Genesis GV60 review

In music, your first single can propel you to fame or flop and end your career. Likewise, since Genesis (the car brand, not the band) launched the Genesis GV60 – its first dedicated all-electric model – it seems to have won itself some fans.

Not only did we give it our Electric SUV of the Year at our Car of the Year Awards in 2023, but it’s also been the best-selling Genesis model since it launched in 2022. That’s a good reception. 

Luckily, it didn't have to start from scratch. Genesis is the luxury arm of the Hyundai Group, and the GV60 is closely related to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6. That means it features proven technologies, including the same electric car platform, called E-GMP.

Genesis GV60 video review

The GV60 is more than just an Ioniq 5 or EV6 in different attire, though. Genesis has designed it to offer a more luxurious experience, with an interior unlike almost anything else. It’s also been re-engineered to make it a very comfortable car to travel in. 

Since its launch, the GV60 has undergone a facelift and has, on paper, become better. That’s because on top of some styling and technology tweaks it's been fitted with a bigger battery for a longer range, but without impacting its charging speeds. 

Sounds good – but is the Genesis GV60 still strong enough to beat its siblings? And how does it compare against the best electric SUVs, including the Audi Q4 e-tron, Tesla Model Y and Volvo EX40?

The Genesis GV60 is available in three guises: Pure, Sport and Performance, all with a 84kWh (total capacity) battery. The GV60 Performance is the most potent and has an electric motor on each axle for four-wheel drive. In normal driving, the motors produce a combined output of 429bhp, but when you push the Boost button on the steering wheel, that figure rises to 483bhp for a quick 10-second burst.

With Boost enabled, the GV60 Performance can accelerate from 0-62mph in just four seconds. In other words, it's Porsche Taycan 4S fast – and it feels it: when you put your foot down, you're instantly and forcibly pinned back in your seat. You really ought to give passengers fair warning (even though acceleration isn't quite as savage as in the quickest version of the Tesla Model Y).

For added driver engagement, the GV60 Performance comes with a ‘Virtual Gearshift’ system, which is similar to that of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. This allows the electric motors to simulate an automatic gearbox, so you can shift up and down through gears with the paddles behind the steering wheel. This is entirely synthetic; the GV60 has a single-speed gearbox like most electric cars. It is realistic and fun to use, though. 

If you don’t crave a vast amount of power, the mid-rung GV60 Sport retains four-wheel drive but has a more modest 314bhp. It's still very quick, though.

The entry-level Pure version ditches four-wheel drive in favour of rear-wheel drive, but has a hearty 225bhp from its single rear-mounted electric motor. While it’s nothing like as rapid as the Sport or Performance, the Pure is still more than nippy enough for everyday driving, with 0-62mph taking 7.8sec.

What about when the road gets twisty? Well, the GV60 grips well and there's less body lean than in an Ioniq 5, a Nissan Ariya or a VW ID 4. It's a big and fairly heavy car, though, not a hot hatch.

The lower-riding Tesla Model 3 is more agile, although the only electric cars that could genuinely be described as great fun are the Audi E-tron GT and the Porsche Taycan – and they're both much more expensive.

The GV60 defaults to Comfort driving mode when you switch it on, but there are two others to select if you want: Sport and Eco. Sport is the sharpest, with a quicker accelerator response and heavier steering. It also makes the driver display gauges glow red and, to grip you better in corners, tightens the seat bolsters.

Eco is set up to maximise your range between charges. You can also adjust the strength of the regenerative braking using paddles behind the steering wheel, with four levels to choose from. In Level 4, the slowing effect when you lift off the accelerator is so strong that you rarely need to use the brake pedal – although when you do you'll find it relatively predictable.

Of the GV60s we've tested, the entry-level Pure version has the most comfortable ride, thanks largely to its smaller 19in wheels. On most roads (especially motorways) it isolates you very well from lumps and bumps and is more comfortable overall than any direct rival.

Performance cars have 21in wheels and low-profile tyres so they're a bit harsher, although still far from bone-shaking. All versions are really quiet on the move, keeping you better isolated from noise than an Ariya, an EV6 or Model Y.

Another reason to go for a version lower down the range is, er, range. You see, while the Sport and Performance variants are fast, they use up the energy stored in their battery less efficiently.

The Performance can officially do 311 miles on a charge, while the Sport is slightly better at 318 miles. The GV60 Pure, on the other hand, can officially manage 348 miles, which isn't far behind the EV6 RWD (361 miles). A Model Y Long Range AWD can travel farther, though, with an official range of 390 miles.

“The GV60 is a very quiet car to travel in. I was really impressed by how little road noise could be heard in the interior when I was driving on the motorway.” – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

The Genesis GV60 really comes into its own when you get in and sit down. In fact, the materials and design features make it feel more like a concept car than something you can actually buy.

One example is the crystal ball on the centre console, which spins upside down to reveal the drive selector when you push the Start button. A digital driver's display and a head-up display are standard on all versions, and both can show driving information (the speed limit and so on), media and navigation directions.

The GV60's driving position is somewhere between that of an SUV and a regular hatchback. That means you don't sit as high up as in a Nissan Ariya but you're higher up from the road than in a Tesla Model 3. The driver’s seat has electric adjustment as standard, including for lumbar support, and there's a good range of movement in the steering wheel.

