2024 Kia EV6 GT AWD Review

At launch, the EV6 GT was in a class of its own, confidently asserting itself at the top of the sports battery-electric world, giving thoroughbred supercars a serious run for their money.

In 2024, however, the game has changed and the EV6 GT has more competition than ever before, which begs the question of how it stacks up against its main rivals today, and if it’s worth stretching your budget over a more affordable EV6 variant.

To make things tougher for potential buyers, a facelifted EV6 GT is set to arrive later in the year, which will likely pick up some technology upgrades alongside the refreshed styling package.

Let’s look at how solid of a footing the EV6 GT has in the performance electric vehicle world in 2024, whether it’s worth a hefty slice of your hard-earned dollars, or if you’re better off waiting for the upgrade.

Kia EV6 GT AWD Competition

How Much Does It Cost?

The EV6 GT you’re looking at will sting your back pocket to the tune of $99,590 before on-road costs.

For reference, prices for the EV6 range kick off from $72,590 for the entry-level EV6 Air RWD, rising to $79,590 for the EV6 GT-Line RWD, while stepping up to the EV6 GT-Line AWD brings the price to $87,590.

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Kia EV6 GT AWD Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the Kia EV6 GT Have?

Features specific to the range-topping EV6 GT include a set of 21-inch machined alloys with neon green brake calipers, Matrix LED headlights, GT bucket seats upholstered in suede and leatherette, green contrast stitching and an Australian-tuned GT adaptive suspension package for the most aggressive handling possible.

Those features are in addition to what you’ll pick up in lesser grades of the EV6, which means you’ll also pick up a panoramic sunroof, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a powered boot lift, and heated front & rear seats.

The EV6 GT also receives ambient lighting, a wireless smartphone charger, semi-autonomous parking, a head-up display, adaptive cruise control, a 3D surround-view monitor and a long list of active safety tech we’ll cover later in this review.

Kia EV6 GT Connectivity & Infotainment Features

The EV6 GT is packaged with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display that is paired seamlessly with the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a slight curvature that gives it a nice modern design.

The infotainment system offers satellite navigation, DAB+ digital radio and is paired with a premium 14-speaker sound system from Meridian that sounds fantastic when turned up to eleven.

While the EV6 GT debuted with Kia’s latest technology suite, in 2024, its rivals have very much caught up and the overall experience feels a little bit dated, considering the GT’s price tag.

Kia is set to upgrade the EV6’s infotainment tech with its upcoming update later in the year though, for now, potential buyers will have to make do without niceties like wireless smartphone connectivity.

Having said that, all the fundamentals are solid, with a bright and responsive touchscreen display positioned atop the dashboard and a user-friendly menu layout that makes it easy to navigate between the home screen, multimedia and safety features.

The ergonomics are great, with the display positioned slightly in the direction of the driver which makes swiping across the quick and intuitive.

There’s also a clever little display that Kia uses to switch between the climate settings and media controls which proves a great use of space and an effective means of cleaning up the dash without eliminating physical buttons entirely.

Does the Kia EV6 GT Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

Buyers may be surprised to learn that the EV6 GT does not come packaged with wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone connectivity.

Instead, the EV6 GT requires a physical connection via a USB cord in order to access Android Auto or Apple CarPlay on the move - though this is likely to be addressed in Kia’s upcoming update for the EV6 range later this year.

One of the upsides of the EV6’s wired Apple CarPlay & Android Auto smartphone mirroring is that connecting is quick and simple, without any bugs or glitches that can plague the wireless experience.

Once you’re up and running, Kia’s 12.3-inch display looks great working alongside smartphone mirroring, with crisp graphics and bright colours that makes Apple CarPlay, in particular, really pop on the display. 

@onlineauto.com.au If you’re in the market for an ultra-fast EV that can still handle the wide variety of family duties, keep the range-topping Kia EV6 GT on the list. While on paper it may look to be the performance Swiss army knife of electric vehicles, how does it really stack up against the rest of the market? Take a look at some of the key exterior features of this supercar killer - or dive into our full review via the link in our bio. #OnlineAuto #CarReview #TestDrive #KiaEV6 #Kia ♬ Beachballs - LowFi Junkie

Is the Kia EV6 GT AWD Comfortable to Drive Around Town?

