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Kia EV6 in the Netherlands

The Kia EV6 is doing well in the Netherlands. The battery-electric car – built on the E-GMP platform – is popular among both business drivers and individuals looking to switch to an all-electric car. A base version of the Kia EV6 comes from 48,995 euros, but that is for a car with a smaller battery (58 kWh). Rather, invest in the 77.4 kWh battery combined with rear-wheel drive. It comes starting at 57,495 euros. You then immediately get the version with the greatest range: 528 kilometers (WLTP). For the GT trim, you need to save up a bit longer and factor in a lower range, according to this Kia EV6 GT review.

Price Kia EV6 GT

First, a word on price. The Kia EV6 GT will cost a minimum of 69,295 euros in 2023, up from 64,195 euros at the end of 2022. That 69 grand does include all options, except perhaps a different color. That may cost at most 795 or 1,095 euros more, depending on the color chosen. But 70 grand may be considered an all-in price. In terms of range, you do have to make concessions. Kia does always deliver the EV6 GT with the largest battery, the 77.4 kWh lithium-ion unit weighing 486.7 kilograms.

KIA EV6 GT 2023, the fastest KIA ever! – REVIEW – AutoRAI TV

Range in practice

Kia cites a WLTP driving range of 424 kilometers, but in practice, one should rather consider about 320 kilometers at temperatures of about 10 degrees Celsius. On paper, this South Korean has an average power consumption of 20.6 kWh per 100 kilometers. In practice, this is possible with very gentle driving. We ended up scoring 23 kWh per 100 kilometers on average. Those who feel like pedaling easily achieve an average power consumption of 30 kWh per 100 kilometers with two fingers in their pockets. This GT variant likes to go hard.

System power and torque

After all, the car has quite a bit of power on board. The Kia EV6 GT features two powerful electric motors. The front-mounted 160 kW (218 hp) engine works in tandem with a rear-mounted 270 kW (367 hp) variant. That adds up to 585 hp and up to 740 Nm of torque. Under the right conditions, that results in a 0-100 time of just 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 260 km/h. For a BEV, that’s top performance. Besides, these are fine numbers to bully the average Porsche on the street at a stoplight.

fast charging

Fast is also the Kia’s charging process. Fast charging can be done with up to 240 kW. Charging from 0 to 80 percent then takes about 18 minutes. Light the EV6 GT is not. He puts 2,100 kilograms in the scale. The car may tow a hefty caravan. In fact, the braked towing weight is 1,800 kilograms.

Features EV6 GT

Recognizing a GT variant of the Kia EV6 is not that difficult. The car has specific 21-inch five-spoke wheels with neon yellow brake calipers, a GT badge shines on the tailgate and furthermore the car has sportier bumpers front and rear. The rear also features an extra-large spoiler and a diffuser with integrated reversing lights.

Interior

In the interior, the bucket seats with GT metal inserts stand out, as do the various trim details in the same neon yellow color. The dashboard and center armrest are finished with special GT trim panels, and GT ambient lighting creates a pleasant atmosphere on board during nighttime drives. The rather large two-spoke steering wheel contains a special GT Drive Mode selector, which allows quick and easy adjustment of the car’s character. More on that later. Thanks to the wheelbase of 2.9 meters, everyone sits comfortably in this EV6, including in the rear. Legroom is comparable to that of a Skoda Superb. So almost limousine space in this electric Kia.

Points of interest Kia EV6 GT review

During this Kia EV6 GT review, of course, you’ll discover some drawbacks. The 21-inch GT wheels look great on the 4,695 mm EV6 GT, but they are so large that the car literally lifts itself up at maximum steering angle when turning in the street. The car then “bounces” over its own wheels when traveling at walking pace. So keep this in mind and moderate the pace when turning streets. In normal or dynamic driving, by the way, you no longer suffer from this “bouncing”. The car then lays like a block on the road and gives maximum sense of control. Indeed, the suspension comes alive at higher speeds, offering maximum feedback to attack every corner. However, you do notice that quite a bit of tire noise from the wheel arches penetrates the interior.

Thick A-pillars

What else stands out? Like the regular EV6, the GT variant also has very thick A-pillars. That takes away a lot of visibility. So always double check that there is nothing behind the A-pillar. The beautiful bucket seats with suede upholstery are not electrically adjustable and must be adjusted manually. This is not a big deal, because adjusting manually is faster, too. Furthermore, the navigation system sometimes gives strange instructions. Detours, for example, while the normal route is just accessible.

Influencing character

We have rarely experienced an electric car in which the differences of the driving modes are so noticeable. Switching from “Eco” to “GT” mode via the knob on the steering wheel is like waking up a beast. Each driving mode has its own traits, with the alertness on the gas pedal getting just a little brighter each time. Fortunately, the EV6 GT can also be driven very well quietly. Then the car is even very comfortable.

Position GT

GT Drive Mode affects the electric motors, brakes, steering, suspension, e-LSD and Electronic Stability Control (ESC). In GT mode, everything is on edge and the ESP is even partially disabled. Those who really dive into the menus and know how to press the right button combinations can even turn everything off and find a drift mode where the car has only RWD. An EV for real enthusiasts, then, comparable to a BMW i4 M50. That 544-hp BMW is a bit more expensive: a minimum of 77,875 euros. So Kia has the better car price-wise and also horsepower-wise. Hyundai will come out with an IONIQ 5 N later in 2023, with virtually the same powertrain. Then that is possibly another alternative.

Conclusion Kia EV6 GT review

Monstrously fast is this Kia EV6 GT. But also very comfortable if desired. Does that make the EV6 GT the ideal daily of a stay-at-home mom or dad who also loves to steer? It does come very close. As a BEV, the EV6 was already knocking. Space, finish and loading capabilities are all fat. The EV6 GT also features a Vehicle-to-load (V2L) function. V2L provides up to 3.6 kW of power and is capable of running, for example, a 55-inch television or an air conditioner for more than 24 hours at a time. The system can also charge another EV. To those features Kia now adds an extra dimension: performance. Nice performance, because this Kia is genuinely laugh-out-loud. But the real mile-eaters are better off with a regular version.