The arrival of the Kia EV6 GT a couple of years ago marked the firm’s return to performance models. It was the first hot model since the brilliant Stinger fastback was discontinued a couple of years ago, and now the updated model is here with even more power, a bigger battery, and a new ‘virtual gear shift’ feature.
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It shares similar underpinnings to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, but is the refreshed GT a match for the car it’s based on? As part of the Southern Group’s Kia drive day, we took one for a spin to find out.
2025 Kia EV6 GT: more than just an Ioniq 5 N with a Kia badge?
First up, and most obviously, this is an EV6 turned all the way up to 11. In GT guise, power comes from front and rear mounted electric motors that now produce a colossal 641bhp and 568lb-ft of torque, a significant increase over the pre-facelift model that produced a mere 577bhp and 546lb-ft.
If these figures sound familiar, you’d be right. It’s exactly the same powertrain as you’ll find in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Kia says the GT can sprint from 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds, exactly the same time as the old car, and one tenth slower than its Hyundai badged brother. Find enough road, and the EV6 GT will hit 161mph. Which is, you guessed it, exactly the same top speed as the 5 N.
It’d be easy to conclude that Kia has simply borrowed all the bits that make up the Ioniq 5 N before slapping an EV6 bodyshell on top of it. However, dig a little deeper, and the differences become clear.
Firstly, there’s the simulated gearbox. The EV6 GT has two fewer ‘gears’ and a lower rev limit with a simulated six-speed paddle shift gearbox and a redline of 6,500rpm – down on the eight speeds and 8,000rpm redline you’ll find in the Ioniq 5 N.
Kia also hasn’t replicated the yobbish pop and bang petrol engine soundtrack used in the Ioniq 5 N here; instead, it’s added its own synthetic ICE engine sound with three sound settings that growls away in the background as you drive. Adaptive suspension and a limited slip differential are also standard fit.
In the floor there’s now a larger 84kWh battery pack (up from 77.4kWh), the same size as you’ll find in the Ioniq 5 N. No surprises there. The 800V architecture is carried over from the old car along with the 250kW rapid charging capability. Kia says the GT can now manage up to 279 miles between stops, an improvement of 16 miles compared to the pre-facelift car.
Angry gran tourer looks and go faster bits
The GT part of the car’s name is literal – as in it’s more of a rapid grand tourer than an out-and-out hot hatchback.
It gets all of the same design updates as the standard EV6 but with a more angry look about it. Tweaks include sportier looking bumpers, a new 21-inch alloy wheel design, and bright acid yellow brake calipers.
Kia’s press car also got some added sporting appeal thanks to the ‘Yacht Matt Blue’ paint finish, which looks very purple in daylight, and the ‘EV06 HOT’ number plate – that very accurately describes this car to a tee.
Minor tweaks help lift an already great cabin
Kia has also given the interior a small update too. There are more acid yellow accents dotted around the interior, with a pair of very supportive bucket seats – which are heated and cooled. The gloss black plastic of the old car has been replaced with classier looking steel-effect trim pieces – which is an improvement.
When sitting inside, the cabin almost wraps around you with everything in easy reach and visible. The touch-sensitive control bar works well enough, and the infotainment is fast with a well-laid-out and simple to use UI.
Can a grand tourer be fast and sporty to drive?
Yes, it’s blinking rapid on the road. In normal mode it feels quick enough, a bit like any fast EV. Engaging GT mode via the dedicated steering wheel button gives you access to all of the 641 horses, which feels plenty quick enough on the road. How quick? Prod the throttle hard, and it gathers pace at a frantic rate, pushing you back into your seat as you drive. So yes, it feels pretty bleeding quick.
However, in GT mode, the car will only manage a 0-62mph time of 4.5 seconds. To unlock the quoted 3.5 second 0-62mph time, you need to engage the Launch Control which is a bit fiddly to do, as it’s buried in the menu. Essentially, if the car isn’t in the right mode with the assists switched off, it won’t do it. Meaning it’s best saved for the drag strip.
Activating the new ‘virtual gear shift’ can be a bit of a faff via the menu too. But, it can be programmed to the star button on the steering wheel, which makes it easy to switch on or off at the touch of a button. A worthwhile feature that all modern cars should offer in our opinion.
With GT mode and the gear shifts activated, taking off quickly is easy. However, you actually have to drive it. Press the throttle and miss a gear change; it won’t change up for you, leaving you lurching forward in the seat as the car bounces off the rev limiter. Likewise, when changing down, the box occasionally decides not to give you a lower gear. Essentially, it accurately simulates all of the brilliance and annoyances of a real paddle shift gearbox.
Compared to the standard EV6, the GT has a much faster steering rack, which is also heavier. It doesn’t have a lot of feel or feedback, but the added weight helps you judge the amount of lock required when cornering, making it simple to place the car accurately in faster corners.
The adaptive suspension helps keep the car level when cornering, although, here, the front end feels a bit more relaxed when turning in compared to the 5 N, but still with a reassuring and planted feel about it. It also rides very well for a sporty model, with a slightly softer nature over its related Hyundai sibling. Overall, the chassis is well tuned for sporty driving and does a good job of absorbing rougher surfaces as well, making it mostly hushed and refined to drive when at normal speeds.
While brake-by-wire systems generally don’t lend themselves to driver’s cars, here, the GT’s set-up and tuning give it a capable pedal feel. The pedal feels more weighted than the standard EV6, but overall the brakes feel taut and deliver excellent stopping power when needed.
Verdict: the updated EV6 GT is brilliant in its own right, and now a match for the Ioniq 5 N
Is it fun, like a GT/hot hatch should be? Yes, absolutely. The paddle shifts and engine noise add a layer of immersion sorely lacking in some fast EVs, making you grin more the faster you drive it. The cocooning interior, well-weighted steering, and burly brakes help make you feel a part of the action as well. Its core talent, alongside all of the speed and fury, is that when you just want it to be a car, it’s comfortable, refined, and practical, and it even has a respectable range figure – all for a price that undercuts the Ioniq 5 N.
Kia EV6 GT: full gallery
