Kia rolled out high-performance GT variants across key electric vehicle models and, on the 2nd, launched refreshed model-year versions with enhanced safety and convenience. The strategy aims to boost market share against Chinese EV brands expanding in Korea and Tesla, which sparked a Model Y boom last year.
Kia on the day launched GT versions, the high-performance lineup for the compact electric SUV EV3, the midsize electric sedan EV4, and the midsize electric SUV EV5. It also released model-year updates for the EV3, EV4, and EV9. Sales of these models began in earnest the same day.
Kia equipped the GT lineup with a dual-motor system to enhance driving performance. It said dedicated interior and exterior designs and specialized features deliver driving feel, and it added a long-range four-wheel-drive (4WD) model.
The EV3 GT and EV4 GT mount 145 kW and 70 kW motors on the front and rear axles, respectively, delivering a combined maximum output of 215 kW (292 PS) and a combined peak torque of 468 Nm (46.8 kgf·m). The EV5 GT uses 155 kW and 70 kW motors on the front and rear, offering a combined maximum output of 225 kW (306 PS) and a combined peak torque of 480 Nm (48.9 kgf·m).
Kia fitted the high-performance GT lineup's exterior with GT-exclusive 20-inch wheels and performance summer tires, neon brake calipers, dedicated front and rear bumpers, and exclusive emblems. Kia explained that preview electronically controlled suspension, a virtual shifting system, and dynamic torque vectoring control deliver stable driving performance.
In particular, despite strengthening safety and convenience features on the 2026 EV3 and EV4, prices were frozen. All of these models keep a base price under 53 million won, making them eligible to receive 100% of the national EV subsidies this year.
Kia made "pedal misapplication safety assist," which reduces the risk of accidents caused by the driver's mistaken use of the accelerator, and "acceleration limiting assist" (not applied to GT models) standard across all trims of the refreshed EV3 and EV4. The EV3 adds a 100W USB-C port to all trims, while the EV4 newly applies dual wireless smartphone charging to all trims and improves the 100W USB-C port's features.
On the EV9, all trims add a tailgate emergency lamp, and trims Air and above now include a 100W USB-C port as standard. A new Light trim was also added. This is an entry trim configured to allow customers seeking a large electric SUV to choose more rationally. Compared with the existing Air trim, price accessibility was improved through practical adjustments to features.
The EV9 also kept prices for the Air, Earth, and GT-Line trims unchanged.
A Kia official said, "With the launch of GT models that condense Kia's electrification philosophy, we expanded our dedicated EV lineup and, through model-year updates on key models, strengthened product competitiveness across the lineup."