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Flash Drive: 2023 Kia EV6 GT
Maintain On Tight Because the Quickest Kia Takes Off
When Clear Fleet Report first reviewed the all-new, all-electric 2022 Kia EV6 in January 2022, it was an eye fixed opener for design and efficiency. However there have been rumors, even then, {that a} efficiency model was lurking in design studios and engineering labs someplace on the planet.
That day has come, and the wait was value it, as our day driving the 2023 Kia EV6 GT was a pin-you-back-in-your-seat expertise. It locations this Kia in some fairly heady efficiency firm with electrical autos costing far more. This Flash Drive assessment is a short first take a look at the EV6 GT, so examine again with Clear Fleet Report later for a full Street Take a look at assessment.
Fast and Quick
Clear Fleet Report spent a number of hours on a good looking December Las Vegas day driving the 2023 Kia EV6 GT. Tackling highways, open desert and canyon roads, venturing to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, after which on the famed Las Vegas Strip, we got here away appreciating not solely the day-to-day usability, but additionally the facility and efficiency within the EV6 GT.
The EV6 GT is a real driver’s automotive. With manufacturing restricted to not more than 2,500 models, Kia expects it to be a second or third automotive for these in search of driving pleasure. Marketed as a efficiency crossover, the EV6 GT is civil sufficient to deal with all each day driving wants. However when positioned in GT drive mode, it would flip 0-60 occasions of three.4 seconds, the 1/4 mile at 118 mph and, if you happen to’re daring sufficient to take action, spin the twin electrical motors to their most of 161 miles per hour. Sure the all-electric driving vary (AER) is diminished when driving the EV6 GT at 10, however the trade-off is it’s the most enjoyable place to be.
The handlingon the all-wheel drive EV6 GT, weighing-in at 4,795 kilos, planted it solidly as we drove from The 4 Seasons Las Vegas to the Lake Mead Nationwide Recreation Space, by way of the Valley of Hearth State Park, after which to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This 200+ mile route highlighted the efficiency and dealing with completely as we climbed mountain passes and wound our approach by way of rock outcroppings and huge open desert.
In our earlier EV6 opinions (hyperlinks on the finish of the story) we had been impressed with the efficiency and dealing with. The EV6 GT takes it up a couple of notches with bespoke bits and items that Kia says makes it “optimized for efficiency” in comparison with the bottom EV6 AWD, similar to:
- The entrance motor has a rise of 115 horsepower
- The rear motor has a rise of 140 horsepower
- Whole horsepower bumps from 320 to 516
- The torque goes from 446 to 545 pound-feet
- Devoted sports activities suspension with electronically managed dampers
- Efficiency entrance suspension
- Digital restricted slip differential
- Bigger entrance brakes: 15.0” versus 12.8”
- Bigger rear brakes: 14.2” versus 12.8”
- GT-only 255/40 Goodyear Eagle F1 uneven tires on 21” alloy wheels
Drive Modes
The 2023 Kia EV6 GT has 4 drive modes of Eco, Regular, Customized and Sport which are chosen from a toggle on the left aspect of the steering wheel, whereas the GT toggle is on their own on the correct aspect. The modes are self-explanatory with Eco greatest when on lengthy freeway runs, Regular for on a regular basis driving and Sport when a bit extra accelerator pedal response is desired. The GT mode does much more because it additionally maximizes the motors for efficiency, but additionally prompts the electronically managed sports activities suspension.
For much more enjoyable, the automotive could be positioned right into a drift mode by turning off the traction management and digital stability management options, which is able to then ship all the facility to the rear wheels. We don’t suggest doing this with out skilled instruction, apply and a wide-open place to slip round and erase the tread out of your tires.
On the Street
The front-to-rear torque vectoring seamlessly offered the wanted energy to whichever wheel had probably the most demand. The end result was a assured really feel when cornering with the two.3 turns of the steering wheel (lock-to-lock) making for sharp and exact turning.
The EV6 GT has commonplace ABS and power-assisted ventilated entrance and rear stable discs. Dealing with and driving confidence had been aided by the usual digital stability management, digital brake-pressure distribution and brake help.
Kia shines with its improvement of 1 pedal driving. With three pulls of the left aspect steering wheel paddle, the brake regeneration pressure reaches the utmost setting. Regenerative braking, which makes use of the motors to gradual the automotive, recharges the battery when slowing or coasting changing kinetic vitality into electrical vitality, which is saved within the battery.
