Genesis

GV60

With its stylish design, high-end interior and impressive driving range between charges, the Genesis GV60 is an excellent newcomer to the EV scene. And it drives beautifully too.

The good

Design, technology, performance and pricing

The bad

Getting the Genesis name out there

Tech Specs

Price from

£47,005

Combined Fuel up to

Driving range up to 321 miles

0-62 from

4.0 seconds

max speed up to

146mph

co2 from

0g/km

Test Drive

Genesis GV60 – First Drive (2022)

The Genesis brand may have launched in Europe just 12 months ago, but it already has five models on offer and the latest arrival is a dynamically-styled fully electric car.

It is the Korean company’s first EV and it boasts impressive driving range, fast charging, a dynamic design and a futuristic interior.

It features the same tried and tested dedicated E-GMP electric platform shared by the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 and customers can choose from generously-equipped trim levels called Premium, Sport and Sport Plus.

Prices range from £47,004 for Premium, then £55,605 for Sport and finally, the range-topping Sport Plus costs £65,405. It is possible to personalise the GV60 via a number of optional packs giving owners plenty of choice along the way.

All models have the same 77.4kWh lithium-ion battery but Sport and Sport Plus models offer all-wheel drive so have front and rear motors. Premium has a single motor and is rear wheel drive. The driving range between charges also varies with the entry-level Premium offering up to a combined 312 miles, it’s 292 miles for the Sport and 289 miles for Sport Plus.

We tested the GV60 in Frankfurt and the surrounding countryside and it proved to be a real attention-grabber with onlookers mesmerised by its stylish design. Eye-catching features include a clamshell bonnet with side fenders, hidden door handles, quad headlamps and rear lights, a crest grille, an integrated spoiler, a volt-signature design, new badging and stunning alloy wheels.

Move inside and it’s impossible not to be wowed by the futuristic layout and wealth of on-board technology at your disposal.

Expect to see the next generation infotainment system that combines two 12.3-inch screens to create a panoramic infotainment and digital driver display screen. There is integrated navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice recognition and a DAB radio, along with an eight-speaker sound system. It is possible to upgrade to a 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system that also provides active road noise cancellation – this adds £990 to the cost.

While physical buttons have been kept to a minimum, they are still present for basic functions such as heating the seats, which results in less driver distraction.

One truly unique feature though is called the crystal sphere. This is a revolving glass orb that is situated in the centre of the floating console and this acts as the gear selector. Initially it provides ambient lighting, but when you start the car the sphere flips to show the drive settings.

We had an opportunity to drive the range-topping Sport Plus model with 483bhp and 700Nm of torque. It could complete the 0-62mph sprint in a blisteringly quick 4.0 seconds and topped out at 146mph.

With a low centre of gravity and perfect weight distribution, the GV60 is balanced and offers excellent grip as it powers through the bends. Drive modes called Eco, Comfort and Sport (plus Snow on AWD versions) are easy to toggle through with Sport adding extra dynamism to the mix.

The acceleration is instant and overtaking is simple thanks to the constant supply of power on tap at all times. The steering is beautifully weighted with ample driver feedback and all the readouts are ideally positioned for ease of use.

And for added fun, the Sport Plus model also gains a Boost button that delivers an extra 20kW power to each motor for 10 seconds resulting in a maximum output of 360kW. A Drift mode is for thrill-seekers out there but this would not be suitable for use on public roads.

The GV60 cruises on motorways offering a quiet and refined driving experience and is agile in town centres too with good all-round visibility being another plus point. It even reminds you that the car in front is pulling away which is useful at times.

Our test model featured digital side mirrors in place of traditional mirrors costing £1,240. The view is displayed on screens on the side doors and it does take a little getting used to.

We also took to the road in the entry-level GV60 Premium model which is certainly anything but basic. It’s not quite so quick with a 0-62mph time of 7.8 seconds and maximum speed of 115mph, but this is the model that offers the greatest driving range between charges.

And there is all manner of ways to boost the battery levels on the fly, via regenerative braking. The levels of regen-braking can be adjusted via the steering wheel paddles and this is very effective in busier cities with lots of stop, start driving,

Genesis is a brand that views comfort as a priority and the GV60 features electronically-controlled suspension with a road preview camera that monitors bumps and potholes and automatically adjusts the dampers to smooth things out.

On a practicality front, there is bundles of room inside the car with space for a trio of occupants in the back and taller adults will be impressed with the legroom. Even with the optional panoramic sunroof fitted, head room is still ample.

The boot can swallow 432 litres of kit and there is a front trunk that holds 53 litres on Premium models and 20 litres on the AWD cars. In addition, there are numerous practical storage compartments scattered throughout the car including a glovebox that pulls out like a drawer.

Safety systems and driver assistance aids are comprehensive with the likes of lane keep assist, forward collision avoidance assist (with car, pedestrian and cycle detection), intelligent speed limit assist, lane following assist, blind spot collision avoidance and plenty more besides, all included as standard across the range.

Charging the GV60 from 10 to 80 per cent can be achieved in just 18 minutes via an ultra-fast charger or 73 minutes on a fast charge. An 11kW wallbox would take seven hours, 20 minutes to boost from 10 to 100 per cent.

So, this GV60 seems to have it all with great looks, great handling and great tech, but what is that makes Genesis stand out from the likes of Kia, Hyundai and other close rivals?

Well, Genesis believes it’s the unique way the car is sold with the customer at the forefront all the way. There is a set price so no haggling. There are no dealers, but you get a personal assistant that stays with you throughout the buying process. The vehicle is delivered for test drives (or when purchased) on a luxury transporter and taken away in the same manner for servicing when a courtesy car is dropped off. And there is a five-year care plan for servicing and warranty needs.

Impressive features that all save the customer time. But only time will tell if it’s enough to temp buyers from the more established brands out there.