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Kia's quickest electric car has become even more powerful, with some – not all – of the high-performance tech from its Hyundai sibling.
Electric Cars
The 2025 Kia EV6 GT electric performance car has been unveiled with more power and simulated gear shifts from its Hyundai Ioniq 5 N sibling, with the first Australian showroom arrivals due between January and March next year.
After initial specifications of the EV6 GT were confirmed last week, Kia has published images and full details of its new electric performance hatch-turned-SUV in South Korea.
Prices are yet to be confirmed for Australia, but in South Korea the updated EV6 GT is no more expensive – suggesting the local $99,590 plus on-road costs sticker could be retained.
Dual electric motors are retained, but power has been lifted from 430kW/740Nm to 448kW/740Nm in normal driving – rising to 478kW/770Nm in the new launch control mode.
Both new outputs are a match for the related Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, with which the latest EV6 GT shares its higher energy density 84kWh battery pack, up from 77.4kWh previously.
Despite the power boost, Kia claims an unchanged 0-100km/h acceleration time of 3.5 seconds – 0.1sec slower than the Ioniq 5 N.
Driving range has increased with the larger battery pack, though only by 4 per cent in South Korean lab testing, from 342km to 355km.
Apply that increase to the existing 424km driving range rating based on European WLTP testing, and it would suggest 440km may be quoted for the new GT – compared to 448km for the Ioniq 5 N by the same measure.
A 10 to 80 per cent fast charge in 18 minutes is still claimed – on a 350kW charger – despite the larger battery, as it is believed the new model can charge faster (approximately, or even beyond 250kW).
The EV6 GT has derived a Virtual Gear Shift feature from the Ioniq 5 N, which uses software to simulate gear shifts from an eight-speed automatic transmission.
However, there is no mention of the Hyundai's three synthesised driving soundtracks – including an imitation of a turbo four-cylinder petrol engine.
As before, there is an electronically-controlled limited-slip differential on the rear axle, adaptive suspension, and high-performance brakes which aid regenerative braking technology able to decelerate at up to 0.6G.
Exterior changes mirror the wider EV6 range, with new front and rear bumpers, reshaped headlights, and restyled 21-inch alloy wheels hiding green brake calipers.
Inside, the regular EV6's changes – including dual 12.3-inch 'ccNC' displays – carry over, plus a new sports steering wheel with a green GT button.
The suede and leather-trimmed sports bucket seats are finally power-adjustable – in eight ways, replacing manual adjustment – on top of ventilated, a feature Kia says was already available in South Korea, but is not offered on Australian EV6 GTs, which have heated seats only.
Memory and easy-entry functions are also offered with the revised seats.
Other new features include walk-away door locking, a digital key, augmented-reality satellite navigation, a built-in dash cam, and a passenger-side mirror that automatically dips in reverse gear.
Five exterior colours are available: Snow White Pearl, Aurora Black Pearl, Runway Red, Wolf Grey and Yacht Matte Blue.
The 2025 Kia EV6 GT is due on sale in Australia in the first quarter of next year (January to March), at the same time as the wider facelifted EV6 line-up.
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Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.
