Expert Review
Genesis Motor GV60 SUV (2022 - ) Electric review
Hyundai’s luxury offshoot Genesis goes electric in style with the GV60 and a winning blend of sharp looks, performance and luxury
Words by: Dan Trent
Published on 12 May 2022 | 0 min read
The Auto Trader expert verdict:
5
Available new from £54,105
You’re not short of choice if you want to make your switch to electric with a fast and stylish crossover but the Genesis GV60 makes a convincing – and attractively priced – alternative to similar premium offerings from Audi, Jaguar, Polestar and others. Shared roots with the Kia EV6 and Ioniq 5 are no bad thing here, and the GV60 shares the sense of style, interior space and impressive performance. After a slow start with its initial petrol and diesel range, the GV60 could be the car to bring the fledgling Genesis brand and its unique ‘direct to your door’ sales and service model to a wider and fully electrified audience.
Reasons to buy:
- Makes sense of the Genesis brand
- Packed with tech
- Fast and luxurious
Running costs for a Genesis Motor GV60
“Like any electric car the GV60 can offset its higher purchase or finance prices through cheaper running costs”
The GV60 is a little more expensive than the related Hyundai Ioniq and Kia EV6 but good value against premium rivals like the Audi Q4 E-Tron Sportback, Volvo C40 or Jaguar I-Pace. Like any electric car the GV60 can offset its higher list price or finance rates through cheaper running costs, especially if you have off-street parking where you can install your own charger. Tax and ‘fuel’ can potentially be way cheaper than an equivalent internal combustion engine (ICE) model and if you can buy it through a salary sacrifice scheme or run it as a company car there are further financial incentives. This is also true of its rivals but Genesis stands out for its unique ownership model, with fixed pricing and a one-to-one, to your door service arranged through a dedicated personal assistant and ongoing servicing covered by an all-inclusive five-year package. It’s a very different way of buying and running a car but one Genesis thinks can save its customers time and money over the long run.
Expert rating: 4/5
Reliability of a Genesis Motor GV60
“If your GV60 does need to go in for repairs or a service your personal assistant will arrange to have it collected from home and leave a courtesy car in its place”
While Genesis is new to the British market it’s part of the Hyundai family and shares much of its technology with the Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, so you can take some confidence there and with the all-inclusive five-year (or 50,000-mile) service plan and warranty. If your GV60 does need to go in for repairs or a service your personal assistant will arrange to have it collected from home and leave a courtesy car in its place, so even if something does go wrong you’ll never be without transport. If you have a problem while away from home recovery and accommodation in a suitably posh hotel is all included as well.
Expert rating: 4/5
Safety for a Genesis Motor GV60
“We were less taken with the optional rear-view cameras you can option as an alternative to conventional wing mirrors”
The GV60 is absolutely packed with tech, with systems to automatically keep you in lane and a fixed distance from the car in front, even in stop-start traffic. Blind spot warnings are also standard, as is a sophisticated forward collision alert to slam on the brakes if it thinks you haven’t spotted a pedestrian, cyclist or oncoming vehicle at a junction. An optional Innovation Pack includes even more aids, including upgraded forward collision braking, neat camera-generated blind spot views in the instrument binnacle when you indicate, surround cameras and braking interventions if the car thinks you’re about to reverse into something. We were less taken with the optional rear-view cameras you can option as an alternative to conventional wing mirrors. It’s a nifty talking point but means yet more screens and an over-complication of otherwise proven and simple tech.
Expert rating: 4/5
How comfortable is the Genesis Motor GV60
“The GV60 does feel noticeably more premium than its Kia and Hyundai relatives”
Luxury is a key strand of what the brand likes to call ‘the Genesis difference’, and the GV60 does feel noticeably more premium than its Kia and Hyundai relatives. The quilted upholstery – available in real or plant-based leather – feels posh and the suede-style lining to the pillars and roof adds to the upmarket feel. As part of the optional Comfort Seat Package our test car even included an activating massaging driver’s seat, the hip swivelling, lumbar stretching moves it unleashes vigorous enough to impress even the steeliest Strictly Come Dancing judge. Like any electric car the GV60 is very quiet on the move as well, with no engine noise and a very relaxing feel, improved further by headphone-style noise-cancelling tech through the speakers if you go for the optional Bang & Olufsen sound system. On the road the long wheelbase puts occupants between the front and rear axles and helps the ride comfort, though even with fancy active suspension the Sport Plus version felt a little jiggly on bumpier surfaces. Genesis would say it’s a trade-off for the sharper handling and the standard one we also drove felt a little better here. Space in the rear is generous for the two outer seats, with loads of legroom and very comfortable seats. As ever, though, the central perch feels a bit of an afterthought, the lumpy cushion meaning most adults will find their heads touching the sloping roof. Boot space is adequate but the GV60 is probably more for style-conscious empty nesters and something more functional like a Skoda Enyaq feels a more appropriate choice for the rigours of family life.
Expert rating: 4/5
Features of the Genesis Motor GV60
“While the spec looks good you can upgrade your GV60 via various self-explanatory packages, which helps simplify the pricing structure”
Your main interaction with the GV60 will be through the paired digital instrument display and central screen. Sharp graphics and simple, tile-based menu systems mean it all works well and there’s tons of functionality. You can use CarPlay or Android Auto if you prefer but, while you can charge a compatible phone wirelessly, you still need to use an approved cable to connect. Which seems a bit daft. While the spec looks good you can upgrade your GV60 via various self-explanatory packages, which helps simplify the pricing structure. Notable extras include the Outdoor Package with its Vehicle To Load (V2L) feature, which basically turns your GV60 into a giant power bank into which you can plug mains appliances like jet washers, vacuum cleaners or hedge trimmers. Style will be an important consideration for buyers of cars like this, and here the GV60 has some pleasing and distinctive touches like the neat ‘Crystal Sphere’ gear selector that spins into life when you press the start button. While the sense of opulence is generally impressive the mix of silver-painted switches and screen tech is, perhaps, not as coherent as an Audi Q4 E-Tron, Volvo C40 or even a Jaguar I-Pace.
Expert rating: 4/5
Power for a Genesis Motor GV60
“There’s no denying the Sport Plus feels a lot quicker, with instantaneous acceleration to keep pace with the quickest of rivals”