First Drive: 2023 Kia EV6 GT Review

We flew to Sin City, a place that many people love and many others loathe, to get behind the wheel of Kia’s latest offering. Did the EV6 GT inspire the same kind of mixed feelings? Is it a high-stakes gamble for the South Korean carmaker? Or a jackpot winner? Let’s find out.

Key Features:

• Most powerful production Kia in history
• All-electric powertrain with 576 hp and 545 lb-ft of torque
• 800-volt architecture for fast-charging, drift mode for fast sideways action
• 0-100 km/h in 3.55 seconds

Direct Competitors:

• BMW i4 M50 xDrive
• Ford Mustang Mach-E California Route 1
• Polestar 2 Dual Motor
• Tesla Model 3 Performance

The EV6 GT’s electric range and three powertrain options

At the start of 2022, Kia introduced the EV6 we first reviewed here, the brand’s first-ever dedicated electric vehicle. Built on a new modular EV platform called (E-GMP), the EV6 launched with three different powertrain choices: 

1. Single motor/58.0-kWh battery/373-km range
2. Single motor/77.4-kWh battery/499-km range
3. Dual motor/77.4-kWh battery/441-km range 

All versions feature 800-volt architecture for faster recharging.

2023 Kia EV6 GT | Photo: Kia 

While the EV6 is positioned as a groundbreaking vehicle by the brand, it’s by no means their first attempt at electrification. Back in 2014, the Kia Soul EV, their first all-electric vehicle to be sold globally, was introduced—so the brand has had skin in the game for some time now.

The Kia EV6 GT, just introduced to cap off an exciting year for this model line, is the halo car in the equation. The GT features a 77.4-kWh battery, a 160-kW front motor and a 270-kW rear motor. While the other models in the EV6 line are focused more on driving range, the GT is all about straight-line performance and genuine grand-touring handling capabilities. Range for the EV6 GT is expected to be up to 330 km.

Here’s our closer look at the non-GT Kia EV6 range and performance specifications.

How much will the 2023 Kia EV6 GT cost in Canada?

Prepare yourself because this could seem like a stretch: The EV6 GT has a base price of $74,495 in Canada. That’s the most expensive Kia ever sold—but it’s the most exciting Kia ever sold. In addition, that price gives you a fully loaded vehicle; the options list appears to be just one unexciting item long: replacement floor mats.

2023 Kia EV6 GT interior: slick and purposeful

2023 Kia EV6 GT | Photo: Kia 

In many respects, the biggest competitor for the Kia EV6 GT could be other versions of the EV6. The interior really highlights this fact. While the lower-priced versions of the EV6 are available with power seats and ventilated front seats, for example, the GT is not.

Instead, the GT gains vegan suede-trimmed sport bucket seats with manual fore-aft and seat height adjustment. This will not be a problem for most performance car enthusiasts, but it is a difference worth noting. 

2023 Kia EV6 GT | Photo: Kia 

The interior of the GT is otherwise very similar to others in the line. The seats bear the GT logo and neon green piping, there’s a special GT Drive Mode selector, also coloured neon green, and a striped motif on the dashboard and centre armrest. The Active Sound Design system, common to all versions of the EV6, has two more settings, including one that mimics a V8-style rumble. 

2023 Kia EV6 GT power, handling and other driving impressions

0-100 km/h time of 3.55 seconds and a top speed of 259 km/h

Here’s where things get interesting. The Kia EV6 GT powertrain generates 576 horsepower and 546 lb-ft of torque. The manufacturer claims a 0-100 km/h time of 3.55 seconds and a top speed of 259 km/h. After time spent on a road course and on the drag strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, there’s no reason to question either claim.

2023 Kia EV6 GT | Photo: Kia 

The EV6 GT also features a long list of racy standard equipment: a sport suspension system with electronically controlled dampers, an electronic limited-slip rear differential, larger ventilated front and rear brake discs with mono block callipers (also coloured neon green) and Z-rated Goodyear Eagle F1 tires riding on unique 21-inch alloy wheels.

Drift Mode

Also: drift mode. Yes, there’s a dedicated drift mode on the EV6 GT that kicks in when you hold the traction control button to turn off driver aids and pull back on both brake regeneration levers at the same time. This mode directs more power to the rear wheels, meaning the GT kicks the tail around easily when the throttle is hammered. It’s huge fun, especially if you also hold stock in Goodyear tires.

2023 Kia EV6 GT | Photo: Kia 

On the open road, the EV6 GT is quiet, comfortable and quick. The suspension system is well-sorted and able to handle different types of road surfaces. The steering is incredibly well-weighted, especially for an EV. And the sport seats are supportive even on a longer drive. 

On the track, these qualities were amplified: This is a fast car in a straight-line, a true GT, in other words. When it came time to negotiate tighter turns or to transition from one side of the track to the other quickly, the heaviness of the vehicle became clear. This characteristic also revealed during the drifting sessions; it was easy to initiate the drift, more difficult to counter-steer on time before the momentum kicked in.

Verdict: does the 2023 Kia EV6 GT represent the best electrified-bang-for-the-buck?

Quick answer: Yes. In the product presentation, brand representatives made an interesting comparison between the Kia EV6 GT and the Porsche Taycan GTS. In comparison to the Kia’s 576 horsepower, the Porsche produces 590. In the sprint to 100 km/h, the Porsche lags behind, hitting the mark in 3.7 seconds. In terms of price, the Kia EV6 GT undercuts the Taycan GTS by over $82K—it’s roughly the same car for half the price. 

2023 Kia EV6 GT | Photo: Kia