Genesis GV60: Five reasons why we love it…and five why we loathe it

While it might share its electric platform with the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Genesis GV60 certainly has its own character. It's the premium pick of the three, and feels it too, both inside and out on the road.

But is the GV60 perfect and does it have any flaws which make its Korean rivals more appealing? Here, we reveal the GV60’s best bits, while sharing some of its weaknesses. 

We LOVE the Genesis GV60 because…

It has a good range that is good enough for longer journeys and good electric architecture for quick charging. The rear-wheel Premium model can travel the furthest, with a 321-mile range. 

And you won’t need to stop long for a charge either because the GV60 can accept speeds of up to 238kW – that’s good enough for a 10-80% top-up in just 18 minutes. Despite not being able to travel as far as a Kia EV6 (328 miles) it's marginally better than the Hyundai Ioniq 5 which has a range of 315 miles. 

We LOATHE the Genesis GV60 because…

Due to its upmarket interior and good range, it does command a slight premium over its rivals. Prices for the CV60 range from £53,000 to £67,000, with the rear-wheel drive Premium model starting from £53,905. 

That makes it £6960 more than the 315-mile Hyundai Ioniq 5 and £5560 more than the 328 GT-Line Kia EV6. 

We LOVE the Genesis GV60 because…

The interior is not only better than its Korean rivals but also feels more luxurious than electric SUVs from European marques. Inside, everything is very well put together and the soft-touch leather and polished metals all feel very premium. 

One particular highlight is the crystal ball on the centre console which flips to reveal the drive selector when you turn the car on. 

We LOATHE the Genesis GV60 because…

Despite its SUV proportions, it’s not particularly spacious for passengers in the back. It’s shorter than the technically related Ioniq 5 and EV6, which means there is less legroom for rear passengers, especially those over six-foot. 

Head room is also limited in the back because of the GV60’s sloping roofline, but you’ll need to be over six feet to notice this in the outer seats. The middle seat meanwhile is slightly higher than the rear passenger seats, so there is even less head room. 

We LOVE the Genesis GV60 because…

While it might look like your everyday family electric SUV, it’s a seriously quick car. Opt for the Sport Plus model and you get the same 77.4kWh battery that is used in the Premium and Sport model, but you get all-wheel drive thanks to an extra motor on the front wheels.

This means that the range-topping GV60 develops up to 429bhp and 446lb ft of torque, although this rises to 482bhp and 516lb ft when you activate the car’s boost mode. This allows for a 0-62mph sprint in just 4.0sec. 

We LOATHE the Genesis GV60 because…

Its 432 litre boot isn’t as big as some of its rivals. The boot isn’t as spacious as in the EV6 and Nissan Ariya, Volkswagen ID 4 is streets ahead, offering up to 543 litres. Don’t be too alarmed though as the GV60 can still handle the weekly shop and a buggy. 

The Genesis also has a small storage compartment under the bonnet, with 53 litres of space in the Premium model and 20 litres in the dual-motor Sport and Sport Plus. 

We LOVE the Genesis GV60 because…

While it might lack a bit of sharpness in its drive, it handles well and is comfortable, especially in Premium trim. That’s because this model gets smaller 19in wheels which are better at isolating you from potholes and bumps in the road. 

All versions of the GV60 are quiet and relaxing on the move, keeping you better isolated from road and wind noise than the Nissan Ariya and Kia EV6. 

We LOATHE the Genesis GV60 because…

The digital mirrors aren’t quite up to the mark. They’re meant to improve all-round visibility but they’re just not as good as traditional mirrors because you don’t get the same depth of field which can make it harder to see how close after cars are. 

The feed from the mirrors is worthy of credit because it's crisp and clear, but we’d recommend you stick with the normal mirrors.

We LOVE the Genesis GV60 because…

It has Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) charging which means it's a big 77.4kWh charger in itself. Fit a three-pin adapter to the charging port and the GV60 can be used to charge small appliances such as a kettle or microwave. 

So if, for example, you’re out camping and need to cook a meal or fancy a cup of tea and don’t have access to an electric hook-up, the GV60 can become your own source of power. Now that is impressive. 

We LOATHE the Genesis GV60 because…

You do have to pay for some options that typically come as standard on some rivals. In fairness the entry-level Premium spec car does come loaded with useful kit, but you don’t get heated seats which are more common nowadays. 

We’d still recommend the Premium  model however, as it offers the longest range and fast charging speeds.