Whether or not round city or attacking curves like we did, that is probably the most handy, environment friendly and enjoyable approach to drive the EV6 GT. For diehard guide transmission and inside combustion engine followers, accepting that one-pedal driving an EV is a smoother and sooner expertise can be arduous. The one factor we are able to say is, it isn’t essentially higher (we at Clear Fleet Report are large followers of guide transmissions), however completely different.
The EV6 GT additionally has the very helpful Auto Maintain function the place, at a cease mild, the brakes are routinely utilized, relieving the driving force and decreasing fatigue within the driver’s proper leg from urgent on the brake pedal.
On the Observe
After driving on pubic streets and highways, we headed to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and its 1.1-mile, nine-turn street course. A professional driver took us round on a lead-follow reconnaissance lap to get a really feel for the course. Then we had been reduce free for 2 sizzling laps the place the EV6 GT dealt with with excellent aplomb, with high speeds on the 1,100-foot straightaway hitting 120 miles per hour. Quick is enjoyable, however at these speeds brakes are all the things, and we weren’t disenchanted. Will you be driving your EV6 GT on a race observe? We hope you do!
Motion That Evokes
Kia’s slogan “Motion That Evokes” matches properly describing the 2023 EV6 GT exterior design. First up is the seamless clamshell hood that, when closed, reveals a small tiger nostril grille and rectangular LED lights peeking out from the far edges of the curved nostril. The edges reveal computerized pop-out flush door handles that sit above a delicate line working throughout the doorways.
The sculpted rear incorporates a excessive deck that morphs right into a spoiler and incorporates the full-body tail lights. The 21-inch silver alloy wheels with black inserts and gloss black heated and energy exterior mirrors, end the look. The facility hands-free carry gate is smooth, clean and unencumbered by a wiper.
Welcoming Inside
The EV6 GT is constructed on Hyundai Motor Group’s all-new devoted EV platform, which is able to see service on future EVs from Kia, plus on fashions from sibling manufacturers Hyundai and Genesis. This design has a very flat flooring and offers ample leg, shoulder and head room for 5 occupants in a spacious inside.
The motive force and passenger get heated seats which are manually adjustable, with the driving force’s seat additionally being ventilated. The seats have suede and vegan leather-based trim.
Extensive second row entry led to snug rear seats; the outbound seats are heated. The cut up 60/40 rear seat slides and reclines, producing 50.2 inches of cargo area when folded down. With out an engine up entrance there’s a entrance trunk, or frunk, for stashing small objects.
The low slung sprint has twin 12.3-inch horizontal shade show screens that appear to be one piece. One display screen is for the digital devices and the opposite for the infotainment system. Sounds got here from a 14-speaker (with a subwoofer) Meridian premium audio system with AM/FM/MP3/SiriusXM/HD Radio, and wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Bluetooth connection for up-to two gadgets, and USB energy and information ports, wi-fi telephone charging and a Wi-Fi Hotspot full the connectivity expertise.
Kia has a intelligent design to go between the dual-zone local weather controls and infotainment controls. On the slender horizontal display screen beneath the primary contact display screen, there are capacitive contact factors for the temperature and fan, after which the radio controls, which embrace quantity and channel knobs. This area saver had a brief studying curve, shortly displaying its advantages.
The colour head-up show included augmented actuality the place the driving force can opt-to undertaking related data, similar to turn-by-turn navigation and superior security alerts of the EV6’s environment.
Kia Join offers entry to automobile methods together with distant begin and distant charging, and connects to a smartphone app for Apple and Android working methods. The electro-chromatic auto-dimming rear view mirror is Homelink outfitted.
Security
The Kia EV6 GT comes with an in depth record of normal security options starting with seven airbags: entrance, aspect impression, aspect knee and aspect air curtain with rollover sensors. Kia’s Drive Clever security tech is strong with advance driver help methods (ADAS), together with lane retaining help, blind spot detection, ahead collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic avoidance help. Different security options are hill begin help, encompass and blind view monitor with parking sensors and a tire stress monitoring system.
