Item: Genesis GV60
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

Unlike the other versions of the GV60, the entry-level 168kW Premium feeds all its 226bhp to the rear wheels, instead of all four. It gets the same 77.4kWh battery as the rest, giving it the best official range – 321 miles on a single charge. We’ve yet to give this version a try, but we suspect it will be the one to go for.

168kW

Estate

GENESIS

GV60

Exact specs have yet to be confirmed, but this entry-level version is expected to get full LED headlights, wireless phone-charging, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, an electric tailgate and a 12.3in infotainment touchscreen.

Premium

168kW Premium 77.4kWh 5dr Auto

168kw-premium-774kwh-5dr-auto

Audi E-tron

Audi Q4

BMW iX

BMW iX3

Ford Mustang Mach-E

Genesis GV60

Jaguar I-Pace

Kia EV6

Kia Niro EV

Kia Soul EV

Kia e-Niro

Lexus UX 300e

Mercedes EQB

Nissan Ariya

Skoda Enyaq

Skoda Enyaq Coupé

Tesla Model Y

Toyota bZ4X

Volkswagen ID.4

Volkswagen ID.5

Volvo C40

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

As a cash purchase, the Genesis GV60 looks like an expensive option, and the entry-level Premium version costs considerably more than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/enyaq/estate/review/n22909">Skoda Enyaq iV</a> and slightly more than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n23462">Kia EV6</a>.

Granted, you do get a much more pleasant interior and both the Ioniq 5 and Enyaq iV get smaller batteries (meaning you won’t go as far on a single charge). The EV6, on the other hand, matches the GV60’s 77.4kWh battery and the fast-charging capability but promises a range of more than 300 miles regardless of which version you choose.&nbsp;

We expect the entry-level GV60 Premium to be the one to go for, as it gives you plenty of power and the highest official range. All models come with plenty of toys as standard including full LED headlights, wireless phone-charging, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, an electric tailgate and a 12.3in infotainment touchscreen.

You’ll also be getting plenty of safety equipment on all models including eight airbags, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist and an all important automatic emergency braking <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">(AEB)</a> system. The GV60 is too new to have been tested for safety by <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a>&nbsp;but you can expect it to be given a star rating closer to its launch.

Likewise, both the GV60 and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/genesis">Genesis</a> as a brand are too new to have featured in the 2021 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2021-what-car-reliability-survey/n23397">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>, so we don’t have data on either yet. Even so, Genesis’ sister brands Hyundai and Kia came third and ninth out of 30 manufacturers featured&nbsp;in the survey.

The GV60 comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty to give you peace of mind. It also comes with five years’ free servicing and five years’ free over-the-air (OTA) updates.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://p.whatcar.com/signup">here</a>

The GV60 is available in three guises – Premium, Sport and Sport Plus. So far, we’ve had the chance to test the Premium and Sport Plus versions on European roads.

Sport Plus is the car's most potent offering, and has an electric motor on each axle for four-wheel drive. In normal driving, each motor works at 160kW, but there's a Boost button on the steering wheel, and when you push it, that figure rises to 180kW, delivering a combined 483bhp. That’s at least 100bhp more than any <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n23462">Kia EV6</a>.

With Boost enabled, the GV60 Sport Plus can accelerate from 0-62mph in just 4.0sec. In other words, it's <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/taycan/saloon/review/n20184">Porsche Taycan</a> fast – and it feels like it, too: when you put your foot down, you're instantly and forcibly pinned into your seat. You really ought to give passengers fair warning if you get an irresistible urge to press Boost. It also adds an element of theatre with a quick 20-second boost build-up graphic on the gauge cluster.

If you don’t crave all that power, the mid-range GV60 Sport retains all-wheel drive but gets a 160kW motor at the front and a 74kW one at the rear. That translates to 314bhp, so it certainly won't be sluggish.&nbsp;

The entry-level Premium version ditches all-wheel drive in favour of rear-wheel drive, but still gets a hearty 226bhp from its single, rear mounted electric motor. Compared with the other versions that might not sound like much, but it still feels suitably quick, with more than enough power for everyday needs.

The GV60 appears to have straight-line speed sorted, then, but what about when things get twisty? Well, it would appear that the GV60 is well-covered in this department, too.

From the get-go you can tell that it's&nbsp;been set up for a sporty driving experience. It's evident from&nbsp;the car’s handling, which is composed for a heavy <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-suvs-2022/n23038">electric SUV</a>. It grips well and body lean is mostly minimal. However its heavy weight doesn’t help on that front when things get more twisty. And while the steering is accurate, there isn’t much in the way of feel. This leaves you without much of an idea of what the front wheels are up to.

