Kia EV6 GT: It’s the green button

What is it?

The Kia EV6 GT arrived at a time when electric performance cars were still something of a novelty.

Its combination of outrageous acceleration, distinctive styling and everyday practicality made it one of the most exciting EVs on the market.

Fast forward to 2026 and the landscape has changed dramatically.

Chinese brands have flooded the market with cheaper alternatives offering more range, more equipment and often more interior space.

The question is whether Kia’s electric performance flagship still has what it takes.

What’s it cost?

The biggest change is one you’ll notice immediately.

The original EV6 was a handsome car, but the front end always looked slightly disconnected from the rest of the design.

The facelift fixes that with Kia’s latest Star Map lighting signature, a redesigned bumper and a cleaner overall appearance that aligns it more closely with the brand’s newer EV models.

Beneath the skin, Kia has revised the adaptive suspension, updated the steering system and strengthened sections of the body structure.

Additional sound insulation has been added, second-row side airbags are now fitted and the latest ccNC infotainment platform brings wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and expanded over-the-air update capability.

The cabin also receives a redesigned steering wheel, revised centre console and a fingerprint authentication system.

At close to $100,000 before on-road costs, the EV6 GT is no longer the bargain performance EV it once appeared to be.

Buyers now have access to a growing list of rivals from China that promise more range, more equipment and lower prices.

Cars such as the BYD Seal Performance, Tesla Model Y Performance and newcomers from brands such as XPeng and Zeekr have changed the equation considerably.

That said, buying a performance car has never been purely about specifications.

The EV6 GT still offers something many rivals struggle to replicate, and that’s where its appeal remains strongest.

It is covered by a 7-year unlimited kilometre warranty.

What’s it go like?

The EV6 GT sits at the top of Kia’s electric range and remains one of the most powerful vehicles the company has ever sold.

Power comes from dual electric motors driving all four wheels, delivering up to 478kW of power and 770Nm of torque in GT mode.

A larger 84kWh battery now provides the energy, while the latest update brings revised styling, suspension changes and a host of technology improvements.

It remains part SUV, part hatchback and part sports car, occupying a niche few rivals can match.

Press the bright green GT button on the steering wheel and the EV6 GT immediately reminds you why it earned such a strong reputation in the first place.

The full 478kW arrives with astonishing urgency, producing the kind of acceleration that compresses internal organs and leaves passengers wondering what just happened.

Kia claims 0–100km/h in 3.5 seconds, but the raw experience feels more dramatic than any number on a specification sheet can convey.

What really separates the EV6 GT from many newer rivals, however, is the way it drives once the initial novelty of the acceleration wears off.

Many electric cars are brutally quick in a straight line, but few offer genuine driver engagement.

The Kia feels connected, balanced and remarkably composed, even on the sort of broken regional roads that expose weaknesses in lesser vehicles.

Credit must go to the engineering team responsible for the chassis tuning.

While development work around the Nürburgring often results in cars that feel overly stiff on Australian roads, the EV6 GT avoids that trap.

Softer front springs, revised adaptive dampers and a stiffer rear anti-roll bar work together to deliver impressive body control without sacrificing ride comfort.

The updated steering system also brings a welcome sense of precision and feedback that has become increasingly rare in modern vehicles.

Not every update is a winner.

Virtual Gear Shift attempts to mimic the stepped gear changes of a dual-clutch transmission, complete with artificial interruptions to power delivery.

Some drivers may enjoy the novelty, but it feels unnecessary in an electric vehicle whose greatest strength is its seamless and instant response.

An EV doesn’t need to pretend to be a petrol car to be entertaining.

Regenerative braking remains one of the car’s strengths.

Multiple levels can be selected via the steering wheel paddles, including one-pedal driving. Once mastered, the system allows smooth progress through traffic while recovering energy that would otherwise be wasted.

The structural changes and additional sound insulation have improved refinement noticeably.

Highway cruising is quieter than before, and the cabin maintains a calm, relaxed atmosphere even at higher speeds.

Kia has also addressed some of the minor complaints levelled at the previous model, including replacing much of the easily marked gloss-black trim around the centre console.

Storage remains excellent thanks to the floating console design, while the repositioned wireless charging pad is easier to access than before.

The fingerprint authentication system allows driver profile selection, although it feels like a missed opportunity not to use it for broader vehicle security functions.

There are also some thoughtful touches that often go unnoticed.

The ventilation system automatically switches to recirculation mode when the windscreen washers are activated, preventing washer fluid odours from entering the cabin.

It’s a simple idea, but one many premium manufacturers still haven’t implemented.

The biggest frustration lies with the infotainment system.

The twin curved 12.3-inch displays look sharp and the software is generally easy to use, but wireless Apple CarPlay connections can occasionally drop out or fail to connect altogether.

Kia continues to work on software updates, but the issue remains an irritation in a vehicle at this price point.

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The mandatory speed warning system is another annoyance.

Like many modern vehicles, it activates every time the car is started and can occasionally misread speed limits, resulting in unnecessary alerts.

Driver monitoring functions also require manual deactivation through the touchscreen, a process that quickly becomes tiresome.

What we like?

• Outrageous straight-line performance
• Chassis tuning that delivers real driver engagement
• More cohesive exterior styling with updated front end
• Thoughtful cabin tweaks, extra refinement and clever small touches

What we don’t like?

• Price now brushes $100K before on-roads
• Virtual Gear Shift gimmick feels unnecessary
• Wireless Apple CarPlay dropouts in a car at this price are frustrating
• Mandatory speed warning and driver monitoring nags require frequent intervention

The bottom line?

If you’re shopping EV6 because you want maximum performance, the GT remains the obvious choice.

The standard models offer better value and greater efficiency, but they don’t deliver the same level of excitement.

GT is the model that showcases everything the EV6 platform is capable of.

The latest updates have given the EV6 GT a more mature appearance and sharpened an already impressive package.

The revised front end finally looks right, the chassis remains one of the best in the business and the combination of performance and practicality is still hard to fault.

The market around it has changed and buyers now have far more choice than they did a few years ago.

Some rivals offer better value on paper and stronger range figures, but very few can match the depth of engineering on display.

Despite a handful of software frustrations, the EV6 GT remains one of the most rewarding electric vehicles on sale and a reminder that performance EVs can still be genuinely enjoyable to drive.

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