Barely 3 years ago, we witnessed the debut of the Genesis GV60, the brand’s first dedicated EV. A bit quirky and bubbly, it is still very much a stylish, fashion forward vehicle that wonderfully blends the automotive realms of design and luxury with a splash of athleticism. And of course it rides atop one of the more efficient and fast charging EV platforms on offer in the industry.
Starting with the drive, get in and right away you’ll notice a rigid structure (this is a good thing) and well-damped ride quality, even in sport it’s almost never harsh, even with massive 21″ wheels. On the flip side, even in sport mode, there’s still a good amount of body lean/roll. For 95% of driving it’s a great blend of comfort and sport, but it lacks a bit of connectedness and quick steering that a more dynamic driver might be seeking. There’s definitely room for an upcoming “Magma” performance sub-brand variant, especially given what we’ve sampled in the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N.
Range, EPA estimated at 235 miles was a touch short 3 years ago, but now it’s looking fairly deficient when many EVs are starting to crest 300 miles. Where our Polestar 2 was rated a 240-250 when new, its mid-cycle refresh generation has now yielded a healthy bump to 276 miles for their dual motor variant. Would like to see what Genesis can do with any updates to the battery and electric motors.
Pricing, again, 3 years ago a price of roughly $72K may have been competitive when that was similar to where the Model Y Performance was. But today, that’s pretty steep, with the Model Y performance now just over $50,000, as is a Polestar 2 Dual Motor. But Genesis seems to understand, as they’re currently offering as much as $13,000 in lease incentives (in addition to whatever the dealer might discount).
Thank goodness for companies that know how to build cars. The GV60 exhibits tight build quality and superb materials and design. Everything feels premium and soft. It’s also ultra quiet thanks to the laminated glass front and rear. The controls are mostly straightforward and traditional, save for the flipping “orb” that turns into the electric gear selector knob when the car is turned on. Yes, it could use the latest update for wireless phone connectivity – but I could see Genesis squeezing this in at the next model year update at least. Genesis also offers a fairly bright color palette with splashes of flair both exterior and interior, a welcome sight to see.
Size wise, the GV60 shares wheelbase and dimensions with the Kia EV6, which is to say, it’s a bit smaller than their IONIQ 5 corporate cousin. I feel like the GV60 should have taken the larger footprint to create more rear seat room, but as it is, it already must feel encroached by the Electrified GV70 within the Genesis lineup.
Genesis may have been late to the luxury segment, but they’re pushing the envelope on the EV front, and models like the GV60, GV70, G80 and upcoming GV90 should only help to give them better awareness and competitive footing against some of the industry stalwarts. They do still have work cut out for themselves though. Despite being superior in nearly every tangible way (except for the wireless phone connectivity) the GV60 is handily outsold by the similarly positioned Lexus RZ which is way down on power and range. Genesis needs to keep on it, but they’ve proven that they can and will.
