It could not look all that aggressive at first look, however the 2023 Kia EV6 GT is shockingly sporty – pun supposed. The GT does have a couple of shouty parts, like acid inexperienced brakes and large ol’ 21-inch wheels, however the principally nameless electrical crossover will not wow you with its seems, it should wow you with the way it performs.
A whopping 576 horsepower and a supercar-rivaling dash to 60 make this one of many quickest and strongest EVs available on the market at the moment. Not even the Porsche Taycan GTS can match the EV6 GT’s 3.4-second dash to 60. And whereas its efficiency figures are vastly improved over the usual EV6, the GT nonetheless would not really feel all that unruly by comparability – in actual fact, it is nonetheless fairly darn comfortable more often than not.
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We’ve stated previously that another so-called “efficiency” EVs do not flip the dial far sufficient. Within the case of the EV6 GT, although, the gulf between the bottom mannequin and this model is critical. The 576 horsepower and 545 pound-feet of torque mark enhancements of 256 hp and 99 lb-ft over the next-best EV6, and the GT’s rocketing zero-to-60 time of three.4 seconds makes it a full second faster than the usual EV.
The key to all of the efficiency is a neon inexperienced GT button on the base of the steering wheel, unique to this trim. Urgent that button is the one approach to unlock all 576 hp and 545 lb-ft, in any other case, you’re restricted to 287 hp and 430 hp in Eco and Regular modes respectively.
So with all that instantaneous torque from these two electrical motors, grip in any respect 4 corners, and wonderful Goodyear Eagle F1 rubber, the EV6 GT launches into an all-out assault on pavement. Hell, there’s even a drift mode that reduces energy on the entrance axle and lets you kick out the rear tires with ease.
Each firm has its personal spaceship-like acceleration sound for his or her EVs. BMW even went as far as to ping Hans Zimmer to give you its distinctive noise. Kia, although, really has three totally different acceleration sounds so that you can decide from within the EV6 GT, each with its personal distinctive aptitude.
The sound decisions vary between Fashionable, Dynamic, and Cyber. The Fashionable and Cyber choices are related higher-pitched notes like one thing out of a online game, however the Dynamic alternative is extra attention-grabbing. Even at low speeds, the Dynamic sound has a rumble nearly akin to a fuel engine however creeps as much as futuristic territory when you get going. It’s a singular sensation.
Arguably the perfect factor concerning the Kia EV6 GT is that you just get supercar-rivaling velocity with out having to surrender a lot of the consolation and practicality discovered within the base mannequin. Transfer the drive mode dial over the Eco or Regular, and as talked about, the EV6 GT limits energy, relaxes the throttle response, and softens up the suspension for a extra managed drive expertise. The large 21-inch wheels are the one detriment to the in any other case wonderful experience high quality; they make the experience really feel harsh over tough roads. In any other case, the EV6 GT is a superb day by day driver.
One of many largest downfalls of this automobile is its restricted vary – which you’ll examine in only a second. However to make up for a fairly diminutive determine, Kia made certain that each the bottom EV6 and the GT mannequin can recharge in a proverbial flash. At 240 kilowatts on a DC quick charger, the EV6 GT will go from 10 to 80 p.c in 18 minutes (and the primary 1,000 kilowatt-hours are free at Electrify America).
By comparability, the Tesla Mannequin Y Efficiency will get to 80 p.c in half-hour at 250 kilowatts whereas the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT takes 45 minutes at 150 kilowatts. That stated, each of these rivals have bigger packs to recharge, which accounts for a few of their drawback.
Cons
The EV6 GT has a fairly small 77.4-kilowatt-hour battery, which pales compared to the 91.0-kWh pack within the Mach-E GT and is even down on the 81.0-kWh pack within the Tesla Mannequin Y. The EV6 GT’s 206 miles of vary can also be the bottom of the aggressive set; the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT has as much as 270 miles of vary and the Tesla Mannequin Y Efficiency affords as much as 303 miles. For reference, the non-GT dual-motor EV6 lined 245 miles in an InsideEVs vary take a look at.
Right here’s one that you just may scoff at: the charging port is in a foul location. Whereas there is no such thing as a common commonplace for charging port or charging station configurations (…but), having the port on the correct rear of the car simply beneath the taillight makes it tough to entry quite a lot of chargers. For each charger situated on the rear of the parking spot, it’s a must to again in. And for chargers positioned to the aspect of the car – like my native Electrify America – there’s actually no straightforward approach to plug in. Having the charging port on the aspect of the car nonetheless appears to be the superior choice.