Still, it’s clear that <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/genesis">Genesis</a> has made an effort to add some drama to the driving experience. When you toggle&nbsp;Sport mode – the sharpest of the three driving modes, with a quicker accelerator response and more weighty steering – the gauges glow red and the seat bolsters tighten to grip you into your seat. For more daring drivers, all models come with a Drift mode&nbsp;too, and this is enabled via switching off the traction control button.

Comfort is the default driving mode, which the car automatically enters upon start-up, and provides the smoothest progress. Eco, meanwhile, does as its name suggests and does its best to maximise range. You can also adjust the strength of the regenerative braking via the paddles on the steering wheel. Level 1 is the weakest and Level 4 or ‘I-Pedal’ is the strongest and most aggressive, enabling the electric motor to recuperate more energy back into the battery.

While the ride is on the firm side, it doesn’t feel harsh, and the suspension is well-controlled over bumps and potholes. Of the models we tested, the entry-level Premium version was the most comfortable, thanks to its smaller 19in wheels, and the Sport Plus was a little harsher with its larger 21in wheels and low-profile tyres. The mid-level Sport comes with 20in wheels as standard, however we are yet to drive this version.

Another reason to go for a version lower down the range is, er, range (the electric kind). You see, while the Sport and Sport Plus variants are fast, they use up their charge far less efficiently – Sport Plus covers 289 miles officially, while the Sport is slightly better at 292 miles. The Premium, on the other hand, can officially manage 321 miles between charges.&nbsp;

Of course, you have to take all those numbers with a pinch of salt when it comes to real-world driving, but the Premium should go further than the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/i-pace/estate/review/n122"> Jaguar I-Pace</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id4/estate/review/n22789">Volkswagen ID.4</a>. It even has a higher official range than the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624"> Tesla Model Y</a> Long Range, although that's a very efficient car so it remains to be seen whether the GV60 can beat it.

Being electric gives the GV60 the obvious advantage of creating no engine noise, except for the whine of the motors when you put your foot down. At motorway speeds, it remains refined, with some wind and road noise but nothing that’ll ever become annoying.

OUR PICK

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

168kw

Just like the top-tier 360kW GV60 Sport Plus, this mid-range 234kW Sport version gets all-wheel drive but uses a 160kW motor on the front axle and a 74kW one at the rear. We’ve yet to try this version, but we don’t expect it to be slow, given that it produces 314bhp. The official range of the Sport version is 292 miles. 

234kW

234kw

With a 160kW motor on each axle, the 360kW GV60 Sport Plus feeds a total of 483bhp to all-four wheels. That’s more than any Kia EV6 and, when you press the boost button on the steering wheel, the twin motors propel the car from 0-62mph in around 4.0sec. That power comes at a cost, though, because it has the shortest official range of any version, at 289 miles.

360kW

360kw

In music, your first single&nbsp;can propel you to fame, like Sultans of Swing did for Dire Straits, or flop and end your career. As Genesis (the brand, not the band) unveils its first dedicated electric car –&nbsp;the Genesis GV60 – we’re sure it’s hoping for a hit.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/genesis">Genesis</a> couldn’t have picked a more competitive section of the electric vehicle (EV) market to try to break into, though. Why? Well, the GV60’s size puts it up against some well-established electric SUV rivals, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/mustang-mach-e/estate/review/n22387">Ford Mustang Mach-E</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/i-pace/estate/review/n122">Jaguar I-Pace</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id4/estate/review/n22789">Volkswagen ID.4</a>.&nbsp;

Luckily, it didn't have to start from scratch. Genesis is&nbsp;the luxury arm of Hyundai, and&nbsp;the GV60 is&nbsp;closely related to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n23462">Kia EV6</a>&nbsp;– Move Electric’s <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/hyundai-ioniq-5-named-as-move-electrics-best-electric-car/n24349">Best Electric Car</a>&nbsp;and our 2022 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/car-of-the-year-awards-2022-overall-winner/n23994">Car of the Year</a>&nbsp;respectively. That means it includes proven technologies, including the&nbsp;same dedicated electric car platform as those cars, called E-GMP.

All versions of the Genesis GV60 have&nbsp;the same 77.4kWh battery as you’ll find in the EV6. Its 239k rapid charging capability allows it to go&nbsp;from 10-80% in just 18 mins if you can find a fast enough&nbsp;charger (such machines are still pretty rare in the UK). That’s faster than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y</a>.

The GV60 is more than just an Ioniq 5 or EV6 clone in more expensive clothes, though. It's designed to&nbsp;offer you a far&nbsp;more luxurious experience, and has an interior unlike almost anything else out there.&nbsp;

Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? But is it good enough to beat its award-winning siblings and those other rivals, which include some of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-suvs-2022/n23038">best electric SUVs</a> on sale?

Over the next few pages of this Genesis GV60 review, we'll&nbsp;put the car through its paces, looking at all the important areas, including comfort, performance and interior quality. We'll tell you about the electric motor options, how long the range is and much more.

