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By Jonathan Crouch

The improved EV6 GT is a fitting performance flagship for Kia, thinks Jonathan Crouch

Ten Second Reviewword count: 40

Kia continues to push the boundaries of its perceived position in the market. Here for instance, in the improved EV6 GT is a 641bhp Grand Tourer with all the stats, performance and luxury to embarrass a six-figure-priced premium German rival.

Backgroundword count: 204

When the EV6 GT was launched by Kia back in 2022, it was by some margin, the most expensive model the Korean brand had ever sold. Yet the vast performance on offer still made it look decent value. What didn't look so good was the fact that the same EV powertrain in this model's close cousin the Hyundai IONIQ 5N yielded so much more power, but the 2025 model year update we look at here has put that right, as well as adding a bigger 84kWh battery. The EV6 GT is the model taking over from the car that, more than any other, proved that Kia could be more than just another mainstream brand. It was positioned as the spiritual successor to the brand's combustion Stinger Gran Turismo model. That had sold modestly but its halo effect on the brand was considerable. Kia it seemed, really could make a proper Gran Turismo-style luxury car to rival the German premium brands. And in some ways, the EV6 GT proved to be an even better one. Despite the numbers, it's not all about performance (its close cousin the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N is more track-tamed). There are slightly different priorities here: but still very fast ones.

Engines and Tech Specword count: 308

The borrowed Hyundai IONIQ 5N powertrain is a very serious one, as the 601bhp output suggests, this figure rising to 641bhp when the car's GT mode is selected - up from 576bhp with the pre-facelift model. That top stat is 321bhp above the standard EV6 AWD variant. Though this updated EV6 GT now has a larger 84kWh battery (the same as the facelifted standard AWD model) in place of its previous 77.4kWh unit, EV range hasn't increased much - up from 263 miles to 279 miles. Compare against the 339 mile figure of the standard EV6 AWD. Still, there are plenty of compensations from the heavier hardware responsible. Two permanent-magnet synchronous motors feature, the main one at the back using a dual-stage inverter using silicon-carbide semi-conductors. This drives an electronically-controlled limited-slip differential able to shift torque across the axle. A further smaller motor up-front adds extra power but gets de-coupled under gentle throttle use to aid efficiency. As before, there are three drive modes - 'Eco' (where power is limited to 288bhp), 'Normal' (where it raises to 460bhp) and full-fat 'GT'. Engage the latter and 62mph is 3.5s away (the same as before, so 0.4s off the class benchmark, the Tesla Model 3 Performance) en route to a very un-EV-like top speed of 161mph. Unlike with an ordinary EV6, adaptive dampers are included, one of the parameters you can tailor via a 'My Mode' option on the centre screen. The damping setup's 9% softer at the front and 11% stiffer at the rear than standard EV6. Big 380/360mm front/rear brake discs deliver prodigious stopping power. And traction is assured not only by the AWD system but also by a grippy set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres. For the times when you don't want traction, there's even the option of a selectable 'Drift mode' for tyre-smoking circuit slides.

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