On paper, the Kia EV6 is a sensible electric crossover: five seats, a big boot and a long range. The GT version is what happens when Kia's engineers stop being sensible. It's the fastest-accelerating car Kia has ever produced, and it's one of the most fun ways into electric performance.
The original GT
The first EV6 GT used two motors, one on each axle, for a combined 585 PS and 740 Nm. Kia didn't stop at straight-line speed. It gave the car electronically controlled suspension and a Drift Mode that can send up to all of the drive to the rear wheels. Then there was the bright green GT button on the steering wheel, which unlocks everything at once.
The new EV6 GT
The revised car arrived with a refreshed design, a new light signature and a broader grand-touring brief. Underneath is a new 84 kWh battery, 8.5% bigger than the previous GT's, with up to 279 miles of WLTP range. Kia UK rates it at 641 bhp, and Parkers lists 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.
Gears, but not really
The headline feature is Virtual Gear Shift. The EV6 GT still has a single-speed transmission, but the system simulates gear changes, with shift feel and sound, to make the drive more involving. CAR magazine noted that, launch control aside, the car is actually at its quickest left in its normal single-speed mode. Virtual Gear Shift isn't about the numbers. It's about how the car feels.
The price of entry
Kia's UK on-the-road pricing for the new EV6 GT starts at £59,985. For a car with this much performance, that's strong value, and it's still practical enough for everyday life.
Why it matters
The EV6 GT proves performance EVs don't have to be low, loud-looking or wildly expensive. It's a family crossover with a sense of humour, and that's exactly the sort of car the scene needs.
