Genesis GV-60
How it looks when you see on the street: The Genesis GV60 is future-forward small electric SUV, sometimes called crossover, with neat zig and zags along the window line housed in a sculpted body, a fresh form for a still fresh brand that officially launched in 2015 with the G80 sedan. In 2020, Genesis introduced the full size GV80 SUV, followed by the GV70 mid size SUV. The GV60 entered the market as an EV and a stand out. It’s gone through some minor tweaks for the 2024 model year. We drove a copper colored 2024 model that adds an advanced All-Wheel Drive trim package. Our test vehicle had the new Virtual Gear Shift and Genesis Digital Key 2 billed as Performance Package. As a relative new comer among brands, people are still getting to know Genesis. One friend pulled up next to us and inquired, “of course you have a Bentley!”
How it makes you feel when you get in: The inside starts with the crystal sphere — it’s a wow experience that ups the ante on prior crystal gear shifts as it rotates like a magic 8 ball into place, mesmerizing to toggle with when waiting for others. Everyone oohs and ahhs at the standalone experience of sphere in the GV60, especially contrasted against the glacier white interior we sampled most recently. The interior treatment is decidedly modern-tech: a long touch screen that spans most of the dashboard and houses a pair of 12.3-inch screens side by side. The layout if fresh, simple and seating is comfortable using a combination of leather, microfiber and aluminum. We impressed passengers keying in our password to access the UX system. We didn’t use the digital key — an app that unlocks digital services like locks and such, but note that on a road trip with lots of moving parts this function was also handy — less stuff to keep track of in and out of the car. Up to three people can access the app and use it to get access the vehicle.
How it drives: Its a delight on a long drive. Genesis is the emerging luxe brand on top of Hyundai and Kia, which have made forays into electric architecture in the past couple years via the critically acclaimed Ioniq 5 and EV6, respectively. GV-60 borrows from the architecture and adds splendor on top in tow variants: an advanced all-wheel drive model that makes 314 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque, and gussied up performance all-wheel-drive version that makes 429 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque, and an extra performance moment boost to add extra zing. The GV-60 has plenty of personality. The new virtual gearshift option is fancy terminology for the idea of a faux gas engine experience, adding in the sound of shifting and engine revs to the experience. We drove about 300 miles all together on two charges, and never ended up feeling range anxiety, though we had to wait in a random Pennsylvania grocery store parking lot as per usual for the confusing Electrify America line experience. A full charge gets about 220 mile of range.
Space for people and things: The front seats are generous, but the rear is on the tighter side, though 37-plus inches is plenty of room for smaller people. We drove a car full of adults on our latest test drive, and no one complained about roominess in the back seat. Our most recent test drive included supple creamy, leather seats, which backseat passengers loved and called comfy.
Best Features: The Bang & Olufson sound system is standard, and the fingerprint feature, housed in the front consul is creepy, but cool and effective at engaging the car, in addition to the facial recognition component that replaces keys. For someone like me, that loses keys, this feature cancels out that problem. For others, this level of access could feel intrusive.
How much does it cost: Our first test ride was a 2023 Performance model priced at $67,890. Most recently we tested the 2024 Performance model, which retails for $71,320.
* Original review June 2022, updated June 2024.