First look at the Genesis GV60: this electric car has a curious crystal ball. The Genesis GV60 is a premium electric vehicle with many cutting-edge features.
 |
| Image credit: Rob Clymo |
Genesis is Hyundai’s luxury arm and is building its profile well in Europe, while already being a fairly well-known brand in the US since its launch in 2016.
Until now though, there hasn’t been a dedicated EV to shout about, but that’s all about to change with this brightly colored Genesis GV60.
Recently got a close-up look at the company’s first electric car, in the decidedly quirky Sao Paulo Lime finish you see here, and it’s seriously cool.
The first thing that strikes you about the Genesis GV60 is that it looks bigger than expected, in fact, it looks a lot like the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Not too surprising given that the GV60 is built on Hyundai’s dedicated e-GMP platform. , just like the Ioniq and the Kia EV6.
It also has the Genesis identity, with some telltale signs showing its part of the lineup, which includes the GV70, GV80, G70, G80, and G90. Interestingly, the GV60 is listed alongside the GV70 and GV80 SUV models on the Genesis website, though from a distance it looks more like a sedan.
It’s probably because the Genesis GV60 is pretty misleading. Although it looks bigger in the metal from the outside, especially with its 21-inch alloy wheels, it’s not until you look inside that the EV reveals itself as a surprisingly roomy powerhouse of luxury.
And, as you’d expect from the South Korean manufacturer, it’s also packed with smart and innovative features.
A trio of choices
We first saw the Genesis GV60 at a studio in the London suburban belt, so the EV was European spec. The Genesis GV60 will be available there with a choice of three different engines, including a 168kW rear-wheel drive single-engine option delivering 350Nm of torque, aimed at users who want long-range capabilities.
There are also two dual-motor all-wheel-drive models, the Standard AWD and the Performance AWD. The former offers 234kW of combined power, 74kW from the front motor, and 160kW from the rear to produce 605Nm of torque.
This latest Performance Edition offers 360 kW with 180 kW front and rear and a maximum available torque of 700 Nm.
The Genesis GV60 has four doors, a liftgate/liftgate, and seats five passengers, two in the front and three in the rear. Overall dimensions are 451.5 cm (length), 189 cm (width) and 158 cm (height) with a 290 cm wheelbase and 160 cm ground clearance.
The boot has a capacity of 432 liters while at the front there is additional storage space in the form of 53 liters for the rear-wheel-drive model and 20 liters for the all-wheel-drive edition due to additional components being packaged.
 |
| Image credit: Rob Clymo |
Exterior ‘Elegance’
Before we get to the interior, let’s take a closer look at the exterior, which is based on Genesis’ Athletic Elegance design philosophy.
After seeing the Sao Paulo Lime shade in promotional photos, the color looks even better in real life. It really helps complement the curves of the GV60, which is instantly recognizable as a Genesis mainly from the front end.
This is particularly the case around the grille, which follows a theme established on other models in the Genesis portfolio.
Similarly, there is also a common theme with the lights, front and rear, with front and rear lights blending into the curves of the bodywork to great effect. The built-in lighting style works really well and also keeps things pretty minimal.
The door handles are recessed when the car is closed and open when you want to get in and out. Unsurprisingly, they seem to be from the same department as the ones found in the Hyundai Ioniq 5.
The exterior mirrors, or rather the cameras, fold and unfold automatically and, like others using this design, are fairly unobtrusive. Nonetheless, they add a clean style as you move around the car.
At the rear, it’s also minimalist, with recessed lights and plain, simple badging. The car we reviewed had a glass roof option, which is more visible when you enter. Access through all four doors is also enhanced by the GV60’s height, meaning getting in and out is a breeze.
 |
| Image credit: Rob Clymo |
Interior wizardry
Most of the really good stuff is inside the Genesis GV60. While the exterior is pleasing to the eye, there are some wonderful design ideas afoot once you’re sitting in the driver’s seat.
