Genesis GV60 Review

29 September 2022

Genesis is the ‘luxury’ brand of Hyundai/Kia, and it has taken the excellent base of the Hyundai IONIQ 5/Kia EV6 and created even more of a premium proposition in the form of the GV60.

This is a review for the Genesis GV60

The GV60 shares the same base as the IONIQ 5/Kia EV6

Excellent driving experience

Upmarket interior

Long driving range

The Genesis GV60 Design & Powertrain

The Genesis GV60 is based on the same platform as the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6, which means a 77.4 kWh (gross) lithium-ion battery and either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The GV60 168 RWD Single Motor has a 229 PS electric motor.

The Genesis GV60 is set aside from its two other family members by more curvy exterior styling, and a more upmarket interior with lots of equipment.

The GV60 is the shortest of the three cars, and it also has the smallest boot, at 432 litres, although there’s also a 52-litre front trunk.

What's the Genesis GV60 like to drive?

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6 are both excellent to drive, so it’s no surprise that this is also the case with the Genesis GV60. The IONIQ 5 is comfortable and refined, and the EV6 is more sporty; the GV60 also feels sporty, and is even more refined and premium than its other family members – something that is particularly evident at motorway speeds. The standard double-glazed soundproof glass is likely to be a key factor in this.

There are instant responses from the electric powertrain, with good performance thanks to 229 PS of power and 350 Nm of torque. The rear-wheel drive handling is rewarding, and the ride quality is comfortable.

You can change drive modes really easily thanks to a button on the steering wheel (as opposed to EVs that have drive modes hidden away in the touchscreen); there are three main drive modes – Eco, Comfort and Sport. If you press and hold down the button there’s also a Snow mode. You can also disengage the lane departure warning system at the touch of a button on the steering wheel.

When you get in the GV60 you’ll see what appears to be a ‘crystal ball’ where you would expect the gear selector to be. When you start the car this crystal ball rotates and turns into a gear selector. You can also increase or decrease the level of regenerative braking by using steering wheel-mounted paddles.

There’s a wide central touchscreen, which also has shortcut buttons for its main features positioned under the separate heating and ventilation controls, and there’s a rotary dial located next to the gear selector – similar to BMW’s iDrive system. There’s a ‘Home’ button which brings up a large range of options on the touchscreen, including features such as ‘Quiet mode’, which turns down the volume of the rear speakers so front seat occupants can listen to the radio or other media while back seat passengers can listen to their own music in peace.

The driver seat grips you more tightly if you select Sport mode, and there’s also a (rather vigorous) massage function available.

One of the very few faults with the Kia EV6 is that you can’t fit a roof rack, so it’s good news that the GV60 features roof rails.

Charging the Genesis GV60

The Genesis GV60 168 RWD has an official combined WLTP electric driving range of 321 miles. A real-world range of 270-300 miles can be expected.

The GV60 has a maximum ultra-rapid charging rate of 233 kW. If you charge the car using a 350 kW ultra-rapid charger, it’s possible to achieve a 10% to 80% charge in just 18 minutes. A 50 kW rapid charger will provide a 10% to 100% charge in 73 minutes. The GV60 also has an onboard charger for 7 kW domestic charging and 11 kW three-phase charging (typically found at a workplace in the UK).

The GV60 has a 3-pin plug socket under the rear seat, so you can plug in laptops or other electrical devices. It also has vehicle-to-load capability; you can plug an adaptor into the external charging socket to power electrical items such as camping equipment.

The Genesis GV60 price and model range

The Genesis GV60 trim levels are Premium (RWD single motor) from £47,005, Sport (AWD dual motor) from £53,605, and Sport Plus (AWD dual motor) from £65,405.

Conclusion

Hyundai and Kia were seen as budget brands in the UK a few years ago, but the Kia EV6 is now one of the best EVs you can buy. Genesis may be a new brand to many people, but the GV60 successfully builds on the base of the Kia EV6 and adds a luxury feel to the interior, along with lots of equipment. The GV60 is a very enjoyable and a very refined car to drive, and it’s a particularly comfortable vehicle to cover long distances on the motorway – which it can do with ease thanks to its 300-mile plus driving range.