You may be familiar with Genesis and have come across a GV60 while out and about. Perhaps you are contemplating adding a GV60 to your fleet, upgrading your current vehicle, or exploring a GV60 through Salary Sacrifice, but need some more information.
Earlier this year, on a wet day in May, some of the Lease Electric team headed to Millbrook Proving Ground for Fleet Procure live. Despite the rain, the day proved a perfect opportunity to test a wide range of EVs, including the Genesis GV60.
About Genesis
Genesis is Hyundai's luxury vehicle brand Genesis entered the European market in May 2021 The brand focuses on "Athletic Elegance" design, blending sporty elements with sophistication. From 2025 all new Genesis cars will be fully electric, and the brand aims for carbon neutrality by 2035.
What is the GV60?
Designed from the outset to be an EV, The GV60 is a luxury, mid-size crossover and the brand's first fully electric vehicle. Beneath its unique bodywork lies the E-GMP platform, shared with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, with each GV60 utilising a 77.4kWh battery.
You can select from three trim levels: Premium, Sport, and Sport Plus. The Premium model is exclusively rear-wheel drive, whereas the Sport and Sport Plus feature dual-motor configurations and all-wheel drive.
Performance
The entry-level GV60 Premium, with rear-wheel drive, generates 229bhp and 350Nm of torque, accelerating the car from 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds.
Opting for the GV60 Sport model introduces an additional electric motor for all-wheel drive, increasing the power output to 318bhp and 605Nm of torque, reducing the 0-62mph time to 5.5 seconds, and raising the top speed to 124mph.
Lastly, there's the GV60 Sport Plus which boasts 490bhp and 700Nm of torque. In boost mode, it hits 0-62mph in just 4 seconds and can reach a top speed of 146mph, according to Genesis.
Range
Each GV60 is equipped with a 77.4kWh battery, but the range varies among models. The entry-level Premium version can travel 321 miles (WLTP) on a single charge, while the dual-motor Sport and Sport Plus models can cover 292 and 289 miles (WLTP), respectively.
When it comes to charging the Genesis GV60 can recharge at speeds up to 350kW, allowing for a rapid 10 to 80 percent charge in as little as 18 minutes, adding approximately 200 miles of range.
Design
The GV60 shares its platform with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, yet its unique design sets it apart.The GV60 showcases the brand's iconic split headlight design, an Aston Martin-inspired winged badge, a sleek roofline and large alloy wheels.
Inside, the plush leather-trimmed steering wheel, customisable stitching on the seats and dashboard add to the upscale feel. The unique gear selector, hidden when the car is off, adds a touch of elegance.
The Genesis infotainment system, similar to Kia and Hyundai models, offers a user-friendly interface with a range of features. The home screen consists of four main pages for easy navigation, with climate controls located below the main display. Convenient physical shortcut keys on the centre console provide quick access to essential functions.
Size and Space
A significant advantage of a custom electric car platform, such as the GV60's, is the roomy interior it provides. Owing to its expansive wheelbase, the rear section boasts a completely flat floor, ensuring generous legroom for backseat passengers and a 432-liter boot capacity.
Lease Electric Review
We decided to test drive the GV60, picking up the keys and receiving a brief overview and exterior walk around from the Genesis Team.
Upon opening the doors, the GV60 radiates a sense of premium quality, luxury, and sophistication. The interior was elegant showcasing distinctive features and a well-designed cockpit.
The driver and passenger seats were spacious, comfortable, and easily adjustable. Both front seats were equipped with quick-working heating and ventilation features, enhancing comfort. In the rear, the three seats provided ample legroom for passengers and convenient access to the ISOFIX anchors. Additionally, the back seats heated swiftly, and the 60:40 split function allows for easy folding to create more space.
Once we had settled into the car, fastened our seat belts, and prepared to press start and head to the track, our attention then turned to the central console, which houses a crystal ball called the "Crystal Sphere." This sphere elegantly rotated when the car started, revealing the gear selection.
The cockpit layout was well thought out, featuring physical buttons for common functions on both the central console and steering wheel, as well as dual 12.3-inch touchscreens for the main display and central infotainment system.
The dashboard sported a sleek and modern interface with user-friendly controls, facilitating easy navigation through various functions. The ambient lighting was adjustable, and the cabin felt spacious and bright, thanks to the well-designed center console, flat floors, and natural light entering through the panoramic sunroof.
Not only was the cabin visually appealing, but it was also functional. It offered ample storage compartments, straightforward controls and rear seats that could be easily folded down.
The Genesis GV60 boasts cutting-edge technology as a standard features, from the head-up display to 'face connect' (facial recognition) and fingerprint authentication, along with a range of driver assistance, safety, and security features. Among the standout features were the adaptive cruise control and the blind-spot cameras that activated and displayed clear images on the screen in front of the driver when the indicators were in use.
After completing several laps at Millbrook Proving Ground, we returned the car to the Genesis stand. The parking was made easier by the front and rear parking sensors, as well as the rearview camera with guidelines, which is a feature common among many new EVs.
Once we parked the GV60 and returned the keys, we were both thoroughly impressed with our experience. The design, build, and quality of the GV60, along with its remarkable technology, assistance features, straightforward controls, and overall performance, made it one of our top test drives of the day. It was only surpassed by the Porsche Taycan, which is an entirely different class of car.