The example we reviewed was finished in New Navy, which is just that, a subtle shade of blue. There’s plenty of space in the front of the cabin thanks to a center console that leaves the room all the way to the floor in the same way as the Ioniq 5.
One of the first things your eyes land on is the dash-mounted display, which carries both the infotainment system and the digital instrument cluster. Usefully, the screen allows you to enjoy a larger map view when using sat-nav.
Another thing that catches the eye is the bright yellow Boost button below the steering wheel, giving another nod to the GV60’s performance potential.
 |
| Image credit: Rob Clymo |
Driving options are covered by three modes, and Sport offers a nice surprise, just like in other Genesis vehicles. Select it on the transmission dial and the sides of the driver’s seat will automatically move inward, holding you tight and suggesting performance will follow.
The really cool twist to this procedure, though, is the transmission dial itself. Genesis calls it the Crystal Sphere, an orb-shaped controller that seemingly notifies you of approaching driving conditions.
Not having driven the car ourselves, we can’t guarantee how it performs in practice, but in a stationary position, the Crystal Sphere is an eye-catching novelty.
Initially, all you see is a curious crystal ball in the central cabin. But when you press the power button, the glass sphere flips back to reveal a control dial. Drive, Reverse, and Parking modes are selected from here. Free ambient lighting also seeks to set the interior ambiance to the desired level.
 |
| Image credit: Rob Clymo |
Genesis will offer trim packages in the form of innovation and comfort, although there is also mention of an exterior package, which also offers Nappa leather seats.
Unsurprisingly, this will include additional safety and infotainment features. The car we saw benefited from this fully glazed sunroof (another highlight of the Outdoor Package). However, as mentioned above, along with distinctive silver interior trim like vents and door handles, the GV60 also includes those digital side mirrors.
Digital side mirrors are hard to judge without driving the car. We’ve seen them work to good effect in the Honda-e and less so in something like the Audi e-Tron Sportback.
The screens on each of the Genesis GV60’s front doors look pretty big, while the cameras on the outside add a touch of style to the exterior lines. We look forward to trying them out in the not too distant future.
 |
| Image credit: Rob Clymo |
Charging, two ways
Being a premium car with Hyundai thinking behind it, the Genesis GV60 is packed with technical prowess. We were told that since this was a pre-production model, some upcoming features like facial recognition technology (which won’t be available in Europe anyway) and V2L, or Vehicle to Load, weren’t available.
V2L lets you use your electric vehicle’s power to charge other things, using an adapter, which is also available on the Hyundai Ioniq 5.
Being built on the E-GMP platform also means that the Genesis EV60 will be able to offer owners some truly convenient charging options.
The car has a 400/800-volt multi-rapid charging system, which does just that by boosting the 400V provided by a charger and bumping it up to 800 volts.
Think 10-80% in about 18 minutes if the car has access to a 350kW charger if you’re lucky enough to find one.
More realistically for most markets, a 50kW charger will take around 73 minutes to do the same thing, which isn’t bad at all. If you make do with charging at home from a standard 230-volt outlet, expect similar juice to take around 7 hours and 20 minutes.
It’s always nice if you parked overnight and don’t need to use the car again until morning.
 |
| Image credit: Rob Clymo |
Performance and range
The Genesis GV60 looks as good to drive as it does, thanks to the plenty of power available. Spec sheet figures provided by Genesis indicate a top speed of 235 km/h (about 146 mph).
Acceleration, meanwhile, should be snappy in true EV tradition, with a reported 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) time of 4 seconds. It should be more than capable of holding its own against rivals like the Volkswagen ID.4 or the hugely popular Tesla Model 3.
The Genesis GV60 should be good for around 300 miles on a 77kWh car battery charge, which is pretty good.
As for pricing, Genesis has yet to announce the cost. Given the GV60’s premium appeal, rumors suggest it could cost upwards of £45,000 (just over $60,000), but could even stretch to £80,000 if you go for the top-spec, especially if you want all those nice extras.
