Just a few years ago, the Genesis brand wasn’t known by the average car owner, however, the Korean luxury brand from Hyundai, which specialises primarily on vehicles from the premium range, has established a reputation for itself as something not to be ignored.
High-quality power from South Korea
With the entry-level model GV60, Genesis unveils an electric car that aims for an optimal combination of luxury and sportiness, coupled with an appealing design, which makes for a very strong contender in today’s market.
The style, which is oriented towards a Sportback, gives the look and feel of having been cast from a single mould, due to its seamless shape.
As well as a sleek design, it boasts a vibrant Sao Paulo Lime colour (as seen on our test car) which catches the eye of even the seasoned colour enthusiast.
By the way, the GV60 has received several awards for its unique design, including the iF Design Award 2022, one of the most prestigious awards in the world and named "Car of the Year” multiple times.
Barely recognisable by the casual SUV enthusiast, the Genesis GV60 bares a close resemblance to the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 models. This is hardly surprising, considering that they are based on the same platform as the GV60. But it’s clearly more refined and above all a sportier electric car than its counter-parts.
In terms of price, the Sport Plus model has an output of up to 490 hp / 330 kW starting at 77’700 CHF, whereas the model we tested comes in at just under 93’000 CHF due to extensive optional extras. But more on that later.
A cool interior design combined with an abundance of luxury
The Genesis offers an exquisite ambience with high-quality materials thrown it for good measure. These are just some of the luxuries that catapult the GV60 above that of your typical SUV on the market. The Genesis infotainment system features two monitors in the interior and offers access to various technical features. To list them all would be lengthy, but one worthy mention is the 360-degree camera, which makes manoeuvring into tight spaces almost perfect. In regard to its interior, the GV60 definitely scores additional points for space. In both the front and rear seats, the occupants have plenty of legroom and space to move around. With a boot capacity of 432 litres, the GV60 can keep up with its direct competitors.
In addition, various stylish elements have been introduced, such as the mystically illuminated Crystal Sphere, making for a cool striking interior design feature. But it doesn’t stop there, as it then transforms into the gear selector lever when starting the car.
The GV60 can also come fitted with an optional Bang & Olufsen audio system, which provides an excellent sound experience.
Another very impressive feature are the digital exterior mirrors, these transmit a camera image from the outside to two monitors in the interior. While this may take some time to get used to, it does open up a pantheon of advantages. For example, such digital exterior mirrors completely eliminate the so-called “blind-spot” and also offer improved vision at night. However, if you can live without this added extra, you can also fall back on conventional rear-view mirrors and save yourself the additional cost of 1580 CHF.
Powerful acceleration and impressive charging time
We tested the Sport Plus variant which comes equipped with a 77.4 kWh battery and all-wheel drive to an output of up to 490 hp or 330 kW. The name Sport Plus says it all. When we take its acceleration speed of 0-100 km/h in 4.0 seconds into account, the Genesis GV60 definitely deserves some attention. Up to 700 Nm of torque, is felt by the occupants during the impressive acceleration and thus also makes overtaking pleasantly safe. With impeccable traction and a sporty chassis, the GV60 promises agile handling in even the most challenging conditions.
The surprisingly good suspension ensures a pleasant and comfortable driving experience. So, the GV60 meets both styles of driving without concern.
Your, normal everyday "Comfort" mode, enables the Genesis to glide almost silently over your common road. The reason for this is the effective sound insulation. When driving, a counter-sound is generated, which eliminates driving noise from outside the cabin. This means that the GV60’s interior is surprisingly quiet.
However, if you can’t do without the sound of a conventional combustion engine, “at the flick of a switch”, you can replace it with a choice of three different artificially generated sounds to satisfy you.
But not only is the acceleration of the GV60 impressively fast, but also the charging speed. If the SUV’s 466 km range (WLTP) has been depleted, the battery can be recharged at a fast-charging station from 10 - 80 % in just 18 min. This is thanks to its 800-volt charging technology. Thanks to the heat pump fitted as standard, the range is not reduced by much even in winter.
Completely climate-neutral by 2035
The Genesis brand was founded in 2015 as a subsidiary of Hyundai and has since specialised primarily in the production of premium vehicles. Thanks to the use of reliable corporate technology, an optimal interplay between appealing design and reliable technology is achieved.
Until recently, the GV60 was the Korean brand's first fully electric model, but it will be joined by two more e-models from 2023.
The brand's goal is to produce only fully-electric models by 2025 and to become completely carbon neutral by 2035,hence, some interior elements are already made of recycled materials.
Final thoughts:
From a purely visual perspective, not only is the GV60 undoubtably a head turner, it also boasts a convincinglevel of driving that’s coupled with both power and ample comfort combined. Cool features and extensive equipment give the Genesis that certain something special, not to mention the amazingly good functionality for everyday life. Above all, the long range and fast charging speed deserve special praise and successful combination of luxury and sportiness even distract you from what is otherwise, a high purchase price.
20.02.2023
Author: Levin Salzmann
Pictures: EcarGenius Team
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