The new Kia EV6 GT all electric and all wheel drive competes with Tesla

2023 Kia EV6 GT AWD

Written by Marco Carvajal

All car manufacturers are working towards electrification of their automobile lineup, some car makers are being more aggressive than others releasing many new electrified models while others are going at a slower pace, but in general, the trend of the future for all new cars is electrification.

Kia’s sister company Hyundai has been very successful with the all-electric Ioniq model, which has been awarded several times and is becoming very popular with electric car buyers in the U.S.

Kia also has an excellent electric model that has all the elements to beat any other electric car in the market, the fantastic Kia EV6 with 5 seats, large interior space, and a large 50.2 cubic feet cargo space, with a format that looks like a large GT sedan and a crossover merged into one car. The new EV6 is built on Kia’s new E-GMP platform

The Kia EV6 2023 is the second car year model to be released in the US, and now you also can purchase the third model year, the 2024 EV6.

The 2023 car year model is an excellent car to own, while the 2024 EV6 GT gets even better with an EPA-estimated 218 miles of all-electric range (AER), an improvement of 12 miles over the 2023 EV6 GT.

I am test-driving the 2023 EV6 GT a spectacular model that looks amazing and drives amazing, it is luxurious, futuristic, and modern, it has a very good style and design but more than anything is very powerful and ready for performance. The EV6 GT is very fast and very safe, full of interesting features. It is available as rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

The new Kia EV6 GT, all-electric and all-wheel drive is ready to compete with Tesla electric cars. Tesla has been the innovator in producing all-electric cars and it owns a big share of the electric car market buying, but with new cars like the EV6, the future would most likely change.

I can see how new buyers eventually would prefer to buy a Kia EV6 instead of buying a Tesla Model Y Performance or other Tesla models, but there is still some room for improvement on the EV6 in order to beat Tesla. One of the advantages of Kia versus Tesla is a longer warranty. Kia’s warranty is more than double compared to Tesla.

Driving the EV6 you feel that gasoline cars are something from the past. The EV6 has a very quiet and efficient engine, you don’t need to ever buy gas, just recharge with electricity, except for the battery the rest of the mechanical components are cheaper and easier to maintain.

Long Kia warranty

I love how the EV6 is backed by Kia’s 10-year or 100,000-mile limited warranty, which includes one of the most important and expensive components, the EV6’s battery. Kia’s warranty is a very good reason to buy a new Kia versus a used vehicle, giving you peace of mind for 10 years or 100,000 miles.

I have owned a few vehicles with warranties of 3 or 5 years with half of Kia’s warranty with 50,000 miles, and it can be very frustrating to see your vehicle start to need expensive repairs, mechanical issues, and expensive service visits as the vehicle’s warranty expires.

Having a long warranty is the best bonus you can get when you buy a new car, giving you reasons to trust the brand, relax, and enjoy your new car.

Pricing and trim models available for the 2023 Kia EV6

2023 Kia EV6 Wind RWD $48,700
2023 Kia EV6 Wind AWD $52,600
2023 Kia EV6 GT-Line RWD $52,900
2023 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD $57,600
2023 Kia EV6 GT AWD $61,600 (the one I am test driving)

The Kia all-electric EV6 feels like the car of the future and it is available as the 2023 EV6 car year model with a starting price from $48,700 MSRP, while the 2024 EV6 car year model has even more trim models and a lower starting pricing at $42,600 MSRP. Both models, 2023 and 2024 EV6 have a top-of-the-line pricing of $61,600 MSRP.

The GT trim model that I am driving is the top of the line and has extraordinary performance, much more superior to the other trim models in the EV6 family, while pricing for the GT only costs $4,000 more than the previous AWD model in the line-up, the EV6 GT-Line. In my opinion, if you are going to go for the GT-Line AWD, better pay a little more and purchase the EV6 GT AWD.

Excellent all-electric range

Electrified technology keeps getting better and the new Kia EV6 has a very good range and fast charging time. You can charge your Kia EV6 at home at a normal electric A/C outlet but that can take around 24 hours for a full charge, or you can buy a DC fast charger at home, or at charging stations, and charge your electric car in an average of 18 to 30 minutes depending on your fast charger type.

Smart Charging at Home

Kia has teamed up with the service ChargePoint to offer a powerful Level 2 charging system that can be easily installed at your home, managed with the ChargePoint App. This charging system comes with a 3-year limited warranty.

If you install a Level 2 home charger (240v) then you can fast-charge your EV6 at home. ChargePoint Home Charger or other Level 2 chargers are available at Kia dealers.

You can use the smart Kia Connect app to check battery status, remotely control your charges, pre-heat or cool the interior of the EV6 while still connected to the grid.

Webasto Go Portable Charger

Another charging tool is the optional portable Webasto Go system to power up anywhere you go. This portable charger fits in the EV’s front storage area and has adaptors for both 120V and 240V outlets for ultimate flexibility while traveling.

The EV6’s electric charging system works with both 400v and 800v DC fast chargers.

Range

The KIA EV6 has an all-electric range from 206 miles to 310 miles per full charge.

The EV6 can be charged from 10% to 80% in less than 20 minutes when using a DC 800v fast charger.

One of the concerns when buying an electric car is how easy is to find a charging station along the way, and soon all Kia electric cars like the EV6 will be able to be charged at Tesla charging stations throughout the US, including Tesla stations in most Wawa gas stations and Target store parking lots, in addition to all new regular charging stations. As time goes it will be easier and easier to charge your electric car.

Excellent performance with GT Mode and Drift Mode

The EV6 GT I am test driving comes with the optional e-AWD that gives you double the power.

