Of all the cars I drove this past year, only one of them got me looking at online classifieds in search of an affordable example. That car was the Kia EV6 GT. Now I should note, I don't make the kind of money that would let me afford a new one, so I was looking at used examples before the update. However, the 2025 model was so fun, and still close enough to the older one, that I wanted to find a way that I could enjoy one after my week-long loan.Now, for someone that can afford the updated model, there are plenty of reasons to snag one instead of the old version. It's even more powerful, it picks up some tricks from its Hyundai N-branded cousin, it has a few welcome comfort features, and the range improved. The catch is, you might not be able to find one. A Modern Stinger GT With A Difference Joel Stocksdale / CarBuzz / ValnetEver since Kia killed off the Stinger GT, fans have been clamoring for something to continue its legacy. The EV6 GT might miss the mark by not having a turbocharged V6 engine like the Stinger, but in every other metric, it does a pretty good job of being a spiritual successor. It's rapid, has space for the family, and feels far more attainable than something from the likes of BMW or Mercedes-Benz. Oh, and did we mention it's rapid?With 601 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque from its dual-motor electric powertrain, it'll dispatch the zero-to-60 mph sprint in 3.4 seconds and top out at 161 mph. But it's what happens between there that makes it different from a lot of EVs. That's because it inherits the Ioniq 5 N's trick simulated gearshifts, making it a fun companion you can play with. And you don't have to inherit the Ioniq 5 N's boy racer looks or pay the premium of the forthcoming Genesis GV60 Magma to do so.The range improved, too. This is due to the added battery capacity we just touched on. The GT now includes an 84-kWh battery pack with a range of 231 miles. The original could only go 206 miles, and even the Ioniq 5 N doesn't match the GT's range. So you can go fast, farther than the Hyundai.But there's just one problem: it's almost impossible to find one. Limited Numbers, Made Rarer By Tariffs Joel Stocksdale / CarBuzz / Valnet As I said at the start, there's a problem: availability. You basically can't find any EV6 GTs for sale at this point, and it's not listed on the consumer site. That's because Kia paused deliveries after a handful were imported. A Kia representative confirmed the reason is due to "changing market conditions," which can be interpreted as the doublt hit of tariffs and the demise of the federal tax credit for EVs, which wiped out a significant portion of America's EV market.Worth noting is the fact that the GT is still built in South Korea, whereas the rest of the line is built in Georgia, which is why the EV6 GT was officially confirmed as dead in the US earlier this year. Technically, the regular EV6 should still be on sale, since it's built locally, but there's no MY26 available yet from Kia.Kia Back to the EV6 GT, though, which you can still find, albeit in limited supply, on the used market. Facelift 2025 models are in short supply, though, with none available at present on the CarBuzz Marketplace. However, three 2023-2024 models are available, ranging from as little as $26,900 with 46,000 miles on the clock to only $32,997 with 26,000 miles. These might have less torque and lack the simulated shifts of the MY25 model, but they're still fun.So if you can handle the reduced range, you can find an underrated performance deal. The Changes That Make The Difference For 2025 For the 2025 model year, the whole EV6 lineup received a styling update that gave the nose more angular lighting to match up with Kia's other EV models, both current and upcoming. While I actually prefer the styling of the older car, the new lights wouldn't put me off of the new car. As for the rest of it, it's still as sharp and unique as the day it launched. The curvy bodywork is also unique in this world where boxes have once again become beautiful.Joel Stocksdale / CarBuzz / Valnet The interior is mostly unchanged, save for a few details, ones that improve it for the better. The infotainment is shared with the EV9, and is just as easy to use. The instrument graphics have been updated to be similar to that SUV, though popping the car into one of the Sport modes adds a splash of lime green to the instruments. They really tie the interior with its other lime details (stitching, piping, buttons) together.Thankfully, the EV6 GT hasn't adopted the touch panel for climate controls that the EV9 and other Kias have. While the dual-function control panel for climate and sound wasn't idea, the control knobs were quite welcome for adjust temperature in climate mode and volume and tuning in sound mode. So the EV6 sort of gets the best combination of interior controls. Related, it now finally has power-adjustable heated and ventilated seats. They're heavier than the manual ones before, but those felt out of place in a pricey EV.Kia How It Drives: It's Just As Fun As Ever With all these changes, the EV6 GT actually doesn't drive hugely differently from before, but that's good. The original GT was a silly, joyful EV, and so is the new one. Obviously, it can do all the typical impressive EV things like pinning you to your seat for as long as you're willing to keep the throttle down. On the street, you probably won't want to keep the throttle flat for too long, either, since in addition to hitting 60 in under 4 seconds, it also has a top speed of 161 mph, so it can get you arrested. But what's so charming about it is how it drives outside of its acceleration.Joel Stocksdale / CarBuzz / Valnet For one thing, it's not as concerned about being a buttoned-down track car like an Ioniq 5 N. This thing has the heart of a hoon. A few times making a right turn at a quiet intersection, I could feel the back end stepping out smoothly and eagerly. I didn't even have it in its drift mode. It really wants to wiggle, but not uncontrollably or dangerously. The tight chassis gives you loads of warning before it does anything, and it's easy to adjust it with the throttle. It wants to play, and it wants you to join in. It's a pit bull puppy of an EV.The seats are an underrated part of the car feeling communicative. Though the bolsters are pretty firm and could get a little uncomfortable, they hold you firmly and directly. Between that and the quick, direct steering, you feel like you have good control. The front end is happy to head for corners with every little input, too. Even though it's close to 5,000 pounds, it feels a lot lighter.Joel Stocksdale / CarBuzz / Valnet It doesn't sacrifice on comfort, either. The standard damping feels like what the GT-Line should have as standard. It's firm, but compliant, as opposed to the GT-Line's more squishy setup. Switch to the sportier mode, and the suspension stiffens noticeably, and it's probably not ideal for your average commute in, say, Detroit or Los Angeles. If your local roads are a little smoother, though, it would be easy to leave it in the most aggressive settings all the time.Also, if you want to, there is the virtual gear shift system introduced on the Ioniq 5 N. It's an impressive simulation, and if you like it, it's great to have. It's not my thing, though. I'd rather just leave it in normal single-speed mode. The important thing is you have a choice, and neither mode takes away from the other.2025 Kia EV6 GT front wheel
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