Behind the wheel, the EV6 GT is happy to bumble around town in a very civilised manner - sitting as an ideal sleeper that has no problem setting your hair on fire when pushed.

While the main marketing of the EV6 GT centres on its ability to outrun supercars on a sprint to 100km/h, it remains impressively smooth and surprisingly user-friendly on a daily drive.

Leave the EV6 GT in the ‘eco’ drive mode and it’s actually quite forgiving when navigating traffic or the tight quarters of a parking lot - hats off to Kia for that.

One detraction of the daily driving experience is the GT’s sportier steering setup that gives it a slightly wider turning circle than the regular EV6 range, though overall it’s quite manageable around town. 

Of course, acceleration is absolutely effortless, with the dual-motor setup happy to woosh you up to any road-legal speed without breaking a sweat.

Couple that with the one-pedal driving mode and, once you’re acquainted with the sensation of the added braking - which feeds power back to the battery - and a commute in the EV6 GT is easy-breezy and efficient.

The EV6 GT’s dual-motor setup also means that you’ve got the added confidence of an all-wheel-drive system that responds instantly to changes in road conditions.

In terms of ride quality, Kia’s upgraded suspension package has indeed been tuned for Australian road conditions, though the setup far prefers a buttery-smooth city street over a country road.

You’ve got to cut the EV6’s suspension slack, here, especially considering it’s tasked with keeping a near-2.2-tonne rocket ship on wheels flat in the corners.

That said, the reality of a long-distance haul on country roads in the EV6 is a particularly bumpy one, with the 21-inch wheels and stiff suspension - even in the softest setting -  struggling to accommodate harsh Aussie B-roads.

It doesn’t feel unsettled on rougher roads, though the ride does become jittery due to the sheer weight of the package which is something to keep in mind if you live outside the ironed-out roads of a major city.

On the highway, the EV6 GT absolutely excels, with the near-silent driving experience eliminating almost all road, tyre and wind noise that makes it a lovely place to sit back on a long trip.

Overall, the EV6 GT’s versatility is impressive and, as counterintuitive as it sounds, it does a great job of hiding its supercar-munching pace behind a non-assuming wall that is easy to pilot around town.

Is the Kia EV6 GT AWD Fast?

You bet it is - this is a straight-up time machine when you engage ‘GT-mode’ and flatten your foot.

In fact, there’s a very small list of vehicles that can take on the EV6 GT when it comes to straight-line pace.

For the number geeks, the EV6 GT’s dual electric motors push out a combined 430kW of power and monstrous 740Nm of torque to all four wheels, resulting in a 0-100km/h sprint in just 3.5 seconds.

There’s so much power that you’ll often feel both the front and rear wheels struggling to gain traction; slingshotting your passengers into the future is one of the EV6 GT’s most impressive party pieces.

To wipe off the speed, the EV6 GT’s upgraded brakes provide immense stopping power, bringing the hefty body and battery pack to a stop with ease.

In the corners, the EV6 GT has a tonne of grip at its disposal, with the low centre of gravity, AWD traction and super-sticky, wide Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres offering outstanding handling characteristics.

What you can’t do in the EV6 GT, however, is overcome the laws of physics, which means that you’ll feel its weight in the corners and, if pushed hard enough, begin to feel some signs of understeer.

That said, you’ll be far exceeding road-legal speeds to get to that point, meaning the EV6 GT on a spirited drive is an absolute hoot and asserts itself as a truly versatile performance machine that is happy to dial it all back on a daily drive.

How Far Can the EV6 GT Drive on a Single Charge?

The EV6 GT receives the same 77.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack you’ll find in the rest of the EV6 range.

With a pair of Kia’s most powerful electric motors at either end, though, you’ll quickly find that the EV6 GT is the least energy-efficient in the range - but not drastically so.

Officially, the EV6 GT has an energy consumption figure of 20.6kWh per 100km, making it around 2kWh per 100km less efficient than the EV6 Air RWD.

Combined with its 77.4kWh battery pack, on paper, you’ll be able to get 424km of driving per charge from the EV6 GT.

Our time behind the wheel of the EV6 GT saw us improve upon Kia’s claimed energy consumption figures, averaging 19.6kWh/100km over nearly 1,000kms; we were extremely attentive to having a gentle right foot, though.

