EVs have been experiencing what the kids call a “glow up,” and public perception of electric cars has changed drastically even since I sampled the 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD last year. This comes thanks in part to the extreme performance of vehicles like the Tesla Model S Plaid and Model 3 Performance, Lucid Air, Porsche Taycan Turbo S, and even trucks like the GMC Hummer EV and Rivian R1T. Kia (and soon Hyundai) want in on the EV performance party, so the former gave the already-solid Kia EV6 a wild 546 horsepower and the accompanying goodies to create the 2023 Kia EV6 GT. Is it any good?

(While we did subject this vehicle to our regular routine, we didn’t drive it enough to warrant a full-fledged, traditional review. What follows is a quick rundown of what can be deduced from our time with it.)

Quick Info, Stats, and Price

Model Year: 2023

Make: Kia

Model: EV6 GT

Powertrain: 7.74 kWh Lithium Ion Battery, Dual Motor e-AWD, Dual Electric Motors – 576 hp

Drivetrain: 1-Speed Automatic; AWD

Base MSRP: $61,600

Options on test vehicle: $170 (Carpeted floor mats)

Total MSRP of test vehicle: $62,865 (Including $1,295 Destination Charge)

Yay

• Dizzying acceleration thanks to 575 horsepower (0-60 MPH in about 3.2 seconds according to Motor Trend)
• One-pedal driving
• Kia calls it a crossover but it’s really a wagon/hatchback, and that’s rad
• Intuitive interfaces that are all pleasing to look at and easy to use
• Fun to drive even in normal use
• Looks great; it’s appropriately aggressive without being too over-the-top (still flies under the radar when you want to)
• Sharp (albeit fairly numb) steering
• Sci-fi noises!

Nay

• Door handles are needlessly complicated
• Ride can be jarring
• Front seats are a bit too tight at the bolsters for a daily
• So-so range at 206 miles (79 combined MPGe from 85 city / 74 highway)
• Cargo capacity could be better (hampered at the expense of style)
• Charging infrastructure lags behind Tesla (though that’s due to change as Hyundai will likely adopt the NACS for its EVs)

Final Say

• $61,600 for a car that drives, looks, and feels like this is a strong proposition. The EV6 GT is a ton of fun to spend time in and is a great daily driver. It won’t replace an all-out sports car, but it can replace something like a Golf R for those who want to go all-electric. Though with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N on its way, we’d have a tough call deciding between the two.

Configured our way

• There aren’t actually any packages for the EV6 GT and options are limited to things like carpeted floor mats and interior lighting, so we’d keep it simple and go no-frills. Oh, and fun cars should be fun colors, so ours would be Yacht Blue or Runway Red (the color seen here).