovation, design direction, and the overall package that Kia has to offer to its market,” says Head of Sales of Kia Asia Pacific Joey Hong. I am confident to say that with the Ayala Group’s strong EV ecosystem, the EV6 will be warmly welcomed by the Filipinos—as we head towards a sustainable and zero-emission road in the Philippines.”

The EV6 will set the bar for performance, range, design, luxury, and worry-free EV travel in the Philippines. Invest in a sustainable EV lifestyle with the EV6 and Ayala’s solid EV ecosystem.

“When the public eventually embraces our EVs, then Kia PH also fulfills its social responsibility and commitment to sustainable mobility, sustainable energy, and a sustainable planet,” adds Aligada. “Soon, the Philippines will also reap the benefits of the environment-friendly shift towards greener motoring,”

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Huawei Y5P Review: More than a basic smartphone

When looking for a new phone and you sort of have a tight budget, it doesn’t mean you need to settle for a really basic device. Smartphone manufacturers have been offering really solid entry-level phones and one of them is Huawei. For this review, we’re looking at the Huawei Y5P.

At just PhP 4,490, is it something you’d want to buy?

Design

The Y5P comes with a pretty standard design. Starting from the back panel, it has a slightly textured finish and the cover is made of hard plastic. On the upper left corner is a square-ish camera module housing its 8-megapixel sensor and LED flash.

Its power button is on the right and is lined up alongside the volume rocker. On the other side, we see the dual-SIM and microSD card tray that can accommodate up to 512GB to further expand your storage.

The bottom houses its micro USB port. Of course, we prefer the faster performance of USB-C but at this price range, one couldn’t really complain. Up top is its 3.5mm audio jack and that pretty much sums up the button and port placements of the phone.

As you may have noticed, there’s no speaker grille at the bottom since its earpiece is actually where the speaker is. Sound coming from it is decent and can go loud, but don’t expect too much from it.

One upside of its placement, though, is you don’t accidentally cover the speakers unlike when it’s down below. The device itself is thin and compact so together with its 5.45-inch display, navigating through the phone is really easy to do with one hand.

Finally, we have the Phantom Blue color but there’s also Midnight Black and Mint Green available if you prefer those.

Its HD+ FullView display comes with 1440 x 720 resolution. For me, that’s good enough for a screen this size. It also has a forehead and chin so looking at it from up front makes it seem like a standard phone from a few years back.

At full brightness, the screen can display vibrant and clear images enough for watching videos online.

Cameras

For the Y5P, there is no multiple camera setup as we’re normally accustomed to seeing these days. It sports an 8-megapixel rear camera with an LED flash and selfies are taken care of by its 5-megapixel front shooter.

Its cameras are pretty straightforward in a way that it’s not packed with too many extra features. Although, it carries the essentials like Panorama mode, HDR, Pro mode, and of course Beautification.

For the quality of its rear camera, it’s decent when shooting in well-lit environments and even has up to 4x digital zoom. Of course, there’s a bit of quality loss when you zoom all the way in and low light shots tend to be a little grainy. But overall, we’re contented with the quality that its rear camera produces.

They’re not great, but definitely good enough for posting on social media.

As for selfies, they’re also decent and tend to brighten up the face which is a good thing. Beautification also works effectively smoothing out the skin and you can adjust the intensity from 0 to  10.

AppGallery

The Huawei AppGallery is the company’s official app distribution platform to search, download, manage, and share mobile apps. Yes, it’s not a secret that it doesn’t have access to Google’s Play Store but the AppGallery itself has a slew of available software ready for download.

And for a random fact, Huawei’s AppGallery is now the third biggest app store globally, with 180 billion downloads and over 390 million monthly active users worldwide.

Some of the apps you can have on your phone include Facebook, Viber, and TikTok for your social needs, Lazada for shopping, and GCash, BDO, and PayMaya for your online banking needs.

There are more apps you can find in the AppGallery, but if you can’t specifically find the one you’re looking for, you can download APKs directly to your phone from the Huawei Browser or get them from third-party app stores.

We’ve been using some of these apps for a while and they’re pretty much the same experience as when you get them from anywhere else.

Performance

On the software side, it comes with AI facial recognition that adds a layer of security for your phone. It’s easy and quick to set up and is reliable enough to instantly scan your face and unlock the device.

Its EMUI 10.1 based on Android 10 is also pre-installed. You get features like battery-saving, gestures, and Digital Balance which tracks how long you use your phone each day. 

The Y5P is equipped with a MediaTek octa-core processor and is accompanied by 2GB of RAM with 32GB of internal storage. This tandem proved to be sufficient for everyday tasks like browsing the web, reading through your social media, watching videos online, and casually playing games.

It also comes with GPS, Bluetooth for wireless connectivity, and 4G LTE for faster internet speeds.

Battery Life

As for battery life, the device is powered by a 3020mAh battery which is a pretty sizable capacity despite its thin form factor. While playing games with Wi-Fi connectivity active, it was able to last us for almost eight hours which is not bad thanks to its modest display size, resolution, and energy-saving features.

However, charging it from 0-100% took a bit of time at almost three hours. 

Creature Feature

In our reviews, The Modern Creatures aims to find that one special feature in a device that makes it worth having — something that gives the product a slight edge from among its peers. For the Y5P, we would have to say its 32GB storage is an attractive offering, especially for this price point.

Plus, if you need more space to store your files, you can always add a microSD card up to 512GB.

Conclusion

It’s nice to know that with today’s offerings, one doesn’t necessarily have to shell out a lot of money just to get your hands on a decent phone that you can use everyday.

With phones like the Huawei Y5P, customers are offered decent performance, straightforward camera features, and a battery life that can last you an entire day.

The Huawei Y5P is a great phone to give as a gift, for example, as it doesn’t cost much and performs well. It could also well be your reliable secondary phone, a phone for your child to play games in, or simply your daily driver if you think you don’t need the complexities of other, more expensive phones.

Huawei Y5P specs:
5.45-inch LCD display, 1,440 x 720 resolution, 18:9 aspect ratio, 73.8% screen-to-body ratio
Octa-core MediaTek Helio P22 processor
2GB RAM
32GB expandable storage (microSD, up to 512GB)
8-megapixel camera with flash
5-megapixel front camera
3.5mm headphone jack
3,020mAh battery
EMUI 10.1 based on Android 10, Huawei Mobile Services
Colors: Mint Green, Midnight Black, Phantom Blue

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