Genesis GV60 review

Introduction

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.

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. Ultimately, using that previous experience made the GV60 our Electric SUV of the Year at our Car of the Year Awards in 2023, and the brand’s best-selling model since it launched in 2022.

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Genesis GV60 video review

Since its launch, the GV60 has undergone a facelift and has, on paper, improved. 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, BMW iX3 and Tesla Model Y?

Overview

The Genesis GV60 is a brilliant electric car with a very luxurious interior. While it can’t travel quite as far as some rivals between charges, it makes up for that with its quick charging speeds, intuitive infotainment system and generous equipment list. If you do choose one, we recommend going for the cheapest Pure model for the best value for money.

Our pick

84kWh Pure SUV 5dr Electric Auto (229 ps) review

RRP £54,115

Pros

• Wonderful interior
• Quiet and comfortable on the move
• Great infotainment system

Cons

• Boot isn't huge
• Rear space is average
• Optional cameras not as good as traditional door mirrors

Our pick

84kWh Pure SUV 5dr Electric Auto (229 ps) review

RRP £54,115

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Performance & drive

What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is

You can have the Genesis GV60 one of three guises: Pure, Sport and Performance, all with a 80kWh (usable capacity) battery. A sports SUV is set to join the line up in the future too – badged the Magma, it’ll have 641bhp and promises 0-62mph in around three seconds.

For now, though, the most potent GV60 is the Performance, which gets 429bhp (483bhp for short bursts) and has an electric motor on each axle for four-wheel drive.

With Boost enabled, the GV60 Performance can accelerate from 0-62mph in just four seconds. In other words, it's almost 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 Tesla Model Y Performance).

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 226bhp 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 officially taking 7.8sec.

What about when the road gets twisty? Well, the GV60 grips well and there's less body lean than in a normal Hyundai Ioniq 5, a Nissan Ariya or a VW ID 4. Even so, if you’re after an electric car that drives really well, you’ll want to look at electric hot hatches including the Alpine A390 and Ioniq 5 N.

That isn’t really the point of the GV60, though – it’s far more about comfort. 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 Kia EV6 or Tesla 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 391 miles, while the BMW iX3 can officially manage up to 500 miles.

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.

“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

Interior

The interior layout, fit and finish

Step inside the Genesis GV60 and you’ll quickly learn that the interior is where it really comes into its own. 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 crisp digital driver's display is standard on all versions, showing driving information (the speed limit and so on), media and navigation directions.

Performance models go one step further with an excellent head-up display that clearly shows the same info directly in your eyeline. You can add it to all other GV60s by adding the optional Innovation Pack.

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 BMW iX3 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.

You get a decent view out of the front and sides, but rear visibility is a different story. You see, the tapered roof limits the size of the rear window and reduces how much you can see. All versions come with front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, which helps to reduce this issue.

One visibility feature that's not particularly helpful, however, 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.

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 even pay extra for quilted Nappa leather and different colour schemes, lifting the feel even further. You’ll find less scratchy and cheap-feeling plastics than in the Audi Q4 e-tron.

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

Passenger & boot space

How it copes with people and clutter

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.

You’ll have far more space in the back of the BMW iX3 and Tesla Model Y, so bear that in mind if you often fill all five seats.

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 less than in the EV6 and much less than in an iX3, 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 rather than the more versatile 40/20/40 configuration that you’ll find in the iX3 and Model Y. At least they lie almost flat, so sliding long items into the extended load bay is easy.

You get some extra storage beneath the GV60’s boot floor, giving you somewhere to store the cables. Alternatively, you can use the small storage area under its bonnet, which gives you 53-litres of space regardless of version.

“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

Buying & owning

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

You won’t pay as much for the Genesis GV60 as you will for the BMW iX3, but the starting price 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 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 the Innovation Pack that we mentioned earlier, which adds the head-up display, along with 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 Comfort Pack and Innovation 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. Chargers like that can be hard to find, though, so we suspect you’ll probably be 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 a car that feels properly luxurious inside

- You want to charge your car super quickly

- 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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