The Kia EV6 GT has been crowned World Performance Car of the Year 2023 at the World Car of the Year awards beating the Nissan Z and Toyota GR Corolla to the top performance prize.

The EV6 is, effectively, Kia’s answer to the Tesla Model 3, and was chosen as the winner by 100 top automotive journalists from 32 countries during the New York International Auto Show.

Kia has evolved in recent years with a new logo, which we discussed in our latest podcast, and their intention to focus on sustainability. Competing against established premium manufacturers, they seek innovative solutions to achieve this goal. The long-range capability, spacious interior and design appeared to impress the judges.

However, the focus is not solely on sustainability. The EV6 GT can reach speeds of up to 162mph and achieve 0-62mph in just 3.5 seconds! Pretty impressive for a 2.2-tonne machine. If someone had told you this was a possibility 20 years ago, you’d think they had gone mad. It would be fascinating to see it in a drag race with a Polestar 2, Model 3 or even a Taycan. Did I mention that it comes with drift mode also?

The EV6 GT has built on from the standard model, which was awarded the 2022 European Car of the Year and the 2023 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The larger roof spoiler and GT badge are an indicator of that.

A feature of this car I like is the hints of lime green in the callipers and wheel stitching, a subtle touch maybe, but eye-catching nonetheless.

The EV6 starts at £63,000, so is more competitively priced than many of its competitors.

Whether this will help many people take the leap from traditional luxury manufacturers is another story, but its popularity amongst established automotive journalists can surely only help its cause.

Read our review of the EV6 GT Line here: https://www.drivenchat.com/words/kia-ev6

Words: Mike Booth
Pictures: Kia UK Press