Electric vehicles have evolved over time and branched out from simply being an alternative-fuel option to internal combustion-based commuter cars. We’re at a point now where you can find electric vehicles for sale in every segment, competing with off-road SUVs, full-size pickup trucks, and performance cars. The Kia EV6 GT fits into that last category, providing drivers with not only a sleek vehicle they can use to get to and from work on a daily basis but also a high-performance sports car when it comes to its off-the-line acceleration.
The EV6 only made its debut for the 2022 model year, and the EV6 GT (not to be confused with the less powerful EV6 GT-Line) is even newer, having launched for the 2023 model year. So it’s a new player in the high-performance EV game. That also gives the EV6 GT a lot of room to grow and improve as a performance-oriented trim. But how does the current iteration of the EV6 GT measure up, and can you actually view it as a sports car? The short answer is that it measures up quite well indeed and is a great starting point for a nameplate worth keeping an eye on as it evolves in the coming years.
What’s the Power Output of the EV6 GT?
When it comes to what sort of power and performance you can expect out of the EV6 GT, prepare to be impressed. It nestles itself design-wise somewhere between a large hatchback and a small SUV. Its unique design is large enough to be comfortable to drive every day but low enough that it doesn’t have compromised handling. Especially since its 77.4 kWh battery pack is buried in the floor for an exceptionally low centre of gravity.
The EV6 GT is capable of producing an incredible 576 hp and 545 lb-ft of torque from a pair of electric motors, one on each axle. That’s an impressive amount of total power output for the vehicle, especially when you take into consideration that this is a compact SUV. While the lower trims of the 2023 EV6 are available in a variety of different drivetrain configurations, including a smaller battery and your choice of rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, the EV6 GT is only available with the 77.4 kWh battery and all-wheel drive. Anything less couldn’t generate the same performance
In addition to having motors in the front and rear, the EV6 employs the E-GMP platform to reduce the weight of the vehicle’s chassis while also ensuring it’s reinforced and highly stable. The result is a very capable electric vehicle when it comes to sporty performance. The battery power combined with the E-GMP platform and the dual electric motors means that the EV6 GT is capable of achieving an impressive acceleration rate of zero to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds and has a top speed of 260 km/h. It also has other high-performance features, such as 53 cm alloy wheels and neon yellow monoblock brake callipers.
Compared With the Competition…Where Does the EV6 GT Stand?
Stats are one thing. Any manufacturer can roll out a spec sheet and say, “See, my car is the best!” but it takes a certain level of ingenuity and engineering expertise to make stats that sing in the real world, and that’s where the real test comes in for the EV6 GT. Can it perform as well as the spec sheets say it can? Surprisingly, it can. All the tests and comparisons show that the vehicle is more than capable in the performance sector against similar electric and non-electric vehicles within the same size bracket.
According to Kia, independent tests conducted by AMCI Testing revealed that the EV6 GT beats out the 2021 Porsche Cayenne Coupe in a drag race. Obviously, that should be a given since the EV6 GT boasts an impressive 65% more horsepower and 68% more torque than the Porsche Cayenne Coupe. It also has a very clear lead on Porsche’s crossover when it comes to price, undercutting the German performance vehicle by over $20,000 CAD. You’re paying less and getting more performance out of the EV6 GT by a long shot, and the more performance-driven iterations of the Cayenne will see you paying three times what the EV6 GT is worth to get similar acceleration.
As impressive of a feat as that is, we all know Porsche is a luxury brand, and even if its vehicles may be more expensive or don’t have the same stats as other vehicles in the same class, people are still going to buy a Porsche because it’s…well, a Porsche. But what about other electric vehicles for sale within the same segment, price range, and performance bracket as the Kia EV6 GT? Well, that’s where things get really interesting.
When you measure the EV6 GT up against the Ford Mustang Mach-E electric SUV––specifically the Mach-E GT––the EV6 GT has more horsepower, but the Mach-E GT has more torque, especially the Mach-E GT Performance Edition. However, on the track, the lighter and more nimble EV6 GT bests the Mach-E GT in an off-the-line drag race. The EV6 GT even beats Tesla’s entry in the sporty compact SUV segment. The Tesla Model Y Performance, which produces an estimated 470 hp from its own dual electric motors, is no match for the Kia EV6 GT off the line.
A Worthy Performance EV?
The 2023 Kia EV6 GT makes for an easy pick for drivers looking for an electric vehicle for sale in Canada that offers a lot of power and performance off the line. Easy to handle, relatively lightweight for its segment, and sporting a sleek silhouette, the EV6 GT hits all the right marks as a performance model, which might be unexpected given that it’s a Kia. The real highlight here is that the EV6 GT doesn’t seem to have any issues surprising electric vehicle shoppers with its performance and capabilities.
There is, however, a downside. The EV6 GT is not known for having a lot of range from its battery, as it tops out at 332 km of rated range on a full charge, which might be a turnoff for some people looking for a feature-rich daily driver. But, if you’re buying a performance model for its sporty capabilities and responsive on-road handling, range probably isn’t going to be your biggest deciding factor. After all, it’s not like people buy the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye or the Chevy Corvette Z06 for its fuel economy.
High-performance models are expected to perform in specific ways under very specific conditions. If that’s what you’re looking for out of an electric vehicle, you’re definitely going to get it out of the Kia EV6 GT. The best part about it is that this is just the starting point for Kia’s sporty electric SUV. Kia has a lot of headroom to improve and iterate on the EV6 GT to further bolster the appeal of the EV6 as a viable competitor in the high-performance segment. I would say it’s already off to an amazing start as it is, and that spells a lot of good news for the EV6’s future.