Then, when you’ve decided which make and model of car is right for you, make sure you get it for the lowest price by searching our free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car? New Car Buying pages</a>. They're a good place to find the best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/electric-suv">new electric SUV deals</a>.

The Genesis GV60 really comes into its own when you step inside and sit down. In fact, the materials and design features make it feel more like you’re stepping through the door of a concept car than something you can actually buy. One example is the crystal ball on the centre console that flips upside down to reveal the drive selector as soon as you thumb the starter button.

Digital instruments and a head-up display are standard on all models, both of which show driving info (the speed limit and so on), media and navigation functions. The head-up display is configurable, and there's an 'augmented reality' navigation function that puts sat-nav directions&nbsp;in your line of sight.

The GV60's driving position is somewhere between an SUV and a regular hatchback. That means it’s not as high as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/enyaq/estate/review/n22909">Skoda Enyaq iV</a> and some other <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-suvs-2022/n23038">electric SUVs</a> but it is lofty enough to give you a good view out of the front. The driver’s seat has electric adjustment as standard, including for the lumbar support, and the steering wheel moves up, down, in and out, making it easy to get comfortable.

The large side windows and small rear pillars give you a good view over your shoulder, so you won’t struggle to see cars around you. The view out of the back lets it down, though, because the tapered roof limits the size of the rear window and there’s a large bar sitting straight across the middle. All versions come with front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera,&nbsp;which helps make up for the more limited rear view when parking.&nbsp;

One visibility feature that isn't particularly helpful is the optional ‘digital’ camera mirrors, which were specified on our Sport Plus test car. The video they show is clear, but you don’t get the same depth of view as with the standard-fit&nbsp;traditional mirrors, and it can be hard to tell how close other road users are. What’s more, the chunky plastic housing around the screen on the driver’s side tends to reflect sunlight straight into your eyes.&nbsp;

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 anywhere inside. Instead, most of the surfaces are covered with soft-touch materials, synthetic leathers and attractive metals. It’s not necessarily better built than the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944"> Hyundai Ioniq 5</a> or<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n23462"> Kia EV6</a>&nbsp;but it does feel&nbsp;more special.

Infotainment wise, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/genesis">Genesis</a> gives you a 12.3in touchscreen infotainment screen that’s positioned high on the dashboard and angled slightly toward the driver. The software is similar to what you’ll find in the GV60’s siblings, meaning that it is fairly intuitive and reacts quickly to all your inputs.

Thankfully, unlike many modern cars, you don’t have to operate the system solely through the touchscreen because the GV60 gives you lots of shortcut buttons, physical volume controls and a rotary controller next to the drive selector that lets you scroll through the various menus. Those options mean that it’s far less distracting to use on the move than almost all direct rivals.&nbsp;

The climate controls continue that trend of physical controls by mixing a small touchscreen with plenty of buttons and switches that feel solid and are easy to find while you’re driving along.

Rapid in a straight line, cavernous for passengers and&nbsp;feels far more special inside than almost anything else out there. That said, the Kia EV6 will offer much of the same but for less money.&nbsp;

When it comes to interior space, the Genesis GV60 spoils its occupants. Despite the glass panoramic roof, six-footers sitting up front will have plenty of head and leg room, although taller drivers might find their knees rubbing against the hard plastic centre console. The wide interior means you’re not even close to rubbing shoulders with your front-seat passenger.&nbsp;

As with the related <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n23462">Kia EV6</a>, rear leg room borders on the ridiculous – it’s so generous that it’s almost like being in a limo. Even if you and your friends are more than six feet tall, you’ll easily fit two up front and two in the rear with space to spare. Our only demerit would be that there isn't much space under the front seats for your rear-seat passengers' feet.&nbsp;

The sloping roofline does mean that head room in the back isn't as generous as in the front, but you’d need to be really tall for it to be a problem in the outer two seats. Unfortunately, the middle rear seat is higher up, so a third back-seat passenger will have severely reduced head room as a result, and six-footers will have to duck to fit there.&nbsp;

Storage for your drinks and various bits and bobs is also good, and that’s whether you’re a front or rear passenger. Up front, there are two cup holders, a central cubby, a storage area beneath the dashboard, and a large glove box (which opens like a drawer). The door bins are also large and shaped to fit a large water bottle.

In the back, the outer passengers get a cup holder integrated into the door, another large door bin, and two cup holders mounted into the central arm rest (which folds down). Beneath the centre console there’s also an area to store smaller items, such as a tablet.

If you need to top up your phone battery, there are endless places to charge your devices in the GV60, with one USB and two USB-C charging ports, a 12v power outlet and a wireless charging pad in the front, as well as&nbsp;two USB-Cs in the rear.