The GV60's large side windows give you a decent view out of the front and sides, so you won’t struggle to see cars around you. The view out of the back isn't great though, because the tapered roof limits the size of the rear window. All versions come with front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, which helps.

One visibility feature that's not particularly helpful is the optional digital door mirrors, which show a real-time image from a camera rather than a simple reflection. The video feed they show is clear, but you don’t get the same depth of field perceptive as with the standard-fit traditional mirrors, so it can be hard to tell how close other road users are.

In better news, the materials used throughout the interior give the GV60 a proper premium feel, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find any hard or scratchy plastics. Most of the surfaces are covered with soft-touch materials, synthetic leathers and attractive metals.

You can pay extra for quilted Nappa leather and different colour schemes. It’s not necessarily any better built inside than, for example, an Audi Q4 e-tron but it feels more special and luxurious inside. The Q4 e-tron, by comparison, has more scratchy and cheap-feeling plastics. 

All versions of the GV60 get an enormous 27in screen that combines both the digital driver’s display and infotainment touchscreen. The screen is bright and quick to respond to presses, and the operating system is intuitive. Some drivers may find the steering wheel blocks the view of the dials, though, depending on your driving position.

Unlike in many cars, you don’t have to operate the system solely through the touchscreen because there's also a rotary controller between the front seats. It's much less distracting to use while you're driving – you just spin a wheel to scroll through the menus and press down to make a selection.

All GV60s come with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring, along with a built-in sat-nav, Bluetooth and multiple USB-C sockets. If good sound quality is a priority, consider the optional 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo upgrade.

“I get the impression that no expense has been spared on the GV60’s interior. It’s small details, like the quilted leather and beautifully damped stalks, that help give it a really luxurious feel. I’d say it puts the German competition to shame.” – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

Tall people sitting in the front of the Genesis GV60 are treated to plenty of head and leg room, and the broad interior means the driver and front passenger aren't even close to rubbing shoulders.

It's a shorter car than the closely related Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 so rear leg room isn't as impressive, but there's still enough for six-footers. The sloping roofline means head room in the back isn't as generous as in the front, but you’d need to be well over 6ft for this to be a problem in the outer two seats.

Unfortunately, the middle rear seat is slightly higher, so head room is reduced and six-footers will have to crouch slightly to fit there. There’s not a huge amount of room under the front seats for feet either.

Storage for drinks and other odds and ends is good. In the front of the GV60 you'll find two cupholders, a central cubby under the armrest, a storage tray beneath the dashboard and a large glove box (which opens like a drawer). The door bins are shaped to hold a large water bottle.

The boot space is less impressive than in many rivals, though. You get 432 litres of storage below the load cover, which is slightly less than in the EV6 and Nissan Ariya, and much less than in a Tesla Model Y or VW ID 4. Still, the GV60 won't exactly struggle with the weekly shop or a couple of buggies.

When you need more load space you can fold down the back seats, which split 60/40. They lie almost flat, so sliding long items into the extended load bay is easy. There's enough underfloor storage for charging cables and the load cover.

The GV60 also has a small storage area under its bonnet, with 53 litres of space in the single-motor Pure and 20 litres in the dual-motor Sport and Performance.

“The GV60’s boot is deceptively small on paper, but in reality, I thought it was a good size. The sloping roofline makes it difficult for carrying taller items, though.” – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

The starting price of the Genesis GV60 is higher than that of the Kia EV6, Tesla Model Y and even the Audi Q4 e-tron, but you do get more creature comforts for your money.

The entry-level GV60 Pure comes with 19in alloy wheels, full LED headlights, faux-leather upholstery, wireless phone-charging, dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control and an electric tailgate. You even get heated front seats, heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel. The Sport version comes with the same level of kit as Pure, but adds 20in alloys. 

There are several option packs available on the GV60. There’s an Innovation Pack, which adds a head-up display, a blindspot-view camera and augmented reality navigation, among other things. A Comfort Pack adds 18-way electrically adjustable front seats, ventilated front seats, electric steering wheel adjustment and heated rear seats.

The Performance version gets the drive upgrades mentioned earlier (such as the Boost Mode and Virtual Gearshift). It also adds the Innovation Pack and Comfort Pack.

All GV60s have a maximum charging speed of 240kW. In ideal conditions and with a very fast public charger, a 10-80% top-up can take as little as 18 minutes, but in reality you'll probably be waiting around half an hour (which is still quick).

There's plenty of safety equipment, too, including eight airbags, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot collision avoidance assist and the all-important automatic emergency braking (AEB) system. The GV60 was given a five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP testers, and proved superior at protecting both adult and child occupants in a simulated crash than the Nissan Ariya.

The GV60 came 18th out of 27 electric SUVs ranked in our 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey. Genesis as a brand did not feature, but Hyundai and Kia – which are part of the same group – came 14th and eighth respectively out of 30 manufacturers.

Genesis gives you a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, plus eight years of cover on the GV60's main battery, as well as free servicing and over-the-air software updates for five years.

“The GV60 is available in 14 paint colours, either with a solid, pearl, metallic or matte finish. This is the level of customisation I’d expect from a premium car. The Tesla Model Y, by comparison, is only available in five colours.” – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

Buy it if…

- You want to charge your car super quickly

- You want a car that feels properly luxurious inside 

- You want a car with lots of physical buttons and the latest tech

Don’t buy it if…

- You need lots of boot space

- You regularly carry tall passengers in the back

- You want a high driving position

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