The Kia EV6 GT has won first place in a high-performance electric vehicle comparison test conducted by Auto Motor und Sport, a leading German automotive magazine, edging out Tesla’s Model Y Performance and vehicles from Chinese manufacturers.
The EV6 GT scored 585 points, nine points ahead of the Tesla Model Y Performance’s 576 points, according to the test results. The Zeekr 7GT Privilege AWD placed third with 569 points, followed by the Polestar 4 Coupe Dual Motor with 531 points and the BYD Sealion 7 AWD Excellence with 508 points.
The test carries particular weight because it was conducted in Germany, Europe’s largest EV market and home to established automotive manufacturers. Auto Motor und Sport is regarded as one of Germany’s most influential automotive publications, and its evaluations are widely referenced by European consumers making vehicle purchase decisions.
Superior Performance in Core Categories
The Kia model demonstrated clear dominance in three critical categories: safety, powertrain, and driving performance. The EV6 GT scored 89 points in safety, 105 in powertrain, and 96 in driving performance — the highest marks among all five vehicles in each of these areas.
The largest advantage came in driving performance, where the EV6 GT outpaced the second-place Model Y Performance by 20 points. The Kia vehicle cleared the 18-meter slalom test at 67.6 km/h and completed the double lane-change test at 132.9 km/h, posting the fastest figures in both tests among all participating vehicles. Evaluators praised its steering performance, driving mode configuration, and overall driving experience.
Braking and Stability Stand Out
In the safety category, braking performance was a decisive factor. The EV6 GT stopped from 100 km/h in 34.5 meters with cold brakes and 33.5 meters with warmed brakes — the shortest distances among all evaluated vehicles under both conditions. The vehicle also demonstrated superior driving stability in slalom and lane-change tests compared to its competitors.
The powertrain assessment highlighted the EV6 GT’s 478-kilowatt (650-horsepower) maximum output, adjustable regenerative braking levels, and one-pedal driving capability. Notably, evaluators identified the EV6 GT as the only model in the test with a distinctly sporty driving character, pointing to its virtual shifting function and drift mode as standout features that differentiated it from rivals.
Auto Motor und Sport concluded that the EV6 GT “won this comparison test on the strength of the best driving performance.”
Shifting Competition Dynamics
The result reflects broader changes in the high-performance EV market. Competition among manufacturers is increasingly centered on driving feel and safety performance rather than price and driving range alone, as Chinese brands like Zeekr and BYD aggressively expand into the performance segment that Tesla has long dominated.
For Kia, the victory in a prestigious German test could significantly bolster its European market position as it competes against both established and emerging manufacturers. A Kia official commented on the significance of the recognition, stating the company is committed to “delivering a differentiated electrified driving experience and reliable product quality.”
However, the full scope of the evaluation remains partially obscured. Detailed scores in the remaining four categories — body, convenience, environmental friendliness, and economy — were not disclosed, limiting a comprehensive comparison of how the vehicles stack up across all dimensions evaluated by the magazine.