With all that interior space, you might think there won't be much left for the boot, and boot space is indeed smaller than in rival cars, at 432 litres below the parcel shelf (680 litres up to the roof). We managed to fit seven carry-on suitcases in the EV6's&nbsp;490-litre boot, so we'd expect the GV60 to take&nbsp;six (we'll update this review when we've tried it). The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id4/estate/review/n22789">Volkswagen ID.4</a>&nbsp;has a much bigger capacity and swallowed&nbsp;nine cases, but the GV60 should still have more than enough for a large weekly shop or a couple of buggies.&nbsp;

If you need more boot than passenger space, the rear seats tilt forward and fold in a 60/40 configuration. They fold almost completely flat, which means that sliding in long items is easy. Underfloor storage is decent, but there are no tie hooks to hold your shopping in place.

The GV60 also has a small ‘froot’ (front boot) under the bonnet, with 53 litres of space for the single-motor Premium and 20 litres for the dual-motor Sport and Sport Plus. Either way, you’ll struggle to fit more than a laptop in there, and it's probably only suitable for carrying the charging cables.

premium

This is the mid-level GV60 trim – exact specs have yet to be confirmed.

Sport

sport

This is the top-spec GV60 trim – exact specifications have yet to be confirmed.

Sport Plus

sport-plus

As the brand’s first dedicated electric car, the Genesis GV60 is a very good effort. It’s rapid in a straight line, cavernous for passengers and offers an interior that feels far more special than almost anything else out there. That said, the Kia EV6 will offer much of the same but for less money. 

This class is all about SUVs that run purely on electricity. No petrol, no diesel and not even any hybrid technology.

Relatively low-cost options include the MG ZS EV, but you can easily spend three times as much on more luxurious alternatives, such as the BMW iX.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Electric SUV

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test </li> <li>Quick charging times and compatibility with the most ubiquitous types of public charging points </li> <li>Priced to be within the grasp of more than just the privileged few </li> <li>As with any car, ride comfort, practicality and ownership costs can’t be ignored</li></ul>

We define an electric car as one that runs purely on battery power and has no tailpipe to puff out nasty chemicals. These cars qualify for the maximum plug-in car grant (PICG) of £3500.

The Renault Zoe is one of the most affordable options and has a surprisingly long range of between 120 and 180 miles (depending on the weather and the road type). However, the Nissan Leaf and Volkswagen e-Golf are more practical and more accomplished to drive, even if the latter doesn't have a particularly long range between charges.

At the other end of the scale, Tesla’s ground-up EV philosophy – and the American brand’s own network of super-fast chargers – makes the Model S a tempting choice. It has seating for up to seven, an classy interior and a long enough real-world range to make inter-city travel a real possibility.

Electric

Genesis GV60 review

Fill out our 2022 Reliability Survey - and win a prize!

Alfa Romeo Giulia

Volvo XC60

Fiat 500

Hyundai Ioniq 5

Honda HR-V

Dacia Jogger

/news/complete-the-2022-what-car-reliability-survey-for-the-chance-to-win-a-prize/n15554

New car deals >>

site ribbon config

Buying advice for the Genesis GV60 covering running costs, MPG, Fuel Economy, Reliability and Safety, from the expert What Car? review team.

As a cash purchase, the Genesis GV60 looks like an expensive option, and the entry-level Premium version costs considerably more than the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Skoda Enyaq iV and slightly more than the Kia EV6.,Granted, you do get a much more pleasant interior and both the Ioniq 5 and Enyaq iV get smaller batteries (meaning you won’t go as far on a single charge). The EV6, on the other hand, matches the GV60’s 77.4kWh battery and the fast-charging capability but promises a range of more than 300 miles regardless of which version you choose. ,We expect the entry-level GV60 Premium to be the one to go for, as it gives you plenty of power and the highest official range. All models come with plenty of toys as standard including full LED headlights, wireless phone-charging, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, an electric tailgate and a 12.3in infotainment touchscreen.You’ll also be getting plenty of safety equipment on all models including eight airbags, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist and an all important automatic emergency braking (AEB) system. The GV60 is too new to have been tested for safety by Euro NCAP but you can expect it to be given a star rating closer to its launch.,,Likewise, both the GV60 and Genesis as a brand are too new to have featured in the 2021 What Car? Reliability Survey, so we don’t have data on either yet. Even so, Genesis’ sister brands Hyundai and Kia came third and ninth out of 30 manufacturers featured in the survey.The GV60 comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty to give you peace of mind. It also comes with five years’ free servicing and five years’ free over-the-air (OTA) updates.For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here

New car deals >>

Genesis GV60 review

Kia EV6

BMW iX3

Costs & verdict

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

What Car? has a buying service

Quick search

Tools & services

Legal bits

Information