Genesis is an bold premium model, and the GV60 is its first devoted electrical automobile – which means it was designed from the bottom up for a battery and motors quite than tailored from an current mannequin. It has a singular fashion, an athletic demeanor, a luxurious-looking cabin with added bling, and a punchy drivetrain that begins with 314 horsepower on the Superior mannequin and peaks at 483 hp utilizing Increase mode on the Efficiency trim. The Genesis GV60 has a beautiful beginning value of $59,290 and a most claimed vary of 248 miles on the much less potent trim.
We spent every week with the Genesis GV60 with loads of freeway driving, again highway driving, and sitting at charging stations wishing we had simply taken a hybrid on an extended journey.
Styling: Truly Daring
Each time we sit by means of a presentation for a automotive or learn by means of press releases or advertising data, the phrase “daring” is at all times fast to seem on our ‘Buzzword Bingo’ card. On this case, although, Genesis has actually hit the daring button, each in and out. Whereas the GV60 makes use of Genesis’s present design language, the brand new low-slung grille with the double-stack entrance lights and pointed higher valence makes a sporty assertion that backs up its electrical efficiency. It additionally nearly has the lengthy hood of one thing sporty and the sliding hatchback to match.
It is laborious to think about anybody disagreeing with the entire form of the GV60, however we perceive the criticisms suggesting that elements of it really feel overdone, just like the zig-zagging chrome over the rear quarter panel. Our check mannequin, the GV60 Efficiency, comes normal with the complicated-looking 21-inch wheels, panoramic glass roof, and Genesis FingerprintAuthentication/Face Join keyless entry system.
Inside: Carrying On The Daring
Contained in the Genesis GV60 there’s proof that the model snagged itself a Rolls-Royce designer, with the two-spoke steering wheel and plush supplies, significantly within the cream shade of our tester. On this shade, although, we discovered the steering wheel a step too far by way of nailing the opulence issue: It feels too try-hard for us, however in one other shade leather-based, it feels lets pretentious. The Efficiency trim comes with Nappa leather-based seats and sprint overlaying and a stunning microfiber suede headliner that carries on into the door playing cards.
The shifter is a crystal sphere that’s illuminated by way of ambient lighting and rotates, and a few might name it just a little gimmicky, however we grew to adore it over the week. What we did not love is the cheap-feeling plastic most noticeable on the massive facet mirror management dial and the matching not-actually-a-speaker on the passenger door.
Seating is spacious sufficient for 4 adults in complete, whereas the entrance passenger and driving place is extra upright than you count on in one thing sporty. However with the expansive windscreen, the driving place is great and fairly SUV-like.
Infotainment: Slick And Large
The dashboard is dominated by a landscape-style 12.3-inch touchscreen that can be managed by a dial in entrance of the shifter on the middle console. The truth that each the shifter and this management are dials will result in individuals utilizing the improper one till they’re used to it – we famous that earlier than driving on one event, we did flip a dial and marvel why we weren’t in Drive. Genesis infotainment software program is graphically slick and largely logical to navigate by means of, though there are numerous sections, and it isn’t so apparent to have media and radio separated on such a large display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – additionally a separate menu tile – are wired solely, which looks like a missed alternative.
The GV60 Efficiency comes with the Bang & Olufsen sound system field already ticked, and it sounds improbable. It comes with a splendidly impartial sound as inventory, however there is a nifty graphic altering the sound to swimsuit style. We had it sounding vibrant and full in moments, however largely stored it impartial to swimsuit a greater variety of music kinds.
Drivetrain: Woosh!
Each trims use a 77.4-kWh and two motors to energy all-four wheels, however a longer-range rear-wheel-drive mannequin is on its means as Genesis expands the trim ranges. The Superior trim makes a fairly potent 314 hp, however the Efficiency trim has 429 hp accessible till the driving force engages the Increase mode button on the steering wheel. Increase mode pushes the system to ship a most of 483 hp for as much as ten seconds, which is ideal if you wish to, say, beat down your good friend’s Mustang at a drag strip.
The underside line is that the GV60 is both smilingly fast or grin-worthy quick, however the energy is available in a whoosh, not with a bang. Though it’s instantaneous, and there is little doubt it might kick off to 60 mph sooner than the marketed 4 seconds on heat rubber. With Increase mode engaged, issues get just a little extra manic from a standstill, however with simply 235 miles of driving vary marketed on the efficiency trim (a extra reasonable 180-200 at 80 p.c cost), it isn’t one thing you may need to do loads.
When charging the battery, we noticed 190 kW being delivered at a peak on a DC charger as soon as and round 150 kW on two others. Charging at 350 kW is feasible, although, with the automaker claiming you want much less then 20 minutes to get from 10% to 80%. In actual life, after an 80 p.c cost (round 20 minutes from 30-ish p.c), the speed drops dramatically, and by 90 p.c, it tails off. In actuality, GV60 house owners are going to go to 80 p.c and solely give it a full cost when genuinely wanted.
As for vary accuracy, it is at all times going to boil all the way down to circumstances. In California’s chilly, moist winter climate, we nonetheless wanted so as to add a cost on a 210-mile run on 90 p.c cost. At 70 mph on the freeway, the battery was clearly draining sooner than when bringing it all the way down to 65. Enjoying round, we discovered 50-55 mph was the candy spot for getting most miles out of a full cost usually driving. It is price noting that this was in chilly climate, and solely over every week.
Driving: A Real Pleasure
Between a roomy, trendy, comfy cabin and driving place, a clean drive prepare, and properly tuned suspension with a hint of old-school spring, the Genesis GV60 is a genuinely nice automobile to drive. It takes the sting out of sitting in visitors jams, and Hyundai’s stop-start adaptive cruise management is a big a part of that. It is significantly quiet in case you flip off the faux electrical motor noise with not numerous tire noise making it into the cabin. It is a swift, calm, nice automotive to drive, and Genesis needs to be congratulated on that.
As a sporty quantity, it does not increase the bar, although. Sure, the GV60 is exceptionally quick for the cash in a straight line, but it surely is not confidence inspiring or significantly nimble on a again highway, even with Sport mode engaged and the adaptive suspension doing its job and adapting.
Nonetheless, Genesis has achieved one other wonderful job with regards to tuning its completely different drive modes. Eco mode deadens throttle response closely, whereas nonetheless leaving sufficient energy on faucet for getting as much as freeway speeds. It will give even probably the most lead-footed driver the possibility to have some energy left over after an extended commute. Regular mode is the candy spot for drivers that care about driving, and when blended with the three regenerative braking ranges, may be pushed on simply the accelerator till a full cease is required – or somebody does one thing silly in entrance of the automotive.
Ought to You Contemplate The GV60?
The GV60 is a wonderful automotive. It is the primary automotive of 2023 we regretted having handy the keys again for. Nonetheless, until it matches your life-style, there will probably be frustrations. The vary is proscribed for one thing so sporty, and that encourages a driver to have a heavy proper foot, and the charging infrastructure is simply not prepared for automobiles like this outdoors of being a day by day commuter. Longer, as in 100-mile-ish commutes, will convey anxiousness that even the enjoyable cabin cannot mute, and highway journeys will not be going to be enjoyable when it’s a must to fear about making frequent charging stops.
Nonetheless, with a second automotive within the storage with a fuel engine, it is a sensible little commuter and enjoyable automotive to drive, and its $59,290 and $68,290 value tags aren’t outlandish in case you can forgive a couple of bits of cheap-feeling plastic trim. The remainder of the GV60 is on level.