The Kia EV6 has been winning over buyers looking for a stylish EV offering plenty of features, good range, and a reasonable price tag. Now, with the EV6 GT, the Korean carmaker ups the ante by adding supercar performance and a new drift mode. But there are a few sacrifices.
You might be laboring under some serious misconceptions, especially when it comes to EVs. Indeed, the first generation of battery-electric vehicles could barely get out of their own way, with sluggish acceleration, minimal range, cramped interiors, a dearth of features, and typical strange styling.
The Kia EV6, which launched earlier this year, is another matter entirely — with handsome styling, a roomy and well-appointed cabin, up to 310 miles of range (depending on the trim package), and plenty of desirable features.
Now, the Korean automaker is adding performance to the mix with the 2023 Kia EV6 GT punching out a neck-snapping 576 horsepower.
I spent a day pushing the Korean electric supercar to its limits at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, while also checking out how it handled on local roads. There are a few trade-offs, starting with a nearly one-third reducation in range. But the GT is likely to win over plenty of folks who’ve never considered an EV until now.
In short: There’s a good reason why Kia can’t keep up with demand for the new EV6 crossover. And performance fans will discover yet another reason with the debut of the 2023 Kia EV6 GT. It’s more powerful than the competing Mustang Mach-E GT with Performance Pack, and quicker off the line than a Porsche Taycan GTS. But its battery pack drains fast if you’ve got a lead foot, which makes its fast-charge electrical system all the more desirable.
2023 Kia EV6 GT Review
![2023 Kia EV6 GT 2023 Kia EV6 GT Review](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/12/kia-5-of-13.jpg)
Something Unexpected This Way Comes
Kia first ventured into the EV market with a battery-powered version of the quirky Soul crossover, later adding the Niro. This was the only model on the market available with a hybrid and plug-in hybrid, as well as a purely electric drive option.
The EV6 is the brand’s first dedicated battery-electric vehicle. It shares the same underpinnings (like the E-GMP architecture) with sibling brands Hyundai and Genesis.
The EV6 was initially offered with several trim packages, starting with the rear-wheel-drive EV6 Wind and, on the more premium side, the EV6 GT-Line. But it hinted at better (read: more powerful) things to come. It’s about to arrive in U.S. showrooms in the form of the all-wheel-drive 2023 Kia EV6 GT.
Previously, Kia focused on what was euphemistically known as “cheap and cheerful” products. They were small, no-frills offerings with fire-sale prices. Over the decades, Kia has consistently moved up the market.
The original Kia EV6 was no slouch, delivering as much as 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. But the EV6 GT takes things to the next level. That’s especially true on the performance side. The all-electric crossover pushes 576 horsepower and 545 pound-feet of torque. That makes it not only the most powerful model Kia has ever offered but also puts it in a league with dedicated performance EVs like the Mustang Mach-E GT and even the Porsche Taycan GTS. Both are slower than the EV6 GT when launching from 0-60.
Kia EV6 GT: A Powertrain Package for Performance Junkies
![2023 Kia EV6 GT 2023 Kia EV6 GT Review](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/12/kia-8-of-13.jpg)
EV6 GT Drive Modes
![2023 Kia EV6 GT 2023 Kia EV6 GT Review](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/12/kia-4-of-13.jpg)
A Trade-Off on Range, But No Compromises on Charging
![2023 Kia EV6 GT 2023 Kia EV6 GT Review](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/12/kia-9-of-13.jpg)
Driving Impressions
![2023 Kia EV6 GT 2023 Kia EV6 GT Review](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/12/kia-7-of-13.jpg)
Subtle Tweaks to the Exterior
![2023 Kia EV6 GT Kia EV6 Review](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/12/kia-12-of-13.jpg)
A Sophisticated, Roomy Cabin
![2023 Kia EV6 GT interior 2023 Kia EV6 GT Review](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/12/kia-10-of-13.jpg)
![2023 Kia EV6 GT dashboard 2023 Kia EV6 GT Dash](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/12/kia-11-of-13.jpg)
Plenty of Tech in the 2023 Kia EV6 GT
![Kia EV6 GTs front and back Kia EV6 GTs front and back](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/12/kia-5-of-12.jpg)
2023 Kia EV6 GT Review Wrap-Up
![Kia EV SUV Kia EV SUV](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/12/kia-1-of-13.jpg)