• Kia EV6 GT Energy (Claimed) Consumption: 20.6kWh

• Kia EV6 GT Energy (Tested) Consumption: 19.6kWh

How Fast Can You Charge the Kia EV6’s Battery?

The Kia EV6 GT features ultra-fast charging thanks to the 800-volt architecture lurking underneath, which allows you to capitalise on the full power of the fastest DC chargers out there.

With access to an ultra-fast 350kW DC charger, you can bring the Kia EV6 GT’s battery from 10 to 80 per cent in a claimed 18 minutes, with a full charge taking around thirty minutes.

The only problem in this sense is that finding a 350kW charger can be difficult, while finding one that is capable of delivering the full 350kW is near impossible, which means you’ll often be charging with a 50kW DC fast charger, which offers a full charge in around 105 minutes.

Charging the EV6 GT with an 11kW, three-phase AC wall box at your home or office will bring the battery from 0 to 100 per cent in just under eight hours.

Finally, for those charging their EV6 GT with a standard 230-volt AC power outlet at home can expect a full charge to take 38 hours.

This means that investing in a 7 or 11kW wall box at home is a great option, allowing you to return home in the evening and leave for work again in the morning with a fully-charged battery.

• Kia EV6 GT 350kW (10 - 80 per cent) Charging Time: 18 minutes

• Kia EV6 GT 50kW Charging Time: 105 minutes

• Kia EV6 GT 11kW Charging Time: 8 hours

• Kia EV6 GT 230-volt Charging Time: 38 hours

Is it Practical and Spacious?

The EV6 GT is technically classed as a large SUV, though the silhouette casts more of a wagon shape than a traditional SUV.

Call it what you want - but there’s no denying just how practical the EV6 GT’s cabin is, making for a wonderful package to absolutely terrify the whole family in, and how unique it feels to the lineup.

Step inside and the EV6 GT’s low-slung driving position makes an immediate and sporty impression.

The digital instrument cluster looks great, wheel-mounted paddles behind the flat-bottomed steering wheel, contrast stitching and interesting carbon-inspired weave across the dashboard help to distinguish the GT from lesser variants in the EV6 range.

The bucket seats are unique to the range-topping EV6 GT and offer significant side bolstering to hold you in place while cornering.

They certainly look the piece and felt fine under our bum on short and medium hops, though we did find ourselves shuffling around a little bit on longer hauls up the highway.

We also don’t know just how accommodating the bucket seats will prove for a wider mix of body shapes, though taller drivers won’t have trouble getting comfortable, with decent headroom on offer.

Seats aside, the EV6 GT’s cabin is undeniably practical, offering tonnes of clever storage options that will leave a lasting impression on family buyers.

The raised centre console gives it more of an exciting cockpit feel while offering practical touches like a pair of cupholders, a wireless charging pad that keeps your phone out of eye-shot and a super deep storage area underneath the folding armrest.

The lofty centre console also offers another tiered storage area underneath which proves perfect for smaller bags and valuables, effectively doubling your storage options up front.

The driver and front passenger also pick up large bottle holders on either side of the cabin and a glovebox.

Move to the second row and the Kia EV6 GT continues to impress when it comes to interior space.

Tall adults won’t have an issue getting comfortable thanks to acres of legroom and a decent amount of headroom, even with the panoramic sunroof mechanism in place.

You might find that, due to the battery pack sitting underneath, your legs are slightly more elevated than your typical seating position, though the difference is marginal.

Considering its abilities, the amount of interior space in the rear is outstanding.

Storage areas aren’t quite on par with the front of the cabin, though rear passengers still pick up bottle holders and amenities like air vents and USB charging ports.

You’ll also find a vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging port at the base of the middle bench seat, allowing you to charge up larger electronics while you’re on the road.

For the parents out there, the EV6 GT retains the usual pair of ISOFIX anchors in the second row and three top tether mounts to accommodate forward and rear-facing child seats.

How Big is the Kia EV6 GT’s Boot?

The Kia EV6 remains a solid performer when it comes to boot space, though it’s not a game-changer.

Kicking things off with the front boot, lifting the bonnet lid, you’ll find a compact storage area measuring 20L in total.

