$114k Kia EV arguably best value performance car on the market
If you’re a sucker for sports cars but don’t have the budget or you want an EV, then look no further than the latest Kia.
REVIEW
Would you spend more than $100,000 on a Kia? I don’t personally have that kind of money lying around, but it’s the question I’ve been pondering while test driving Kia’s latest EV – the Kia EV6 GT.
This is the most powerful Kia has ever made, and if you’re into performance cars you might do a double take on this one as it’s capable of accelerating from 0-100km/hr in just 3.5 seconds. And it turns out, although it’s pricey, it may arguably be one of the best value performance cars on the market – and it’s an EV.
Pricing
The Kia EV6 GT is the top spec model of the Kia EV6 range and design-wise each model in the EV6 line-up actually looks quite similar. They all have an extremely sleek, sporty body, with awesome lights and stylish rims.
However, the top spec EV6 GT AWD model, which I’ve been testing, has a couple of small design tweaks and starts at a serious price point of $99,590. Actually, in reality, the car retails for about $110,000 when factoring in on-road costs, and this particular car has also been upgraded to have incredibly eye-catching matte paint (in the colour Moonscape), which brings the total cost to about $114,000.
So, now that we know the price, let’s delve into the features.
Interior
When approaching the car, with the key in your pocket, it will cleverly unlock and pop out its streamline door handles. These look really awesome and once you open the door you’re greeted with a seriously sporty black interior balanced with bright lime green accents.
As this is a performance car, or performance EV, it’s also got bucket seats that hug your body and are very comfortable to sit in.
The car has two displays, one behind the steering wheel, which displays typical speed and range stats, and another in the middle of the dash, which is a touchscreen with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto capabilities (when your phone is plugged in).
There’s also a HUD on the driver’s side that projects your speed onto the windshield so there’s no need to glance down or to the side to keep to your speed. And of course, there’s adaptive cruise control too.
Notably, there’s also a wireless phone charger, heated seats, a sunroof that opens up completely with an optional shade, physical and touch capacitive media and airconditioning controls, centre console with room for a small bag and cup holders, and a spacious glove box. I think it looks great.
Aside from this, the car was surprisingly lacking electronic adjustable seats (they’re completely manual, which felt seriously goofy at this price point) and it’s missing seat cooling, which strangely does exist in the mid-range EV6 models.
Otherwise, the seating is roomy enough throughout, and even comfortable for passengers in the back, who have the option to recline slightly (manually) and also have access to two USB-C charging ports.
The boot is surprisingly spacious, with enough space to fit your golf clubs. The back seats can also fold fully flat with the pull of a lever. I’ve never seen a sporty car with such space!
Performance
So far it ticks most boxes, aside from a few quirks, but honestly I think the main reason you’d buy this car is for its speed. With its ability to accelerate from 0-100km/hr in just 3.5 seconds the Kia EV6 GT is essentially unmatched at this price point, even when compared to petrol cars.
Its only comparable rival would be the ‘Tesla Model Y Performance’ which can reach 0-100km in 3.7 seconds. But let’s be real; in my opinion, the Tesla is a lot uglier and its build quality is questionable.
If you want any other performance car, petrol or electric, that can reach these speeds then you’re looking at spending upwards of $200,000.
I have to say, taking this car from cruising speeds to 100km/hr up the on-ramp of the highway is absolutely unreal. Its acceleration is so instantaneous that you can barely fathom you’ve reached the speed limit as you hit it. The car launches you back into your seat, which makes you feel like you’re in a scene out of Fast & Furious. It is so fun.
In this car you’ll have absolutely no problem changing lanes, or making it through a busy intersection. There’s also a drift mode, but I wasn’t able to test this safely.
You can even digitally customise the way the car feels to drive with its signature GT mode, for which there’s a neon green button on the steering wheel.
And on the car’s touchscreen you’re able to tweak things such as the car’s suspension to make the ride feel smoother or make the suspension tighter for a more sporty driving experience.
Is it worth it?
For those who love performance cars, I’m guessing a Kia would probably never cross your mind. For a car this fast you’d usually need to be looking at purchasing something like a Porsche, BMW or Mercedes, but the prices of those cars are seriously premium.
This is absolutely not the EV for the everyday person. If you’re just entering the EV market, a Hyundai IONIQ 5 or a BYD Atto have fairly comparable features for a lot less money (minus the sportiness and ability to reach 0-100km/hr in 3.5 seconds). This car’s value, on the other hand, definitely lies in its speed and acceleration.
However, it’s important to note if you’re thrashing it, its range (or battery life) will drop down quickly.
It’s not the car for a road trip on a whim, and you may still need to charge it once or even twice a week when just commuting. Regardless, it’s bloody fun to drive and it looks awesome, with the bonus of it being quite a practical car considering its large boot space, comfort and functional, well-placed displays.
And for that I say, well done Kia.
Elly Awesome is an Aussie tech and lifestyle vlogger | @ellyawesometech | YouTube
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