Kia has unveiled GT versions of the EV3, EV4 and EV5 electric cars
By ForGeeks
Buying Kia’s compact electric cars used to mean choosing peace of mind and comfort. Base versions of the EV3, EV4 and EV5 came with a single electric motor and front-wheel drive — great for everyday commuting, but not for active driving on winding roads. Now the situation is changing: Kia has announced GT versions of all three models, making them faster, stiffer, and, unexpectedly, louder.
The EV3 EV4 and EV5 are all electric, but they’re not for active driving on twisty roads.
The recipe for the upgrade is pretty simple. Kia added a second electric motor to the rear axle, giving all GT versions all-wheel drive and a noticeable boost in power. The EV3 GT and EV4 GT use the same powertrain: the front motor develops 194 hp, the rear motor — another 94 hp. That adds up to 282 horsepower.
The larger EV5 GT got a bit more power reserve to match its size. Its front motor makes 208 horsepower, while the rear motor remains the same as the younger models. The total output of the EV5 GT is 302 hp. Previously, there were rumors of power at the level of 400 hp, but they were not confirmed. Nevertheless, the new GT versions are noticeably more peppy than the standard models, although they fall short of the extreme EV6 GT.
The dynamics confirm the changes. The EV4 GT is the fastest — it takes 5.6 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h. The EV3 GT follows close behind with a result of 5.7 seconds. The EV5 GT, as the heaviest, accelerates in 6.2 seconds. This is a significant step forward compared to the conventional versions.
Kia understands that driving pleasure — isn’t just about acceleration. That’s why GT models get special driving modes and electronically controlled suspension. While standard EVs are tuned to be soft and comfort-oriented, the GT versions will be stiffer to improve handling and reduce roll in corners.
In the interior, Kia has tried to recreate the feel of an internal combustion engine sports car. Electric cars are inherently quiet, and not everyone likes that. So engineers added artificial engine sound and virtual gear shifting — a solution already familiar from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. There are no real gears in the electric motor, but the electronics for a fraction of a second interrupts the power supply, simulating the operation of the transmission. It’s an illusion, of course, but Kia expects it to add emotion.
Sporty changes have been made to the interior as well: the seats are now more pronouncedly «hugging» to hold the driver in corners, and the steering wheel is now in the GT’s signature three-spoke style. Outside, there are new nameplates and design accents to emphasize that you’re not looking at the slowest version. Kia Europe chief executive Suhang Chang said the models are for those who want to combine driving pleasure with environmental responsibility.
All three GT versions use the same 81.4 kWh battery pack as the standard models. In the single-motor versions, it provides a range of up to 605 kilometers in the EV3, 633 kilometers in the EV4, and 555 kilometers in the EV5. Adding a second motor increases weight and power consumption, so you can expect the actual range of the GT versions to be lower, although Kia hasn’t disclosed exact figures yet.
With the addition of a second motor, the EV3’s weight and power consumption will increase, so you can expect the actual range of the GT versions to be lower, although Kia hasn’t revealed exact figures yet.
Those already waiting for these models will have to be patient. Production of the GT versions won’t begin until the second quarter of 2026, with deliveries starting even later. There is also no information yet whether the most compact EV2 will get a similar «charged» version. But fans of electric sports cars now know they’ll have at least three new variants on the horizon.