The GT AWD powered with the AC Synchronous Permanent Magnet Motor, is the most powerful Kia production vehicle ever.

576 horsepower, 545 lb.-ft. of torque, and a 3.4-second 0-60 MPH time, with a top speed of 161 MPH, the EV6 GT takes all-electric to the race track level, it is really fast and powerful.

The GT trim I am driving is ready for racing and fast handling, the fast high-performance dual motors and e-AWD makes it a very powerful car. Just push a button to enjoy the GT Mode and Drift Mode, to experience an all-electric powerful drive.

Driving Modes

All EV6 models include driving modes: Eco, Normal, Sport, and Snow. The top-of-the-line EV6 GT adds much more and also includes the new GT Drive Mode, My Drive Mode, and Drift Mode for action, performance, and power.

With the push of a button on the steering wheel, GT Drive Mode optimizes the performance of the EV6 GT’s motors, braking, steering, suspension, e-LSD, and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems into the most dynamic performance-ready settings.

You also can create custom-tailored settings for individual driving preferences using My Drive Mode.

For an even more precise driving experience, selectable Drift Mode allows you to distribute power to the rear wheels.

RWD and e-AWD

The EV6 comes standard with RWD and a multi-link rear suspension to deliver responsive and sporty handling. Available models with Torque-vectoring e-AWD feature dual motors to deliver impressive acceleration and capable grip for a range, AWD is the way to go if you want power.

All EV6 models feature very quick response, while select trims like the GT-Line AWD are capable of delivering 446 lb-ft of torque for a 0-60 mph time of 4.6 seconds. but the GT is much more powerful.

According to Kia and certified by AMCI Testing, the EV6 beats the 335 horsepower 2021 Porsche Cayenne Coupe in independent one-quarter mile tests. Accelerating faster from 0-60 mph than the 2021 Ferrari Roma and the 2020 Lamborghini Huracan Evo Spyder RWD in 3.4 seconds.

More available features like a heat pump to help preserve the all-electric range in cold weather driving conditions, and a heated steering wheel.

A low center of gravity, a powerful all-electric engine, impressive handling, and sport suspension on the GT trim make the EV6 a pleasure to drive. You can feel the thrill of driving fast with a very responsive and precise car.

Music and audio quality is part of the pleasure of driving, I enjoy the standard 14-Speaker Meridian Premium Audio System with Subwoofer and External Amplifier delivering powerful high quality sound.

Along with the great sound system, a nice optional feature is the available ambient lighting to create a luxurious experience of colors in the interior.

Safety systems

The EV6 comes with several standard and optional safety features like the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist Technologies like the standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Junction Turning that can help avoid potential collisions with oncoming vehicles that the system detects when turning left through an intersection.

The Available Lane Change Oncoming and Side is designed to detect oncoming obstacles and side obstacles when changing lanes under certain conditions and is activated when using the turn signal.

The standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist detects oncoming obstacles while backing up, the standard system is designed to issue an alert to the driver and can apply the brakes to help avoid a collision.

The smart optional Highway Driving Assist uses a forward-facing camera, radar sensors, and navigation data. It can assist with maintaining a predetermined speed and distance from the vehicle detected ahead in certain circumstances. The system can assist with steering wheel control when changing lanes, activated by the turn signal, with a one-touch button setting for speed.

The optional Blind-Spot View Monitor that gets activated by your turn signal gives you great protection and view of your surroundings. The available system displays a live feed of the vehicle’s blind spots in your instrument panel.

When you try to change lanes while an object is detected in the blind spot, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist-Rear can help maintain your previous course, avoiding accidents.

One of my favorite features for better safety is the optional Surround View Monitor uses four exterior-mounted cameras, the available system provides a bird’s eye view of your surroundings to enhance your view when maneuvering your vehicle.

Award winner EV6

This new Kia electric car is still a new kid on the block starting to be very successful and popular since the beginning. It has won several awards and it is becoming a very successful model in such a short time.

2023 World Car Awards. The 2023 EV6 GT was named the 2023 World Performance Car.

The 2023 Kia EV6 was named 2023 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year.

Advanced Display

The 12.3-inch Dual Panoramic Displays provide a high quality, combined total of approximately 24 inches of curved displays for navigation, diagnostic, convenience, entertainment, and vehicle information features.

Windshield Display

The available Head-Up Display shows certain safety information and route guidance in augmented reality on your windshield, providing additional information to help you keep your eyes on the road.

Remote Smart Parking Assist

The available system is designed to help the driver remotely park and exit parking spaces from outside the vehicle. When activated, vehicle sensors are designed to automatically control the steering wheel and vehicle speed to help guide your vehicle into both perpendicular and parallel parking spaces.

Connectivity

Kia has always been avant-garde to connected services. The new Kia EV6 may connect to your compatible personal device or Apple Watch via the Kia Connect app to remotely manage important features like charging, internal cabin temperatures, monitor energy usage, and other important functions of your electric vehicle. Wireless smartphone charging and more smart features help you enjoy the best interaction with your phone or device.

Wishlist

It is difficult to find items to add to the wishlist, in general, this is a very complete and fully loaded electric car.

Probably the one feature I didn’t like of my EV6 GT model is that the driver seat is not electric, I had to manually adjust my seat, what for me is a surprise in such a nice car in a price range higher than 60K. The previous model in the lineup, the GT-Line includes electric seats and cooling.

Another feature in my wishlist is that the GT trim model has a lower range than other models in the lineup with only 206 miles per full charge, compared to a higher range of 310 miles in other EV6 trim models, but the logic behind is because more power and AWD consumes more energy, but this could be a good improvement for the future.

Besides those two features, I enjoyed every detail and performance capability when driving the powerful Kia EV6 GT.