The GV60 is one of the nicest-driving electric vehicles available. We found this SUV-like hatchback to be quick, quiet, comfortable, and agile. It’s yet another impressive offering from Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury brand, which has gained a reputation for building stylish vehicles that don’t sacrifice a thing to their more-established competitors.
This is the Genesis brand’s first vehicle that’s been designed from the ground up to be electric. It’s essentially a fancier version of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, both of which we’ve previously tested. All three use similar batteries, electric motors, and underlying designs. Unlike the Hyundai and Kia, the GV60 comes with standard all-wheel drive. It also has an optional Performance trim which boasts an additional 115 horsepower.
The GV60 is capable of accepting up to 235 kilowatts of charging input at public DC fast-charging stations, which is better than most EVs. A 20-minute session can bring the battery from near-empty to an 80 percent state-of-charge—that’s a big advantage on a long road trip. And its 11-kilowatt onboard charger (which funnels electricity directly from the wall to the battery) makes for speedier refills at home. The EPA pegs the GV60’s driving range at 248 miles, which is a bit behind comparably-outfitted rivals like the Ford Mustang Mach-E (with the extended-range battery) and the Tesla Model Y.
Thanks to 314 hp from its front and rear electric motors, the GV60 delivers smooth, nearly-silent, and effortless acceleration anytime you need a prompt burst of speed. Its sprint from 0 to 60 mph of 5.1 seconds registers a few ticks behind the EV6, Ioniq 5, and Model Y, but you rarely feel like you need much more speed from behind the wheel.
The car’s sharp handling stems from its responsive steering, low-mounted battery pack, and rear-biased power distribution, which together make the GV60 agile and confidence-inspiring to take through turns. It performed admirably through our avoidance maneuver test, posting a competitive speed of 54.5 mph, which ties the EV6 and Model Y. Even with its capable handling chops, the GV60’s suspension cushions the cabin from all but the nastiest bumps, serving up a steady and composed ride that is more polished than many EVs we’ve tested, and befits its luxury-car status.
Another advantage the GV60 has over other EVs is that, like the EV6 and Ioniq 5, Genesis gives drivers the ability to dial in their preferred level of regenerative braking, on-the-fly, by using paddles located behind the steering wheel. Regenerative braking slows the car while recouping energy from coasting and braking, sending it back to the battery.
The interior doesn’t feel quite as premium as other Genesis vehicles, but it includes some interesting details, such as a “crystal sphere” on the center console. Turn the car on and the orb flips over ceremoniously to reveal a rotary gear selector knob. We like that the “floating” center console frees up right-knee space, but the steering-wheel rim hides the top portion of the instrument panel from view for some drivers. The front seats are a good marriage between comfort and support; the rear seat is snug on headroom and tight on foot space under the front seats.
Some controls are easier to use than in other Genesis models, and we appreciate the better differentiation between the gear selector knob and the infotainment controller dial, along with the easier-to-reach center touchscreen. Many EVs come with flush, awkward-to-operate door handles, and the GV60 has hopped on this bandwagon, too. But, at least here the door handles pop out as you approach the car and stay that way as long as the car is unlocked. Owners can set up facial recognition to unlock the vehicle from the outside, and a fingerprint reader to turn it on. Like other Genesis models, the car can be remotely controlled to maneuver in or out of a tight perpendicular parking spot.
Standard active safety and driver assistance features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, reverse automatic emergency braking, lane centering assistance, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams.