Is the Kia EV6 GT a better buy than a Ford Mustang Mach-E?

Australia used to have a wide assortment of options when it came to ferrying the family in something fast.

But with the demise of the locally built Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon, the options left to local buyers have been few and far between.

Sure, there was always the Kia Stinger, but sedans are so passé now, what’s one to buy now in 2024 that is both practical and performance-focused?

Enter the electric car, and more specifically the Kia EV6 GT and Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, which both offer plenty of pace and practicality at a princely sum, so which one should you get if you are looking to keep the kilometres down on that classic HSV or FPV?

Kia’s EV6 GT is priced at $99,590 before on-road costs, while the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT is $5400 more expensive at $104,990.

A five-and-a-half-ish per cent difference might not seem like all that much when dropping a hundred grand on a new car, but that difference could buy you a whole lot of electricity to keep these cars running.

Regardless, these are both aggressive-looking EVs that justify their six-figure price tags with a stacked list of equipment.

Both models come with LED exterior lighting, a powered tailgate, rear privacy glass, dual-zone climate control, interior ambient lighting, keyless entry, and push-button start.

On the Kia side of things, there’s a 12.3-inch screen for both the digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen, the latter also including satellite navigation, digital radio, and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Ford also has a pair of screens for instrumentation and infotainment, measuring 10.2 inches with the former and 15.5 inches in the latter, but has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality.

The biggest spec difference of note is that the EV6 GT features a sunroof, whereas the Mustang Mach-E has a panoramic glass roof that looks and feels decidedly more premium.

It’s honestly hard to split the pair on price and equipment. Both come fully loaded with all the mod cons you’ll want in a new car, with the Ford just edging out the Kia on a few nice-to-have features like wireless smartphone mirroring and a bigger glass roof.

But the deciding factor for me is that the EV6 comes with a home charging cable, whereas the Mustang Mach-E does not. This accessory will set you back a few extra hundred dollars through a third-party supplier such as EVSE.

I get that you wouldn’t be buying an EV unless you have a charging solution already, but it is one of those handy-to-have items when travelling away from home.

Also something to keep in mind with these two is the warranty periods.

On the Kia side of things, there’s a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre assurance period, while the Ford only has a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Both models share the same eight-year/160,000km warranty period on high-voltage components, though, which should assuage some EV concerns.

No doubt, $100,000 is a lot to drop on a new model, but keep in mind that the performance-honed HSVs and FPVs weren’t that far off the mark back in the day, and – like the hero cars of yesteryear – you still get a potent, cutting-edge powertrain that will blow away nearly anything else on the road.

Both the Kia EV6 GT and Ford Mustang Mach-E GT feature dual-electric motors for all-wheel-drive grip and peppy performance, but not all electric cars are built the same.

In the Kia corner is a combined output of 430kW/740Nm that translates to a 0–100km/h acceleration time of just 3.5 seconds.

But keep in mind that the Kia’s full outputs are locked behind the GT driving mode, which is only available with the right battery conditions and only for a short period.

Meanwhile, the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT is packing a 358kW/860Nm punch that will rocket the EV from 0–100km/h in 3.7sec.

Outside of the drag strip, these times are useless, and both models are lightning quick and can easily slot into that gap in traffic or overtake that slow-moving truck without a fuss.

It is seriously potent performance from both models, and with torque available instantaneously, occupants will be glued to the back of the seats if the driver is heavy with the right foot.

Can I pick between the two of them in terms of electric motor outputs? Honestly, it’s splitting hairs.

The Kia EV6 GT feels smoother in its delivery, and pinning the throttle of the Ford Mustang Mach-E feels like turning on the afterburners, but both offer the pace and performance you’d expect out of a sporty EV.

I’ll have to call this one a tie.

So far, the Kia and Ford have been close when it comes to price and performance, but the battery is where they start to differ.

In the EV6 GT, you get a 77.4kWh battery that is good for a 424km driving range when tested on WLTP standards.

The Mustang Mach-E GT, however, is fitted with a larger 91kWh battery that will travel 490km before needing a recharge.

However, the EV6 is built on 800-volt architecture that allows it to charge from 10–80 per cent in 18 minutes when using a 350kW DC fast charger.

The Mustang Mach-E needs almost double that at 45 minutes to get the same charge when maxed out on a 150kW DC fast charger.

The caveat here is that a full 350kW DC fast charger can be hard to come by on some locations.

In my time with both cars, the EV6 GT was averaging 20.6kWh per 100 kilometres – right on the claimed manufacturer’s efficiency rating – giving me a theoretical driving range of about 376km.

