Kia EV6 GT review: Update for rapid electric SUV makes it even better... for a price

Remember the Kia EV6? The 2022 Wheels Car of the Year-winning Kia EV6? Considering the flurry of electric vehicles (EVs) launching in recent times, it’s easy to forget that the EV6 – and its Hyundai Ioniq 5 cousin – was a very important car for its maker thanks to its fast-charging 800V platform, arresting style and keen Australian-tuned dynamics. It was one of the first electric medium SUVs with serious range, charging, dynamics and performance.

Four years later, its maker has given it a mid-life nip and tuck with revised styling, a larger battery for more driving range, changes under the body to the suspension and – in the case of the high-performance GT model – even more power. Is the top-spec EV6 GT still a force to be reckoned with in the electric medium SUV segment?

How much does the Kia EV6 GT cost to buy?

As before, the GT sits atop the local EV6 model tree with entry-level Air and mid-spec GT-Line models sitting below it.

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2026 Kia EV6 pricing:

Pricing rose by $70 for each model in the EV6 line-up with its mid-life update, which is a good return on investment consider its larger battery (84kWh versus 77kWh) and claimed range (450km v 424km), extra power (478kW v 430kW), a new infotainment system with more connectivity and even sharper styling. Could it have been cheaper? We think so, but its upgrade has been considerable for only $70 extra.

Competition in the performance medium SUV segment is strong, and its biggest rivals include its 2024-25 Wheels Car of the Year-winning Hyundai Ioniq 5N cousin, the Tesla Model Y Performance and newcomer Zeekr 7X Performance. Move away from electric propulsion and you could count the BMW X3 M50, Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 and GLC 63 S as rivals to the EV6 GT, albeit for a lot more cash.

A Porsche Macan Turbo Electric, which is only slightly more powerful and slightly quicker to 100km/h, is almost double the price of the EV6 before any options boxes are ticked.

How fast is the Kia EV6 GT?

Well, with launch control activated, the EV6 GT makes 478kW of power and 770Nm of torque, hitting 100km/h in just 3.5 seconds and delivering a top speed of 260km/h. So yep, it’s quite fast. It’s actually been made even more powerful with the update, eclipsing the still-mental 430kW power of the pre-facelifted model and now matching its Ioniq 5 N platform sibling.

Compared with the more outlandish Ioniq 5N, the EV6 GT doesn’t feature fake exhaust pops and bangs, but it can do the 5N’s simulated gear shifts if you want it to, adding an extra layer of driver involvement to the driving experience, which we love. Like it is in the 5N, the EV6 GT’s system brilliant: it simulates turbo lag, jolts between gear shifts and noise changes as well.

Part of the mid-life update to the EV6 GT included stiffer rear sway bars and softer front suspension to increase grip levels, and revised steering for a more natural feel through the wheel. Kia Australia has once again applied its own tune, which has resulted in a fabulous ride and handling balance. Put simply, it’s even more of a weapon through the corners than it used to be, which is an impressive statement, and you don’t actually need to be in sport or GT modes as even in normal mode, it’s still appropriately stiff but very compliant as well.

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Most notable for this reviewer is the extra steering heft – great for inspiring confidence in spirited driving – and overall, the EV6 GT is one of the best EVs to drive, bar none. Sure, it costs more than many of its Chinese rivals, but they can’t hold a candle to the EV6 in how they drive, nor how well their active safety systems are tuned. Aside from the speed limit buzzer (easily defeated, just hold in the volume wheel), none of the systems annoyed us in our week with it. A Chinese rival? We’d probably be driven mad in the first hour.

How fast can the Kia EV6 GT charge?

The EV6 broke new ground for non-Tesla car makers at its launch as it was one of the first EVs in Australia capable of charging at up to 350kW, which was much quicker than many other EVs on the market. In this regard, Kia has left the EV6 GT unchanged as it’s still capable of that fast charge speed – though, the market has caught up and eclipsed it here, as the Zeekr 7X is capable of an even faster 400kW charge.

Still, despite the slightly larger battery, Kia claims that the EV6 GT can charge from 10 to 80 per cent (or add around 350km of range) in as little as 18 minutes, or 81 minutes if using a far more common slower 81kW charger. AC charging is less impressive at a 10.5kW peak with a claimed 10-100 per cent charge taking just over 7.5 hours. For reference, a Zeekr 7X can AC charge twice as fast at 22kW.

