What’s New About the GV60?
The GV60 represents the first full EV for the Genesis brand. It runs on a platform shared with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, but they share almost nothing in terms of looks inside and out. This bubbly little hatch marks a pivotal moment for the fledgling luxury brand as it seeks to establish itself as a segment leader in the EV luxury space. Still early its rollout, the GV60 is only available in a handful of states, but look for that to continue to open up as production volume grows.
Key Configurations / Contents
There are essentially 2 configurations of GV60
The Advanced, priced around $60,000 comes standard with AWD via a dual electric motor arrangement. There’s a 74 kW motor up front and a more powerful 160 kW motor out back, for a combined 314 horsepower. All GV60’s, so far, share a 77.4 kWh sized battery pack. The Advanced has an estimated range of 248 miles. For that $60K, you’re getting something that’s pretty much fully loaded. All the Genesis driver assistance and safety technologies are standard, as are heated and ventilated front leather seats, a heated steering wheel, sunroof with a shade (which many EV makers are skipping the shade), laminated front and rear side windows, a head up display, Bang & Olufsen sound system, dual 12.3″ screens up front with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (although not wireless here) and a wireless phone charger. There are fun technologies like fingerprint and facial recognition.
Stepping up to the Performance AWD is about $9,000 more. Per its name, the Performance swaps out the 74 kW front motor for another 160 kW unit, delivering a combined 429 horsepower, but can dial that up to a scintillating 483 in “Boost” mode. All that power isn’t free however, as the same battery pack can now yield just 235 miles of expected range. Normally these low expected ranges might seem like a detriment, but the electrical architecture of the GV60 (Advanced and Performance) is capable of some of the fastest charging sessions in the industry, granted you find an appropriate and functioning DC fast charger to connect it to. The Performance also throws in an electronically controlled suspension as well as an electronic limited slip differential, heated rear seats, upgraded brakes, Nappa leather seating with a sueded headliner and more adjustments to the driver seat with a driver seat only massage function.
Quick Spin
The GV60 has a fun, distinctive, and quirky design inside and out. While many controls and displays are pretty straightforward, they do keep some pageantry and flourish with the way the gear selector hides when the car is off with a glass sphere, and then flips over to present the P-R-N-D-L knob. Anyways, on to the drive. Genesis is locked in when it comes to the EV driving experience. Power is smooth and effortless. The GV60 definitely rides a bit soft, even with the 21″ wheels on the Performance trim. Perhaps a bit floaty, but that can be sharpened up with the drive mode selector. EV driving is also configurable with the various regenerative braking modes as well.
As smooth and quick as it is, the magic is in the Boost button on the steering wheel. This unlocks a 10-second surge of immense, some might say insane or ludicrous, power. It will make you giggle and is super addictive. 60 miles per hour can be reached in under 4 seconds. Of course doing so will be a drag on your expected range, but the duality of luxury and performance present in the GV60 Performance is really well done. While it may give up some ultimate handling and braking to the likes of say, our long-term Polestar 2, it makes up for part of it with a much more comfortable daily driving experience and more space.
Sidebar: On our quick spin during part of the International Motor Press Association driving event, I had a man flag me down. He was so excited to see the GV60 and he’d had a reservation on one for a long time, but hadn’t seen one in person yet. I was happy to show him the car inside and out and the get a sense of the size and features. He was overjoyed!
Areas for Improvement
Would like to see improved touchpoints like direct access lock/unlock to the rear doors (common Genesis shortcoming) and wireless phone connectivity (also a broad Genesis shortcoming).
GV60 also lacks the ability to do long distance charge optimized navigation routing with its embedded system. This should really be addressed as soon as possible to help ease travel concerns for new EV drivers.
Increased availability would also be great. GV60 was launched in like 4 states and have only added another handful more (AZ, CA, CT, NJ, NV, NY, UT and WA residents are lucky!)
