Genesis GV60 Review 2024

Genesis GV60 At A Glance

5/5
Honest John Overall Rating
Stylish looks, impressive performance and a genuinely superb cabin means the Genesis GV60 is one of the most desirable electric vehicles on sale today. But can you cope with the quips that'll come with driving a car from a brand no one's heard of?

+Sharp to drive with punchy electric motors. Spacious interior. Loaded with clever technology. Much more interesting than many bland electric SUV alternatives.

-More expensive than an equivalent Kia EV6 or Hyundai Ioniq 5. You can't just pop down to your local dealer and buy one. Be prepared for questions about what it is.

There was a danger that the Genesis GV60 was going to be little more than a Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Kia EV6 in a fancy suit. But – while it does share many technical similarities – it manages to be very different from its Korean counterparts. It strikes a near-perfect balance between comfort and performance, while also packing loads of interior space and an upmarket cabin. The GV60's biggest stumbling blocks are the price... and the fact barely anyone will know what it is.

Hyundai's premium brand Genesis arrived back in 2020 with bold ambitions to change the way we buy cars. It doesn't do conventional dealers – instead, it has a handful of 'studios' and personal assistants available to answer any questions you may have and even deliver a demo car to your house.

The brand's first offerings were a bit old-school, available solely with old-fashioned petrol or diesel power and not even a hint of electrical assistance between them. But the Genesis GV60 is an electric SUV which shares its platform with the aforementioned Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 – two of the best EVs on sale today. And that means it has more than a bit of potential.

It's not a budget option (but, apart from the MG ZS EV, no electric SUV is). Prices start from around £47,000, pitching it against the Volkswagen ID.5, Jaguar I-Pace and Ford Mustang Mach-E. Even the entry-level Genesis GV60 Premium feels quite posh, though, while its single motor setup provides more than adequate performance. In fact, we'd probably say it's the one to go for, thanks to its sweet handling and relatively soft suspension.

Genesis GV60 Sport and Sport Plus models are, well, sportier. Both feature an extra electric motor and all-wheel drive with the Sport Plus featuring such headline-grabbing highlights as a 'boost' mode. It's more than a bit sprightly, its combined 490PS and 700Nm of torque (with the 10-second boost mode engage) meaning it can cover 0-62mph in just 4.0 seconds.

It's that kind of performance that might tempt Tesla drivers to reconsider their choice of electric car, but most buyers will be trading in their petrol or diesel vehicle and will be more interested in how far the Genesis GV60 can travel between charges. And the official answer is up to 321 miles.

Charging the Genesis GV60 is a speedy process, too. Plug it into a rapid charger and you'll be able to top it up from 10 to 80 per cent in less than 20 minutes. It works the other way, too – spec the optional Outdoor Pack and you'll get an inside and outside socket, allowing you to use the GV60 as a massive portable battery (ideal for charging your laptop, plugging in a camping kettle... maybe even charging another electric car).

There are other gimmicks, too, like the (optional) digital door mirrors and a crystal ball which spins around when the car's switched on to reveal the gear selector. But they don't (mirrors aside, perhaps) interfere with how easy the Genesis GV60 is to live with. The infotainment system, for example, is much more user-friendly than you'd get in VW Group alternatives like the Volkswagen ID.4 or Skoda Enyaq IV. You even get a rotary controller rather than having to rely on the touchscreen display.

While the Genesis GV60 looks quite compact in the pictures, it's actually a pretty big car. That space isn't wasted, though – it feels enormous inside, with rear legroom being particularly impressive.

Want one? So do we. A lot of EV buyers will stick with the recognisable badge of a Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Kia EV6, but we reckon the Genesis GV60 stands out enough that it's worth experimenting with a brand your neighbours won't have heard of, bought in a way that still feels a bit futuristic even in 2022.

Looking for a second opinion? Read heycar's Genesis GV60 review

What does a Genesis GV60 cost?