Everything
As a newly fledged tennis fan, this year’s Australia Open delivered a lot of unexpected joys. There was thrill that came with finally understanding how the complicated tennis scoring system works (even if it did mean accepting that love equals nothing), the complex I developed after getting to know some players on a first name basis, and the excitement I felt every time I saw someone serve faster than 200km on the on-court screen. Little did I know that, as the Open was nearing its end, I’d be spending the morning of the men’s semi finals circling a racetrack in speeds even greater than Novak Djokovic’s best serves.
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know that Kia has come a long way from the car brand you once knew. Since their 2021 rebrand, Kia has gone from strength to strength and now, their latest offering, the Kia EV6 GT, is taking the brand to new heights.
The EVG6 GT is Kia’s most powerful production car in history, boasting a top speed of 260km. When I test drove the car at Melbourne’s Sandown Racecourse I hit the straight and was told, in the politest way possible, to floor it. In seconds, I watched the digital speedometer hit 80km, then 100km, then a top of 129km before I cautiously hit the breaks. Arriving at the event, I was told the EV6 GT could go from zero to 100km in 3.5 seconds and, after driving it myself, I can confirm this car is like nothing I’ve experienced before.
But it isn’t just speed that makes the EV6 GT Kia’s most-anticipated fully electric car to date—it’s the car’s luxury feel. Drift mode (yes, it really has it) and high-tech electric suspension aside, those of us who are more likely to drive to the coast for a weekend escape than around a racetrack will appreciate the myriad of luxury comforts that feature in the EV6 GT. Starting, of course, with the sunroof.
On the inside, the car feels sporty but cool, with racing-style artificial suede-trimmed seats with neon green piping. Sixty-four colour ambient mood lighting matches the quiet of the electric engine, which, once you’re used to it, makes for an incredibly calming drive. Even when whipping around the track in the passenger seat, a professional driver taking us to 200km an hour and beyond, the car was quiet, comfortable, and smooth. As someone with little experience driving in EVs, I was floored.
And with wireless phone charging, USB chargers in the rear console, a heated steering wheel, a push-button start, and remote parking assistant, driving the EV6 GT made every other car I’ve driven feel like a play thing.
With the look and feel of a luxury car, and power never before seen in a Kia, the EV6 GT’s recommended retail price of $99,590 comes as a nice surprise. For more information, visit the Kia website or visit a dealership to try it for yourself.
