4 reasons to buy Kia's super-quick $63,000 electric SUV and 3 ways it falls short

• I drove Kia's high-performance electric SUV: the 2023 EV6 GT. 
• It's quick, stylish, and high-tech, but suffers from short range and no front trunk. 
• The EV6 GT that Kia lent me cost around $63,000, including a destination fee. 

A super-sporty version of Kia's EV6 series, the 2023 EV6 GT is one of the coolest electric cars I've driven recently — but it isn't perfect.

Do the pluses of the little $63,000 SUV outweigh its drawbacks? You be the judge. 

Pro: Impeccable style

To be perfectly honest, I found the EV6 kind of ugly when I first saw photos of it online. But its stubby hood, swoopy rear end, and other unusual features grew on me the more time I spent with it. Much like when the nerdy girl in a high-school movie takes off her glasses and becomes prom queen, it turns out the EV6's beauty was hiding in plain sight all along.  

The GT version adds radioactive-green brake calipers and bigger wheels for a little extra flair.

The EV6's interior is stylish, too, featuring a two-spoke steering wheel, floating center console, and more bright-green accents. 

Con: No front trunk

Rivals like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E offer capacious front trunks that take advantage of the space conventionally occupied by an engine.

In the EV6 GT, there's a tiny storage cubby under the hood, but it doesn't seem all that useful. It's unfortunate, because although the the EV6 GT seats four comfortably thanks to a stretched wheelbase and a flat floor, competitors offer more space for non-human items. 

Pro: Supercar-like quickness

The GT is like a regular EV6 on a cocktail of steroids and Red Bull.

Its two motors jointly pump out 576 horsepower and 545 pound-feet of torque, more than double the base model. And since this is an EV, all that oomph arrives instantly. There's no lag, no delay, no waiting for an engine to rev up to speed — just mind-melting, adrenaline-inducing acceleration with every nudge of the right pedal. 

Moreover, the GT feels agile and planted around corners. 

Con: Stiff ride

The EV6 GT is more for thrill-seekers than casual grocery-getters. While its stiffened suspension aids handling, it also translates road imperfections directly into your rear end. 

Con: Limited range

In the EV6 GT, you'll be tempted to stomp the accelerator whenever traffic opens up. But watch its battery gauge closely so you don't drain all of its energy too quickly. 

Kia gave the GT more powerful motors without enlarging its battery pack, so its EPA-estimated driving range comes in at a disappointing 206 miles. That's pretty weak compared to direct competitors like the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT (270 miles) and Tesla Model Y Performance (303 miles).

Pro: Lightning-fast charging

The EV6's saving grace is it offers some of the quickest charging on the electric-car market. Without getting into all the nerdy stuff relating to wattage, amperage, and 800-volt architectures, just know that the EV6 can take better advantage of the most powerful EV charging stations than most rivals.

Kia says it can charge from 10%-80% in a breezy 18 minutes. 

Pro: Packed with tech and safety features

The EV6 GT comes loaded with impressive features that make driving it feel safe and convenient. On top of the EV6's generous array of standard driver-assistance tech (which includes blind-spot monitoring and lane keeping), the EV6 GT comes with a helpful 360-degree parking camera and blind-spot camera views that pop up in the driver-facing screen whenever you go to make a lane change. 

It also provides a couple of household power outlets, which you don't get in every EV, much less every car. I used them to make breakfast last year.