If the 2023 Kia EV6 GT is the Future, Sign Us Up Now

With graceful curves, an attractive cabin laden with plenty of convenience technology and advanced driver assistance systems to match, the 2023 Kia EV6 gives EVs plenty of appeal. However, a less-than-stellar range is a drawback to all that power and performance. 

 

If any automaker can be said to be full of surprises lately, it has to be Kia. The marque formerly best known for value leading pricing, exceptional warranty coverage and a willingness to finance pretty much anyone has morphed into a powerhouse automaker. Its vehicles now offer exceptional styling, clever tech and extraordinary performance.

For proof, one needn’t look any farther than the brilliant 2023 Kia EV6 GT.

Quite the looker

Distinctively styled, the EV6 is handsome too. Its graceful curvilinear form flows rearward from a sharp nose that would look right at home on a Lamborghini.

Prominent bulges over the wheels telegraph the performance potential, while the generous greenhouse ensures outward visibility is commendable. Meanwhile, the Kia’s take on the Kammback rear end is at once classic and contemporary.

The overall brilliance of the design lies in the fact that it simultaneously radiates strength, performance and utility.

Beautiful on the inside too

While the interior treatment is a bit less avant-garde than the exterior, it’s good looking just the same. The floating center console offers plenty of storage while also placing secondary controls at your fingertips.

The 12-inch infotainment touchscreen resides next to the 12-inch instrumentation screen to give the appearance of a 2-foot long continuous panel. CarPlay and Android compatibility are standard, along with wireless charging and a WiFi hotspot. The top audio system is produced by Meridian and offers 14 speakers.

Go matches the show

The Kia EV also has go to match the show. In GT trim, the EV6 is capable of 576 horsepower and 545 pound-feet of torque — at throttle tip in. There’s no waiting for revs to build, turbos to spool up, or any of the other delays internal combustion engines impose before setting the vehicle into motion.

Nail the throttle and the Kia EV6 GT rushes forward like an F-35 being catapulted off of the USS Nimitz’s flight deck. Which is why it’s a good idea to advise your passengers to place their brain containers against the headrests before executing that maneuver.

You’ll save a whole lot of cash on neck braces.

The EV6 GT will turn some corners too. Its steering is quick, grip is generous and body roll is minimal. You’re also afforded control over throttle response, steering effort and functioning of the electronic limited slip differential. It’s even got a drift mode that actually works. What’s more, the powertrain is set up to support one pedal driving, which is one of my all-time favorite features of EVs.

Don’t go too far

Now, with all of that said, there is a downside to consider.

The EV6 GT’s range is 206 miles, which is down from the standard EV6’s 310. Dig into the performance potential indiscriminately and it drops even more. The GT would absolutely benefit from a more capacious battery pack than the 77.4 kWh unit it shares with all of the versions of the EV6.

On the other hand, a DC fast charger will replenish its battery pack from 90% depletion to 90% charge in roughly 26 minutes.

Liking the future

If this is what the future is going to be like, you can go ahead and sign me up right now. The EV6 GT is handsome, powerful, well equipped and tasteful.

I know the temptation to festoon it with all sorts of styling elements that scream “I’m really fast!” was great. But the design team resisted, and in my opinion, the EV6 is a better offering because they did so. It takes a lot of confidence to put something like this out there without thumping your chest all up and down the street.

Plus, it makes blowing the doors off Mustang GTs that much more fun.

Kia EV6 GT pricing starts at $61,400. Price as tested is $62,865.