I’ve driven the new Kia EV6 GT – with nearly 600hp it’s supercar fast but I’m not really sure why
KIA has come a long way in the time I’ve been doing this job.
One of the first cars I ever tested was the humble Kia Cee’d back in the mid-2000s when it had an apostrophe and Kia had a different badge.
One of the most recent was the new Kia EV6 GT; a 585hp all-wheel drive electric monster that will do 0-62mph in just 3.5 seconds and go on to 162mph.
That puts the EV6 GT in the same performance camp as cars from supercar brands like Lamborghini and Aston Martin.
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Kia was not in this camp back when I drove the Kia Cee’d 1.6 CRDi.
The pace of change at Kia is staggering and the majority of its range today is superb – including the standard EV6.
But after driving it, I’m not really sure why we need the GT.
Kia says it’s to replace its outgoing Stinger, which had been on sale in Britain since 2017.
If you don’t know, the Stinger is a four-door coupe powered latterly by a turbocharged 3.3-litre six-cylinder petrol engine with 365hp.
We had the chance to drive it back-to-back with the EV6 GT and it only confirmed that an extra 200hp is not required on the public road.
Sprinting to 62mph in the EV6 GT from a standstill is borderline unpleasant and, because it’s largely silent, not particularly emotive.
Of course, you don’t need to launch it everywhere, and otherwise, the GT is mightly impressive.
Kia’s steering and suspension fettling has made the GT agile, even fun, but not uncomfortable.
The interior feels top drawer too, especially the new sports bucket seats that hug your body and add to the whole experience.
Key facts: Kia EV6 GT
Price from: £62,645
Battery: 77.4kWh
Charging: 10-80% in 18 minutes
Range: 263 miles
Power: 585hp
0-60mph: 3.5 secs
Top speed: 162mph
On sale: Now
Then there’s the EV6’s excellent twin-screen infotainment system that comes as standard, plus you still get Kia’s class-leading charging times.
Even the range hasn’t taken a hammering; officially the GT will go a useful 263 miles on a full charge.
In grabbing the baton from the Stinger, the EV6 GT has improved in just about every area, then.
But it’s difficult to get past the fact that the GT costs just under £63,000.
That’s getting on for £20,000 more than the Stinger when it went off sale and as much as £11,000 more than the AWD standard EV6.
The latter still cracks 62mph in less than five seconds and apart from some bucket seats and sporty green trim feels largely the same inside.
Ultimately you wouldn’t disappointed with either electric Kia, but I think I’d pocket the £11k and put it towards my leccy bill instead.