Genesis Motor GV60 SUV (2022 - ) Electric review

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

There are three steps of power output in the GV60 range, going from the Single Motor with 229 horsepower to Dual Motor variants with 318 horsepower and, in Sport Plus trim, 480 horsepower. All GV60s feature the same 77.4kWh battery, which is about average, if a little smaller than the Ford Mustang Mach-E’s. The Genesis seems more efficient, though, the single motor version going over 300 miles on a charge. Frankly, performance for this version is plenty to be going on with as well, and the GV60 gets off the line smartly and has plenty of punch at all speeds. Saying that, there’s no denying the Sport Plus feels a lot quicker, with instantaneous acceleration to keep pace with the quickest of rivals. While it drives really nicely (thanks in part to Genesis hiring the guy behind the old Ford Focus RS's handling) gimmicks like a Drift Mode on the Sport Plus version are probably less relevant to most drivers than the clever, multi-stage regeneration you can adjust via paddles on the steering wheel. In its most assertive mode it will even bring the GV60 to a complete halt just by lifting off the accelerator, this relaxing ‘one pedal’ driving style popular among electric car fans but something a few manufacturers shy away from offering. Credit to Genesis for going all-in.