Meanwhile, the Mustang Mach-E GT averaged 23.0kWh/100km – a little more than the official claimed efficiency of 21.2kWh/100km – for a range of about 396km.

The Ford wins here as it has longer legs, but a bigger battery does mean longer recharge times. In the real world, either model boasts an impressive driving range that should get you through most of the week before needing to plug in.

Winner: Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

From the outside, you can tell both cars are EVs thanks to closed-off front grilles and aerodynamically optimised bodywork, but I wouldn’t call either one of these pretty.

To distinguish the GT from the rest of the EV6 range, there are neon green-painted brake calipers, while the body-coloured wheel arches, gloss-black exterior highlights, flush-fitting door handles, and 21-inch wheels carry over from the mid-spec GT-Line.

The Mustang Mach-E also uses splashes of colour to signal its sporting intent, with red-painted Brembo brake calipers and GT-specific scuff plates, as well as 20-inch wheels.

You can also tell these are future-forward EVs because neither has traditional pull-to-open door handles.

The EV6 has flush-fitting handles that pop open when you unlock the car to give you something to grab onto, whereas the Mustang Mach-E has buttons that pop the doors.

A cool feature is that the Ford’s driver’s door also features a keypad on the B-pillar so drivers can enter a passcode to enter the vehicle – though it is much faster to unlock with the keyless entry system.

Exterior design is such a personal preference, though, and given they both look like spaceships, I’m not leaning towards the EV6 or Mustang Mach-E in terms of aesthetics.

If I had to pick, though, I’d go for the Mustang simply because its proportions are a little more athletic and sportier to my eyes, whereas the EV6 is more quirky and out there.

Winner: Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Sitting inside the EV6 GT, you can tell Kia has tried to make the cabin a comfortable, even premium space.

All the touchpoints, from the steering wheel to the shifter to the controls, just feel a step or two above what you would usually find in a Kia, and I particularly like these synthetic suede and leather seats that are well bolstered and hug you in all the right places.

However, the sports seats are manually adjustable to keep your bottom closer to the road, and there is a wide assortment of equipment to keep occupants happy.

Highlights include a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, alloy sports pedals, three USB charging points up front, a wireless smartphone charger, and interior ambient lighting.

To keep things clutter-free, Kia has also implemented this clever solution of using this touch bar to swap functions between the dual-zone climate controls and multimedia.

There’s also a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that is customisable depending on drive mode, as well as a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with satellite navigation, digital radio, and wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

In the rear, you have two USB-C charging points, seat heating and air vents, as well as more storage options.

It’s great that the EV6 has a flat floor and airy second row, making you feel less claustrophobic, and for family buyers this space will fit two car seats with no problem.

Not to be outdone, the Mustang Mach-E also has front sports seats that are heated, but these are power adjustable and feature a memory function, which comes in so handy if your household changes drivers often.

But everything thing else feels a little less nice, the leather and plastics are a bit harder, and the rotary shifter dial doesn’t have a lockout and freely spins left and right even if the car is in park or drive.

Storage could also be better, the door pockets don’t really fit large water bottles, but you do get a massive wireless charging tray and a generous underarm cubby.

Ford has also opted for a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, which doesn’t sound that much smaller, but it’s wide and narrow and doesn’t wow like the Kia EV6’s does.

However, the infotainment screen in the Ford blows out to a massive 15.5 inches, and is orientated in portrait form like a gigantic iPad.

It is also a little annoying that all the climate-control functions are through the touchscreen, making it feel less intuitive and harder to operate when on the move.

Ford trumps Kia here with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as digital radio and satellite navigation, but also features a 10-speaker B&O sound system.

Rear-seat amenities in the Mustang Mach-E GT include vents and charging ports, but there’s no heating.

Space in the second row of the Mustang Mach-E is impressive, though, with my six-foot-tall (183cm) frame fitting behind my driving position, no problem, and, like the Kia, child seats are a cinch because of all the room.

Moving to the boot of both models, the Mustang Mach-E GT has a larger 519-litre capacity, as well as a 134L front storage compartment – which is the perfect spot to put a home charger, if Ford included one…

The Mustang Mach-E also has underfloor boot storage to house its Type 2-to-Type 2 charging cable.

But the EV6 isn’t too far off with a 480L rear load capacity and 20L front boot – the latter of which is next to useless for storing anything significantly.

In reality, both models will fit what you need, and in my time with both cars that meant a full-sized pram, a nappy bag, groceries, and more.