While capacity is limited, this allows you to stash some shallow and potentially more valuable items out of sight from the cabin.

Lift the powered tailgate and you’ll find a healthy 480L of boot space behind the standing second row, putting the EV6 GT on par with a number of midsize SUVs, even with its coupe-inspired hatchback design.

That unique design does, however, impede your ability to stack taller items in the boot.

• Front Boot Storage: 20L

• Boot Space: 480L

• Maximum Boot Space: 1,260L

There’s a shallow under-floor layer of storage that is perfect for hiding your charging cables, as well as four tie-down points for the much-needed cargo net to stop valuables flying around in the corners.

Fold down the rear bench and you’ll unlock a total of 1,260L worth of boot space in the rear of the EV6 GT when you need to lug around some bulky cargo.

One downside here is that there’s no spare tyre hiding underneath the bodywork, with a tyre repair kit bundled instead.

Overall, though, the EV6 GT offers a healthy amount of boot space that should weather the storm of an Australian family with confidence.

Is it Safe?

Another area that the EV6 GT certainly doesn’t disappoint is when it comes to the long list of safety equipment.

Sitting at the top of the EV6 pile, the GT picks up every piece of active safety gear under the sun, meaning buyers don’t miss out on anything.

Headlining the safety equipment list is a forward and reverse autonomous emergency braking system with vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist detection and a junction turning assist system.

There is also the usual suspects like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, a blind-spot view monitor that pops up on the digital dash, and lane-keep assist with lane-centring.

The EV6 GT also boasts a surround-view monitor with a trick three-dimensional view, as well as safe exit assist, speed limit assist and rear occupant alerts.

The only downside of such a hefty safety suite is that, behind the wheel, EV6 GT can pester you with chimes alerting you to a potential speed infringement, while the lane-keep assist system can prove a bit aggressive at times.

Having said that, buyers will be pleased when gazing over the safety equipment list knowing they’re not missing out on any major gear.

Does the Kia EV6 GT Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

The Kia EV6 GT remains untested by ANCAP, though it’s worth noting that the regular EV6 Air and GT-Line have both picked up a five-star rating.

During ANCAP testing, the EV6 Air and GT-Line scored the following marks:

• Adult Occupant Protection: 90%

• Child Occupant Protection: 87%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 64%

• Safety Assist: 88%

What Warranty Does the Kia EV6 GT Come With?

The Kia EV6 GT retains the company’s outstanding warranty coverage while benefitting from some pretty cost-effective servicing plans.

Each EV6 GT receives the company’s seven-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty, while the battery and high-voltage components are backed by a seven-year/150,000-kilometre warranty.

Kia offers three, five and seven-year pre-paid servicing plans for the EV6 GT which are priced as follows:

• Three-year EV6 GT pre-paid servicing cost: $835

• Five-year EV6 GT pre-paid servicing cost: 1,561

• Seven-year EV6 GT pre-paid servicing cost: $2,309

Our Verdict: Is the Kia EV6 GT Worth it?

Let’s get one thing straight… this is not your average electric vehicle, though, it does a mighty good impression of an everyday EV.

If you’re looking for all the practical virtues of the EV6 platform, we’d be sticking to the EV6 Air which boasts more suitable range figures for Australians.

If, however, you’re looking for acceleration figures that will make a half-million-dollar supercar blush, there’s no escaping the allure of the EV6 GT.

While the speed is intoxicating, the EV6 GT can - in eco mode - hide its ludicrous pace and becomes friendly enough that any level of driver can feel confident behind the road, making it a super versatile all-rounder.

In terms of the conundrum of pouncing now or waiting for the upgrade, one thing to keep in mind is that an updated EV6 GT will likely come accompanied by a price rise, making the current-gen potentially better value.

It’s unlikely that Kia will change much of the hardware underneath, so if you’re lacking patience and looking for thrills - we think the time is now, so reach out to one of our car-buying experts!

Five EV6 GT Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty; 150,000-kilometre for battery

2. Dual electric motors produce 430kW/740Nm

3. 0-100km/h sprint in 3.5 seconds

4. 424km driving range (WLTP cycle) from 77.4kWh battery

5. Unrated by ANCAP (standard EV6 received five-star rating)