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Kia EV6 GT 2023 first drive review: Kia’s 576-horsepower EV finally arrives

LAS VEGAS – This is the E-GMP we’ve been waiting for. Great as hyundai The trio of groups KIA EV6, Hyundai ioniq 5 and Genesis GV60 to be, we always know that something greater (and much more powerful) lurks in the future: this 576-horsepower car Kia EV6 2023 GT. While striking with its modern tram architecture, unique design, distinctive interior and compelling value, none of these solutions can be described as interesting in the traditional sense. system. They are heavy, slightly soft and slightly tall. So now that EV6 GT is finally here, does it really provide that missing ingredient?

If it did, it would work stealthily, as the GT is almost indistinguishable from another GT-Line car (you can see how visually different is the level from the base Wind trim here). The bodywork is identical except for the slightly different grille and rear diffuser panel. It has 21 inch wheels and is lime green brake calipers, which are monolithic units that hold larger rotors (15-inch front, 14.2-inch back). The interior is also similar to the GT-Line, although it now has lime green accents and “GT” badging. The steering wheel also has a large green button labeled “GT”, which selects the most difficult driving mode. We’ll get into that in a minute.

The main difference is the addition of sports bucket seats, and they are one big improvement over the standard EV6 seat in terms of overall support. The strong pads hug you, but aren’t too tight to be uncomfortable for larger builders (I weigh about 300 pounds for reference). They have a deeper bottom for better thigh support. They are also heated, but unfortunately, they are also only manually adjustable. This is a pity for a car that costs over $60,000 and for a top-of-the-line car that, a company that prides itself on equipping its cars with features at a reasonable price. Although I could happily trade in the electric controls for better shaped seats like I would in a Mustang or porschehow many people will feel uncomfortable when they are at the top of the range KIA EV6 missing a common feature found on a soul worth $23,000?

However, things are much different on the outside and the obvious change is in the GT’s powertrain. Both engines are more powerful than conventional all-wheel-drive EV6s at 215 hp front and 362 hp rear. Combining them produces 576 hp and 545 pound-feet of torque – an increase of 256 hp and 99 lb-ft. Kia also claims these engines will propel the 4,795-pound EV6 GT to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 161 mph. We didn’t make it that fast, but we did get a chance to run it on a drag strip at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, managing a time of 11.7 quarter mile second with a trap rate of 117. Ignore the numbers, you can really feel the power increase. It will pin you and feel strong all the way through highway speeds, only starting to taper off once it exceeds 100 mph.

Interestingly, Kia noted during the press launch that peak power starts to drop below 70% charge, but didn’t say how much. We’ve had a fair amount of time driving fully charged and partially depleted cars on the street, and at least in that real-world environment, power outages were undetectable. But if you’re planning to track a GT or do some other high-performance driving, you’ll probably want to make sure you’ve fully charged it and then easily resume the track.

Naturally, the chassis has been tuned to meet the GT’s overall performance intent. It has stiffer springs, additional reinforcements at the front and rear, and electronically adjustable dampers. The rear engine is also connected to an electronically controlled mechanical limited-slip differential. All are adjustable through different driving modes, which have been expanded from Eco, Normal and Sport to include GT and a user-customizable mode. In addition to the usual throttle and steering weight corrections, they also adjust actual power output, torque split, suspension stiffness, traction and stability control, as well as a micro function. wrong limit slip.

Now, on the whole, the GT rides more firmly and with less bodywork roll compared to conventional all-wheel-drive EV6s, but it’s only marginally better in Eco and Normal. Sport is a step further, and the GT is completely rigid. The roads around Las Vegas are pretty slippery so it’s hard to spot, but at odd times the pavement gets rough, it becomes so bumpy that you might have to look for a more relaxed setting. Of course, you can mix and match settings in custom mode, such as you can achieve maximum power or tighter steering with softer suspension settings so it’s not practical. the need for compromise.

However, make no mistake, from a performance perspective, the GT . setting To be the most exciting thing. All that power coupled with lightning-fast throttle response and even the most aggressive regenerative braking is highly entertaining. And those stiff suspension settings actually end up making the EV6 feel light and snappy, at least on public roads. It changes direction quickly and it doesn’t feel like it’s bouncing in one direction or another. It’s more ready like a pole star 2. Its tendency to drive rear-wheel drive and its gentle stability control also means it likes to wiggle behind. Other settings like Sport have more active traction and stability control settings, while keeping front/rear force distribution a bit more even.

However, it can’t hide all that weight on the track. We had a brief handling course outside of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and even with the big improvements in responsiveness, you don’t need to be on the lookout for high-volume corners. so big. But the chassis is quite communicative and can easily adjust its state in turn with the throttle, by lifting it out or pushing harder. And it’s fun to slide the rear end out, especially with a “hidden” drift mode that allows you to thoroughly roast the tires and even turn out if that’s the thing. The squealing of tires and nothing else is quite amusing, and it’s amazing that electric vehicle manufacturers are building cars that take your breath away.

There are two things that could be slightly better on the GT. The first is the steering wheel. It’s extremely crippling and could be more accurate. Initial hits can also be sharper. And the brakes are a bit soft and not always the easiest to adjust. They’re the ones you get used to, and the rest of the car is fun enough to forgive them for, but it’s the fine-tuning of the main controls like this that often sets apart exceptional and memorable performance cars. best with everything else. GT is not there.

OK, so there’s also a third thing. The EPA range for the EV6 GT is not great at 206 miles as it has the same 77.4-kWh the battery like its sibling despite all those side horses. It’s no different if a V8 model has the same fuel tank size as the four-cylinder version. Fortunately, like its less powerful brethren, the GT still has an 800-volt electrical construction and the ability to quickly take advantage of 350 kW. charger (not like Mustang Mach-E GT and many other electric vehicles), and it can pre-condition the battery after the charging station is inserted into the navigation system to optimize charging speed upon arrival.

That’s a big advantage the GT has over other high-powered EVs, but so is its price, which starts at $62,695. Mach-E GT 480 hp and about 450 hp Tesla Model Y Performance both start at around $70,000. North star 2 with dual engines and the Performance package drops below the $60,000 mark, but there’s still apprehension about Kia’s outright output at 469 hp.

The Kia EV6 GT isn’t perfect, but it’s still an interesting machine. It is by far the most fun and playful vehicle on the E-GMP platform. That means it’s not just a blast, but comes with all the inherent styling and EV goodness of that platform. With a price tag that matches its value, you can’t miss seeing one if you want some electric speed.



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