2023 KIA EV6 GT - 576 Horsepower: A Closer Look
The all-electric KIA boasts amazing emission-free performance.
CAR FRONT
Kia has entered the electric car market with their EV6. It has already proven to be successful. The look of this rig is impressive, and the front end is tastefully done considering there is no grille for airflow to travel through, a styling problem for many other brands.
Photos by Chad Haire
REAR
From the rear, we see it's a hatch door, and this provides plenty of head room for second-row passengers.
STORAGE
Behind the second-row seats, there are 28 cubic feet of storage. There is no room for a spare tire under the floor though, only a charging cable and minor items.
BATTERY
The charge port is hidden behind this panel, and you will never find it unless you already know its location. There are three power packs offered. The GT has a 225 horsepower unit and a listed range of 310 miles. The GT Line is 320 hp, with a 282-mile range. We have the top-line GT AWD. It cranks a staggering 576 horsepower but goes about 200 miles before you start walking.
CHARGER
When we pulled up to the public charging station, we had 43% battery capacity left or 95 miles of range. It took 38 minutes to bump up to 80% or 175 miles at $13.00. To go all out at 100% took an extra 25 minutes and raised the tab to $21.00 and gave us 218 miles.
WHEELS
The base wheels are 19 inches, but since this is the deluxe model, we get 21 inches with summer tread.
SIDE VIEW
With large wheels, bright lime-colored brake calipers, and metallic red paint, the Kia was a sharp-looking attention-getter at the local Friday night cruise.
DOOR
Like many EV cars, we get electric door handles that pop out. It looks neat, but we have to wonder if they will function in freezing weather.
POV
This car is super quick! Claimed time is 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds, with 11.8/126 mph in a 1/4 mile run. This is quicker than a Dodge Hellcat! We did a few runs and got 3.4 seconds. But to go this quick you need to press the "Power" button on the steering wheel for short bursts of energy. In the "sport" mode, horsepower drops to 426, which is still brisk. There is also a "Normal" and "ECO" mode setting for a longer battery range.
CONTROLS
The cabin controls are simple enough, but there is lots of shiny plastic throughout causing a lot of daytime reflection.
PRICE
When first introduced, the Kia EV6 had a base version with 169 horsepower and a $42K starting fee, but whether the factory will be selling this in the 2023 models is uncertain at this point. The next step up, standard GT will hit you for $52K. But if you have the need for speed, this EV6 GT AWD will set you back $61,400. It's worth the thrill, but it seems rather silly to charge $170 extra for floor mats.
