Tons of Power in a Compromised Car | Automotiv

The Kia EV6 is a terrific automobile. It’s moderately priced, comfy, presents as a lot as 310 miles of vary and appears cool with its large ol’ ducktail on the again. However Kia is aware of it’s not sufficient to only be an excellent all-rounder in a world of high-efficiency electrical automobiles. No, you’ve gotta be fast, too. Hence the introduction of Kia’s new halo electrical automobile, the EV6 GT.

The EV6 GT is broadly much like the GT Line mannequin straight under it, however the place it differs primarily is within the drivetrain. The GT takes the rear drive unit from the GT Line and places it on the EV6’s entrance axle. Kia then provides a extra highly effective drive unit to the GT’s rear axle, which brings the EV to a most output of 576 hp and 545 lb-ft of torque – enhancements of 256 hp and 99 lb-ft in comparison with the GT Line. Kia additionally gave the GT a brand new chassis tune full with adaptive dampers, in addition to a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 summer season tires and 21-inch wheels, all of which try to make the EV6 a velocity machine. However it’s not fully profitable.

Sure, with its 3.4-second 0-to-60-mph time and 161-mph high velocity, the EV6 GT offers you lots of straight-line efficiency to your cash. Downside is, the chassis can’t fairly deal with the GT’s newfound energy. The adaptive damping presents good general experience consolation, but even in its stiffest setting, the chassis struggles to regulate the GT’s 5,732-pound bulk when attempting to hustle round corners. All through a day testing in and round Las Vegas, I’m by no means actually comfy pushing this automobile.

The EV6 GT doesn’t precisely embarrass itself, but it surely by no means feels settled or planted. On high of that, the Goodyear Eagle F1 tires scream their guts out on the slightest whiff of aggressive turn-in or throttle utility. Sort of like the Kia Stinger, the EV6 GT is a fast, highly effective grand-ish touring machine, however not a sports activities automobile.

Among the many different options that set the EV6 GT other than its extra sedate siblings is a brand new drive setting, unimaginatively referred to as GT Mode. Out there on the push of a button, GT Mode offers drivers entry to the GT’s full 576 hp when you will have greater than 70 % battery cost, after which tapers it off from there. That’s proper, in line with Kia, you solely get 287 hp when driving in Eco mode and 430 hp in Regular and Sport modes.

Extra importantly, activating GT Mode additionally offers you an additional 0.2 g of regenerative braking drive to play with. The usual modes give 0.4 g of braking drive, so the extra power recuperation is noticeable on a spirited drive and may assist prolong the lifetime of the mechanical brakes.

When it initially launched final 12 months, the EV6 lacked a battery preconditioning function to assist velocity up DC quick charging instances. Kia added this function on the GT, however the dangerous information is that it’s tied to the automobile’s navigation system. Put a fast-cost station into your nav system and the automobile will know that you just need to cost, and can begin preconditioning the battery on the acceptable time. However what if you wish to use the nav software program constructed into Apple CarPlay or Android Auto? You’re out of luck for now.

Normal neon inexperienced brake calipers and inside accents are the most important visible differentiators between the EV6 GT and lesser trims. Additionally unique to the GT are some well-bolstered sport bucket seats, that are nice for conserving you upright and secure on a observe, however aren’t chairs I’d need to have on a protracted highway journey. These seats are slightly slender and stiff, and I’d like a decrease seating place. It’s an oddly tall and upright setup for a sporty automobile, however then once more, the EV6 GT is only a quicker-than-normal electrical crossover.

Kia is asking $62,695 for the 2023 EV6 GT, together with $1,295 for vacation spot. While it’s definitely not a foul automobile, I’ve to ask: Who is that this for? Will the typical electrical CUV purchaser miss the GT’s 576 hp? On a day-to-day foundation, in all probability not, as a result of all EVs are thrilling and fast off the road. As a substitute, patrons are much more prone to miss the 46 miles of vary that the GT loses in comparison with the AWD GT Line, and so they’ll positively discover the 104-mile drop between a RWD GT Line and the AWD-only GT. Don’t overlook, the GT can also be $4,000 costlier than an AWD GT Line, too.

The underside line is that Kia constructed one thing thrilling: The quickest and strongest manufacturing automobile within the model’s historical past. However it’s not within the kind of package deal you may anticipate. The EV6 GT isn’t a foul automobile – removed from it – but it surely’s not adequate to justify the vary and worth sacrifices that the horsepower calls for.