Hybrids & Electrics
The Tesla Model Y Performance is grippy, launch-happy, and long-legged. However, the Kia EV6 GT’s massive power has the potential to upstage the Tesla SUV.
The Tesla Model Y is back for 2023 with three EV trims, including the launch-happy Performance platform. However, the Model Y Performance isn’t without competition this year; the Kia EV6 GT is honing in on the Model Y’s credentials. So, which of the performance-oriented EVs is faster?
Is the Kia EV6 GT faster than the Tesla Model Y Performance?
| 0-60 mph | ¼ mile | Top Speed | |
| Tesla Model Y Performance | 3.5 seconds | 12.1 seconds | 155 mph |
| Kia EV6 GT | 3.2 seconds | 11.6 seconds | 161 mph |
Despite the Tesla Model Y Performance’s launch-happy all-wheel drive (AWD) platform, the Kia EV6 GT manages to outrun it. While Kia states that the 2023 EV6 GT will hit 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, Car and Driver’s testing revealed a 3.2-second dash. Moreover, the 0.3-second lead the EV6 GT has over the Model Y Performance in the sprint to 60 grows to half of a second in the standing quarter mile.
Moreover, Tesla says the electrified SUV’s top speed increases from 135 to 155 mph in the Performance trim over the Long Range trim. However, the 20-mph bump isn’t enough to outrun the 161-mph top speed that the 2023 EV6 GT will accomplish, per the automaker’s media center.
How much horsepower does a 2023 Tesla Model Y have?
The 2023 Tesla Model Y produces 455 horsepower and 487 lb-ft of torque. Furthermore, its dual-motor eAWD architecture sends power to all four wheels, resulting in multiplied grip and exhilarating launches.
While 455 horsepower might not contend with the EV6 GT’s power reserves, it’s much more than the base model and Long Range trims. Specifically, the first two Model Y trims produce 425 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque.
How much horsepower does the 2023 Kia EV6 GT have?
The 2023 Kia EV6 GT makes a muscle car-esque 576 horsepower and 545 lb-ft of torque from its 77.4 kWh battery pack and dual-motor application. Like the comparable Tesla Model Y Performance, the EV6 GT sends power to all four wheels.
However, the byproduct of the 2023 EV6 GT’s impressive power and torque is a shorter EPA range estimate than the Model Y Performance. The top-trim Model Y gets an estimated 303 miles on a single charge, while the Kia gets a much shorter 206.
Are any Tesla models quicker than the Kia EV6 GT?
While the Tesla Model Y Performance can’t quite match the explosive acceleration of the 2023 Kia EV6 GT, the range-topping Model 3 does. The lighter, lower Model 3 Performance hits 60 mph in a blistering 3.1 seconds, making it one of the fastest performance bargains at its price point.
How much does the EV6 GT cost?
The 2023 Kia EV6 GT starts at around $62,925, nearly $4,500 more than the GT-Line trim.
| EV6 Light | $43,925 |
| EV6 Wind | $50,025 |
| EV6 Wind AWD | $53,695 |
| EV6 GT Line | $54,225 |
| EV6 GT Line AWD | $58,695 |
| EV6 GT | $62,925 |
The 2023 Tesla Model Y Performance starts at $54,490, closer to the starting point of the GT Line. As a result, the EV6 GT might be faster than the top-trim Model Y, but the electrified Tesla SUV is more affordable and offers a longer single-charge range.