Is the Kia EV6 GT practical?

It must be said that thanks to the sloped roofline, the EV6 is not as practical as – for example – its smaller EV5 sibling. But at the claimed 480 litres, it’s not small either and there’s ample under-floor storage as well. Fold down the rear seats and 1250 litres is on offer, plus the 20-litre front boot, too.

Rear seat space is more impressive thanks to its completely flat floor, ample leg- and headroom for two taller adults – a third is possible, though the seat design means that it’s not as comfortable for the one in the middle. Rear passengers will be impressed with the amenities on offer, including two USB-C ports, heated outboard seats, air vents in the B-pillars and a centre arm rest, though there’s no separate climate zone, window shades or map pockets.

Move forward to the front cabin and the EV6 GT’s racy and futuristic spaceship-like design impresses. Material quality isn’t quite to German levels, but the plastics are mostly soft, the ambient lighting looks great at night and there are even flock-lined door bins to help lessen rattles.

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Kia has installed its latest infotainment system to the EV6 in its mid-life update, and it’s a very easy to use system. Helping it further is that its heating and cooling controls, plus shortcuts for the touchscreen, are located separately below the screen – if you’re sick of so many modern cars migrating such controls to the touchscreen, the EV6 is a great refresher.

While the screen quality could be improved, the 14-speaker Meridian sound system is noticeably punchier than the pre-updated model. Finally, while it’s small in the grand scheme of things, the new three-spoke steering wheel design is a significant aesthetic improvement compared with the two-spoke unit on the pre-updated EV6. Let’s hope it spreads to the rest of the Kia range.

What warranty covers the Kia EV6 GT?

Kia covers all its new cars with a seven-year/unlimited km warranty, with up to eight years of roadside assistance if serviced through a Kia dealership. For its hybrid and electric models, a separate seven-year/150,000km battery warranty is also applicable.

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The EV6 GT’s service intervals are once yearly/every 15,000km and a five-year/75,000km service plan costs $1570 or $314 annually.

Should I buy a Kia EV6 GT?

Look, there are performance electric SUVs available for a lot less cash than the EV6 GT’s circa-$100k pricetag, namely the Zeekr 7X – even the Tesla Model Y Performance asks over $10,000 less. That would make it easy for some to say that the EV6 GT isn’t good value for money, but considering its strong all-round capability, depth of engineering and sultry styling, we think it’s got a lot going for it.

Should it be less expensive? Probably. Will the updated EV6 GT continue to sell locally in small numbers? Also probably, but it’s more evidence that Kia can make properly great cars. Ones capable of transporting you quietly and safely during the week, but when the mood strikes, hitting the GT button and hell breaking loose. As before, it’s brilliant, but thanks to small tweaks, it’s just that much better now.

EV6 GT standard features:

• 21-inch alloy wheels with a tyre repair kit
• Adaptive dampers (three-mode)
• Eco, normal, sport, snow, individual and GT driving modes
• Dusk-sensing automatic LED exterior lighting with Matrix adaptive high beam
• Front and rear LED daytime running lights
• Rain-sensing automatic wipers
• Keyless entry and push button start
• Remote start with remote parking capability
• Sunroof with sun blind
• Hands-free electric tailgate
• Leatherette and suede upholstery
• 8-way electric bucket front seat adjustment with driver’s memory
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated leather steering wheel with paddle shifters for battery regeneration settings
• Heated rear seats
• Dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air vents
• 12.3-inch driver’s display
• Head-up display
• 12.3-inch touchscreen with live services and over-the-air updates
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Satellite navigation with live traffic routing
• AM/FM/DAB+ digital radio
• 14-speaker Meridian sound system
• 5x USB-C ports
• Wireless phone charger
• Colour-selectable ambient lighting
• 6x airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking with car, pedestrian, cyclist and junction turning coverage
• Adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality
• Lane keeping assistance with adaptive lane guidance
• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (with braking)
• Safe exit warning with safe exist assist
• Rear occupant alert
• Traffic sign recognition
• Driver attention monitoring
• Front and rear parking sensors
• 360-degree camera
• Automatic parking functionality

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Specs