Freeway Driving Help is activated when the navigation primarily based adaptive cruise management is engaged. This expertise, designed to help in driving and scale back fatigue and stress, contains the flexibility to routinely change lanes on a freeway by utilizing the flip sign stalk.
Energy and Vary
Past the GT, Kia has made some modifications to the EV6 fashions for 2023.
The 2 different Kia EV6 fashions—Wind and GT-Line—are available in both rear-wheel drive (RWD) with one motor or all-wheel drive (AWD) with two motors. The EV6 Gentle has been dropped for 2023.
Wind and GT-Line RWD
310 miles of all electrical vary (AER)
77.4 kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery
Single electrical motor
225 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque
0-60 mph: 7.2 seconds
Electronically managed high velocity: 115 mph
Wind and GT-Line AWD
282 miles AER (Wind)
252 miles AER (GT-Line)
77.4 kWh NMC battery
Twin electrical motors
320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque
0-60 mph: 7.2 seconds
Electronically managed high velocity: 117 mph
GT AWD
206 miles AER
77.4 kWh NMC battery
Twin electrical motors
576 horsepower and 545 pound-feet of torque
0-60 mph: 3.4 seconds
Electronically managed high velocity: 161 mph
Charging
The ten.9-kW onboard charger can cost as much as 800 volts. When used with a 350 kW charger, it will probably ship 70 miles of vary in about 5 minutes and 217 miles in beneath 18 minutes.
The EV6 GT could be plugged right into a 120V frequent wall plug, however count on replenish occasions to be lengthy and gradual, as in 68 hours. One of the best wager for homeowners can be to put in a Stage 2, 240V house charger that may take the battery from 10-percent to 80-percent cost in seven hours.
The EV6 GT additionally has vehicle-to-load (V2L) the place energy can circulation out of the battery to cost e-bikes, tenting and out of doors tools or run your workplace whereas touring. It can be a house electrical energy supply throughout an influence outage.
Pricing and Guarantee
The 2023 Kia EV6 GT is available in all-wheel drive solely with one trim degree at an MSRP of $62,695 that features the obligatory $1,295 vacation spot charge.
The brand new automotive guarantee of 5 years and 60,000 miles is accompanied by the 10-year and 100,000-mile guarantee on the powertrain, which incorporates the battery.
Observations: 2023 Kia EV6 GT
Kia says the proprietor of an EV6 GT can be shopping for it for the expertise and to make an announcement. Sitting decrease than its opponents, it would make you do a double take making an attempt to find out if it’s a crossover or a sports activities sedan. It’s a bit every. Efficiency-wise, it’s a blast to drive.
So, how does the 2023 Kia EV6 GT stack-up in opposition to its competitors? The Porsche Taycan GTS does 0-60 in 3.5 seconds and prices $134,100, versus the EV6 GT coming in at 3.4 seconds and $62,695. It additionally bests the Tesla Mannequin Y Efficiency and Ford Mustang Mach-E GT in value and efficiency.
So the query is requested: Do you actually need a Kia EV6 GT or merely need one? We are saying sure to each!
Be certain that to opt-in to the Clear Fleet Report publication (high proper of web page) to be notified of all information tales and automobile opinions, and examine again with Clear Fleet Report for a full Street Take a look at assessment on the 2023 Kia EV6 GT.
Story by John Faulkner. Pictures by John Faulkner and Kia.
Our time with the 2022 Kia EV6:
Flash Drive: 2022 Kia EV6
Street Take a look at: 2022 Kia EV6
Disclosure:
Clear Fleet Report is loaned free take a look at autos from automakers to judge, usually for every week at a time. Our street checks are primarily based on this one-week drive of a brand new automobile. Due to this we don’t tackle points similar to long-term reliability or whole price of possession. As well as, we are sometimes invited to producer occasions highlighting new autos or expertise. As a part of these occasions we could also be supplied free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our greatest to current our unvarnished evaluations of autos and information irrespective of those inducements.
Our focus is on autos that supply the perfect gas economic system of their class, which leads us to emphasise electrical automobiles, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and diesels. We additionally function these environment friendly gas-powered autos which are among the many high mpg autos of their class. As well as, we intention to supply opinions and information on superior expertise and the choice gas automobile market. We welcome any suggestions from automobile homeowners and are devoted to offering a discussion board for various viewpoints. Please tell us your views at writer@cleanfleetreport.com.
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