Kia EV6 GT beats Tesla Model Y Performance in German five-car test

The Kia EV6 GT has beaten the Tesla Model Y Performance in a five-car test by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, one of Europe’s most influential car magazines. The 650PS Kia scored 585 points to the Tesla’s 576, ahead of the Zeekr 7GT, Polestar 4 and BYD Sealion 7, according to Herald Corporation. It won on safety, powertrain and driving, and stopped shorter than any of its rivals.

For UK buyers shopping for a fast electric SUV or crossover, it is a useful independent data point in a class full of strong contenders. Here are the results, why the Kia won, and what UK reviewers make of it.

How did the five cars score?

Auto Motor und Sport tested the cars on 8 October 2026 across seven categories, including body and safety, comfort, powertrain, driving performance, environmental impact and cost.

Position	Car	Score
1	Kia EV6 GT	585
2	Tesla Model Y Performance	576
3	Zeekr 7GT Privilege AWD	569
4	Polestar 4 Coupe Dual Motor	531
5	BYD Sealion 7 AWD Excellence	508

The EV6 GT topped three categories: safety (89 points), powertrain (105) and driving performance (96). Its biggest margin was in driving performance, where it beat the Tesla by 20 points.

Why did the Kia win?

Braking and handling, mainly. In the 100km/h to zero stop, the EV6 GT needed 34.5 metres with cold brakes and 33.5 metres with warm brakes, the shortest of all five cars in both tests.

It was also the quickest through the 18-metre slalom at 67.6km/h and through the double lane change, an emergency avoidance test, at 132.9km/h. Testers praised its steering response, range of driving modes and driving enjoyment.

In the powertrain category, it scored well for its 478kW (650PS) output, power delivery, simulated gearshifts and regenerative braking.

The overall gap is small, though. Nine points separate the Kia and the Tesla, and the Model Y Performance remains a strong all-rounder. Comfort, practicality and running costs matter more to many buyers than slalom speed.

What is the Kia EV6 GT?

The EV6 GT is the high-performance version of Kia’s EV6 crossover, updated with the powertrain and much of the tech from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Key UK figures:

Kia EV6 GT	Figure
Power	650PS (478kW) in GT mode
0-62mph	3.5 seconds
Battery	84kWh
WLTP range	279 miles
Peak charging	258kW
UK price	£59,195 (Fleet News) to £59,985 (evo)

The updated car has an 8.5% larger battery than before and charges 8% faster, and it is cheaper than the original 2021 GT. evo notes that you would need a Porsche Macan Turbo at almost £100,000 to match its performance.

Efficiency is its weak point. evo saw about 2.7 miles per kWh on a mixed run, giving a realistic range of around 200 miles. Our Ionity and Tesla Supercharger comparison covers charging on longer trips.

What do UK reviewers say?

Opinion is more divided than the German test suggests. evo praised its “clever powertrain tech”, “chassis balance” and “point-to-point pace”, and called it “a lot of car for the money”.

Fleet News was more critical. It said the latest GT addresses the original’s choppy ride and feels more assured on country lanes, but “just doesn’t have the same magic as the Ioniq 5 N”, feeling “too big, too heavy and too unpredictable” when pushed, especially in the wet. It suggested the Ioniq 5 N is the better choice for buyers who want a genuinely exciting EV.

The difference partly reflects what each test values. Auto Motor und Sport scores measurable safety and dynamics on a test track; UK reviews focus on how the car feels on real British roads.

How do the rivals compare?

All five are available in the UK in some form:

• Tesla Model Y Performance. Strong all-rounder with access to Tesla’s Supercharger network. Our October 2026 Tesla prices have the latest figures.
• Zeekr 7GT. A Geely-group shooting brake that impressed in third place.
• Polestar 4. A coupe-SUV with no rear window, praised for design and quality.
• BYD Sealion 7. A popular, keenly priced family SUV that is less focused on performance.

How was the test scored?

Auto Motor und Sport’s comparisons score cars across seven categories, which together give a total out of several hundred points. The categories cover:

• Body and safety, including space, practicality, visibility and braking.
• Comfort, including ride, noise, seats and climate.
• Powertrain, including power delivery, charging and regenerative braking.
• Driving performance, including handling, steering and emergency manoeuvres.
• Environmental impact, including efficiency.
• Costs, including price, running costs and warranty.
• One further category, covering additional criteria.

Because points are spread across so many areas, a car can win overall without winning everything. The EV6 GT topped three categories but did not lead on every measure, and the Model Y Performance was only nine points behind. That is why it is worth reading past the headline result to the categories that matter most to you.

Why do braking distances matter so much?

Stopping distance is one of the most useful safety measures in any test, because it reflects tyres, brakes, weight and stability systems working together. The EV6 GT’s 34.5 metres from 100km/h (about 62mph) with cold brakes, and 33.5 metres once warmed, were the shortest of the five cars. For context, the difference between the best and worst car in a test like this can be several metres, which is the difference between stopping short of a hazard and hitting it.

Heavy EVs can struggle here. Batteries add weight, and weight makes stopping harder. A performance EV that stops this well shows that tyre choice, brake hardware and chassis tuning can more than make up for the extra mass. If braking matters to you, check the tyres fitted to any car you test drive: performance tyres usually stop shorter but wear faster and cost more to replace.

What do the slalom and lane-change tests show?

Both tests measure how a car copes with sudden changes of direction. The 18-metre slalom, which the EV6 GT cleared at 67.6km/h, rewards quick steering and good body control. The double lane change, which it completed at 132.9km/h, simulates swerving to avoid an obstacle and moving back into lane, a manoeuvre that can unsettle tall, heavy cars.

Strong results here mean the car stays stable and predictable when you need it most, rather than just being fun on a twisty road. That is reassuring in a car with 650PS, which UK reviewers have warned can catch out an inexperienced driver in the wet.

Who should consider the EV6 GT?

The EV6 GT makes most sense for:

• Drivers who want performance with practicality. It is a family-sized crossover with a usable boot and rear seats, not a two-seat sports car.
• Buyers who value braking and stability. The German test suggests it is one of the safest-handling cars in its class.
• Those with home charging. With a real-world range of around 200 miles in mixed driving, according to evo, it suits drivers who can top up overnight.

It makes less sense if you cover very long distances regularly and rely on public charging, where a more efficient rival would cost less and stop less often. Kia’s seven-year warranty is a point in its favour against several rivals. Our guide to cheapest EVs to maintain covers servicing costs.

How should you use reviews like this?

Magazine group tests are valuable because they measure cars side by side on the same day, on the same surfaces, with the same equipment. But they reflect one set of priorities. A test that weights handling and braking heavily will favour a car like the EV6 GT; one that weights efficiency and price might favour another.

The best approach is to shortlist two or three cars using independent tests, then test drive them on roads you know, ideally including a stretch of motorway and some rougher surfaces. Check the real-world efficiency in the trip computer, try the infotainment and driver assistance systems, and make sure the seating position suits you. For a performance EV, also check what tyres cost to replace, because wider, softer tyres wear faster on heavy, powerful cars.

Our view

The EV6 GT’s win shows how far Kia has come with performance EVs: it stops shorter and handles better than its rivals on objective tests. But it is not the most efficient car in the class, and some UK reviewers prefer the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N for driving fun. If you want a fast, practical EV with a long warranty, the EV6 GT deserves a test drive alongside the Model Y. If you value range and efficiency above all, look carefully at the alternatives.