Kia turns up the volume with three new GT models

Buying one of the smaller electric cars from Kia always meant you had to accept a calm, quiet ride. The basic versions of the EV3, EV4, and EV5 were built for comfort, not for speed. They came with a single motor and front-wheel drive. That setup is great for the boring everyday tasks, but it does not make a driver smile on a winding road. That changes now with Kia rolling out GT versions of these three models that are faster, stiffer, and surprisingly louder than before.

The recipe is simple: Kia has added a second motor to the back of these vehicles. This gives them all-wheel drive and quite a lot more muscle. The EV3 GT and the EV4 GT will share the same power setup - a front motor that pushes out 194 horsepower and a rear motor that adds another 94 horsepower. When you put that together, you get a combined total of 282 horsepower.

The larger EV5 GT gets a little more oomph to handle its size. Kia gave this model a stronger front motor with 208 horsepower, but kept the same rear motor as the smaller siblings. This brings the total power for the EV5 GT up to 302 horsepower. Earlier rumors said these cars might reach 400 horsepower - unfortunately, that did not happen. Sure, the new GTs are not as wild as the bigger EV6 GT, but they are definitely not slow.

Speed numbers tell the real story here. The EV4 GT is the quickest of the bunch. It can sprint from 0 to 62 mph in just 5.6 seconds. The EV3 GT is right behind it, taking 5.7 seconds to do the same run. The EV5 GT is the heaviest of the group, so it takes a bit longer - 6.2 seconds to complete the sprint. These GT models are much faster than the standard versions people have seen so far.

Kia knows that speed is not the only thing that makes a car fun. This is why they added some interesting tricks to these EVs. The new GT models get a special driving mode and a clever electronic suspension. The standard cars have very soft suspension that soaks up bumps, but Kia promises the GT versions will be stiffer to help them turn better without leaning too much.

Inside the cabin, the experience tries to mimic a gas-powered sports car. EV motors are usually silent, and some drivers find this boring. To fix this, Kia added artificial engine sounds and virtual gear shifting - an idea borrowed from the Hyundai Ioniq 5N. There are no real gears in an electric motor, but the computer will disrupt the power for a split second to feel like a transmission shifting gears. It is a pretend feeling, but Kia hopes it adds emotion to the drive.

The seats are getting a sporty makeover as well; they are now designed to hug your body so you do not slide around in corners. The steering wheel completes the new look inside - it is a three-spoke GT style now. On the outside, there are new badges and design touches to let neighbors know this is not the slow version of the car. Soohang Chang, the head of Kia Europe, stated that these cars are for people who want excitement and responsible driving at the same time. Responsible excitement? That’s new.

All three GT models use the same 81.4 kWh battery found in the regular models. In the standard single-motor cars, this battery offers a decent driving range. The EV3 can go up to 376 miles, the EV4 reaches 393 miles, and the EV5 manages 345 miles.

Adding a second motor adds weight and uses more energy, and although Kia did not confirm the new efficiency numbers, buyers should expect the range of the GT models to be lower than that of standard versions.

Drivers waiting to park one of these GTs in their driveway will, unfortunately, have to wait a little bit longer. Kia says production will start in the second quarter of 2026. This means deliveries will likely happen even later. There is also no news yet if the tiny EV2 will get the same fast treatment. For now, fans of sporty electric cars have three new options to look forward to.

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