10 years ago, if someone was to tell us that Kia would develop a vehicle that could outrun a 700-horsepower muscle car and give Tesla a run for its money, we would have said “keep dreaming.” But here we are with the most powerful Kia ever produced, the EV6 GT. 

Equipped with 576-horsepower, the EV6 sets a new benchmark for the Korean based brand, not only being the most powerful but the quickest with 0-60mph in just over 3-seconds. This, however, comes in the form of pure electricity as their most recent powerful vehicle was the gasoline powered turbocharged Stinger that is sadly now discontinued.  

To obtain such power, one must opt for the GT which sits at the top of the EV6 trim line with a starting price of $61,600. The GT is equipped with all-wheel drive that is powered by two electric motors, one in the front and one in the back, with energy being supplied by a 77.4-kWh battery pack under the floor. All in, it carries more power than the 456-horsepower Tesla Model Y Performance and 480-horsepower Ford Mustang Mach-E GT. 

Not all Kia EV6’s come with such powerful forces. With prices starting at $42,600, their Light model starts the story with 167-horsepower and 258 lbs-ft of torque in rear-wheel drive form. Moving up the trim level between their Wind, GT-Line, and all-wheel drive versions, power can differ from 225-horsepower to 320-horsepower.  However, when it comes to the GT, the performance isn’t the only thing that sets it apart from the rest but it also elevates the driving experience with an electrically controlled limited slip differential and adaptive suspension dampers with different drive mode Eco, Normal, Snow and Sport that can really tailor in the drivers specific needs, But for those that want to white knuckle their driving experience, GT mode dials up the ante while a Drift mode will turn you into a YouTube viral video.  

With electrification, it takes more than just being fast in a straight line. Nearly all EV’s can be just as quick in a parallel manner. But as we all know, eventually there must be a turn, somewhere. What starts to separate the EV’s is their ability to not only manage their power but also boost a driver’s experience. The Kia EV6 has a quick steering ratio that gives the driver decent control and feedback for the road. It comes with grippy Goodyear tires that help keep that power down. And it has large front and rear vented brakes that stops quicker than my last weight loss program.   

It would almost seem that Kia is changing the rules for the meaning of hot hatches as the EV6 starts to elude such behavior. For being a heavy mid-sized high-riding hatchback, it’s such a happy car to toss around. Even when we’re not driving it like a track monster, the day-to-day is just as enjoyable and comfortable. The suspension manages to maintain ride comfort without feeling sloppy. The brakes, while aggressive, aren’t overly sensitive. And when we drive like a sensible adult, we find ourselves getting decent electrification efficiency out of the batteries as we averaged 3.2-kWh per mile, which equates to 107.9-MPGe. That is well above the EPA rated 73-MPGe combined rating.  

But for such good efficiency, we were lucky if we were able to pull 220-miles out of a full charge. So, if you plan to drive aggressively, make sure there is a charging station at the end of your destination. At least the EV6 does absorb its electricity quick with a claimed 18-minutes from a level 3, 350-kW charging station. However, here in the real world, where those units are always unavailable, charging it at home from a 110v outlet could squeeze about 15-percent of electricity in a 12-hour period. While that may not seem like much, trust us, that is pretty darn good by today’s EV standards.  

When it comes to standing out, the EV6’s large rims and bright green brake calibers are really the only indication that this is a special kind of EV6. Once we get inside, we see a little more special accommodations with sport hugging seats that are 4 points short of a 5-point harness. The interior is very well laid with a futuristic setting and an illuminated dashboard with accent light. It’s a comfortable setting, even with the aggressively bolstered seats – unfortunately, due to the sporty nature of the GT, power adjustable seats and ventilated options are not available. The EV6, however, is vastly roomy – being nearly as big as the Kia Sorento in wheelbase, there is large amounts of space for both front and rear occupants.  

If $62,600 seems like a lot for a Kia, just remember, it is a lot of car that can outrun a snobby Tesla Model Y. And as we enter a new era of electrification, it’s good to see that Kia is keeping the spirt of hot hatches alive, even if it’s through an all-electric vehicle.