What Does the GT Button Do in the 2023 Kia EV6 GT?
We’ve tested the all-electric Kia EV6 on multiple occasions and can confirm it’s a fleet-footed compact SUV, but for EV enthusiasts keen on more power than its initial trims could provide, the South Korean marque introduced the performance GT variant for 2023. Performance jumps considerably when you step up to the GT — but if you want to access it all, you’re gonna need to hit the bright lime button above on the steering wheel.
Related: 2023 Kia EV6 GT Review: Affordable All-Electric Performance
- ${price_badge()}
- ${ami_badge()}
- ${battery_badge()}${ev_report_link()}
- ${hot_car_badge()}
- ${award_badge()}
- ${cpo_badge()}
${price_badge_description}
${ami_badge_description}
The EV Battery Rating is based on this vehicle's current expected range relative to the vehicles expected range when new. ${battery_badge_text}
Certified cars are manufacturer warrantied and typically go through a rigorous multi-point inspection.
This car is likely to sell soon based on the price, features, and condition.
${award_blurb}
${award_two_blurb}
Shop the 2023 Kia EV6 near you
When the EV6 debuted for 2022, available output was either the entry-level Light’s 167 horsepower with rear-wheel drive or the Wind and GT-Line’s 320 hp with dual-motor all-wheel drive. Kia tweaked the lineup for 2023, dropping the Light and adding the GT; base output is now 225 hp with RWD or 320 hp with AWD for both the Wind and GT-Line, while the GT maxes out at 576 hp. It’s a noticeable leap both on paper and behind the wheel.
Smartly, Kia doesn’t make the GT’s full power available by default. The key is in the car’s drive modes: Switching from Eco to Normal to Sport to GT increases pedal response when you mash the accelerator. Toggling between modes using the black button on the bottom left of the steering column will get you 286 hp in Eco, while Normal and Sport offer up to 429 hp. Hitting the unmistakable lime-colored button on the steering column’s right side, however, will unlock the full 576 horses (and 545 pounds-feet of torque, up from 446 pounds-feet in the other variants). The speedometer display’s sides also gain a lime hue so you know you’re locked in:
Note that the GT drive mode display also shows you My Drive mode, but that’s not directly related to the GT mode despite appearing in that menu; it simply allows you to tailor a drive mode of your own based on factors like powertrain, steering and driveline.
Like any other performance vehicle, having this kind of (definitely ridiculous, potentially dangerous) fun at the click of a button comes at a cost. The GT is the least efficient version of the Kia EV6; EPA-estimated range is at a mere 206 miles, comfortably lagging even the standard-range rear-drive variant’s 232 miles. It’s also a pretty penny for all that power: The GT starts at $62,925 (including $1,325 destination) before you add options, and it’s ineligible for the $7,500 EV federal tax credit because all EV6s are made in South Korea. But if power is a priority and price isn’t a problem, the EV6 GT may well provide the thrills you’re after.
More From Cars.com:
- 2023 Kia EV6 Turns Out the Light, Adds GT and $1,000 More to Start
- Tesla Model Y Vs. Kia EV6: Best Against Next
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 Vs. Tesla Model Y: Functional Vs. Funky
- What Do All of These Buttons Do?
- What’s New With Electric Vehicles for 2023?
Related Video:
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