Keep in mind, though, the EV6’s boot space is also taken up with a Type 2-to-Type 2 charging cable case and tyre repair kit, as they won’t fit in the underfloor storage like the home charging cable, so there might be some Tetris-ing around to get in what you need.

If you need every available inch of boot space, the Ford is the way to go, but it’s not that much more useable in the real world than the on-paper figures might suggest.

For my money, the more premium and upmarket-feeling interior, as well as the more-than-useable boot, of the Kia EV6 GT wins here easily. It genuinely feels befitting of a $100,000 car, while the software and controls also feel more user-friendly.

What do you look for in a grand tourer? Well for me, it has to be comfortable and quick, and the Kia EV6 GT has both to spare.

Obviously, the instant torque helps, letting you slot into traffic or accelerate onto a freeway without any hesitation.

The steering feel is just okay, though. It’s a little too light for my tastes, but traction and grip are great for a two-tonne car.

Push it far enough and you can induce understeer, you can’t beat physics, after all, but even on these 21-inch wheels, the ride is smooth and comfortable even over rough surfaces.

But what I love most about the EV6 GT’s driving experience is the level of customisation on offer here.

I’m not just talking about the Eco, Normal and Sport driving modes that adjust settings accordingly, but also the My Drive setting that lets you go in and tweak the steering, throttle response, traction, and more to suit your needs.

There’s even an Active Sound mode that lets you pick which fake engine sounds you want to hear!

Yes, it means you have to pull over and dive into five different menus to set up, but it lets you dial in control of the car to your comfort and skill level.

It would also be remiss of me not to mention this big, green GT button on the steering wheel, which might as well be called ‘beast mode’ because it unlocks the EV6’s full performance potential.

In GT mode, the EV6 really feels like a rocket ship, and enables a level of performance only dreamt about by the HSVs and FPVs of yesteryear.

Over in the Mustang Mach-E GT, it might feel less special in the cabin, but it does feel much more special out on a twisty road.

The steering feels more engaging, the suspension feels more taut, and it’s just more fun to throw this thing around a bend.

The higher torque output also makes the Mustang feel faster and more fleet-footed than the EV6 and is on tap in any driving mode, meaning that stuck-to-your-seat thrust is available whenever you are ready to plant the foot.

The downside to all this, however, is that it rides a little harsher, and even with MagneRide adaptive suspension, the Mustang Mach-E can’t quite dial it down enough to the point of being comfortable.

The Brembo brakes are also way too grabby in one-pedal driving mode, with the slightest input lurching you forward as it tries to scrub speed.

Turning off one-pedal mode alleviates this to an extent, but that does mean you are driving the Mustang Mach-E a little more inefficiently.

Around a racetrack, the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT would be colossal, but out on the open road things feel a bit too much.

There is also a lack of customisation. Yes, there are three drive modes on offer, but you can’t tweak things on a granular level like you can in the EV6 GT.

The only options available to you are one-pedal driving, whether you get fake engine noise, and turning on/off the auto-hold function.

Don’t get me wrong, the Mustang Mach-E GT is not a bad driving experience, it just focuses on going fast – whether in a straight line or a corner – and doesn’t offer the same breadth of useability as the Kia.

Maybe it’s fitting Ford has called this electric car a Mustang, because much like the iconic pony car, it feels a little wild and rough around the edges.

Don’t get me wrong, it has its charms – it’s engaging to drive, practical and quick as lightning – but for over $100,000, I want a little more than it can offer.

The Kia EV6 GT, however, is holistically and in my opinion a better buy.

It might not drive as well on a twisty road, but it’s more comfortable, feels more premium, and is just as fast. And at the end of the day, aren’t they the best attributes of a GT car?

You can build and price your desired EV6 from the Kia website, and Kia has indicated it has stock of its mid-size electric SUV around the country.

I’d encourage potential buyers to think long and hard before committing to an EV purchase, though, to ensure it fits with their lifestyle and use cases.

To find the nearest Kia dealer, you can click here, while Kia cars for sale can be found here.

And you can head here to keep up with all the latest Kia news.

To purchase a Mustang Mach-E, buyers need to head to the Ford Australia website and build their desired vehicle.

A refundable reservation fee will also need to be paid before a Ford dealer will contact you to discuss the next steps, including a delivery timeline.

To find your nearest Ford dealer, you can click this link here, and to browse all Ford vehicle’s for sale on Drive.com.au, you can click here.

However, to stay up to date with all the latest Ford news, check out the latest here.