The inside
Genesis made a point in its presentation of saying that the GV60 EV is not a BEV first and foremost, but above all a luxury vehicle, one that happens to be gas-engine-free. That wasn’t to mean of course that the electric powertrain is an afterthought – the vehicle was designed from the floor up as an EV – but more that the luxury aspect was never shunted aside.
And so you have an exceptionally comfortable and premium-feeling cabin. The seats are very welcoming and comfy and easily adjustable for best position, the airy feel of the inside is helped by the streamlined ergonomics and the large panoramic roof above, and in back the flat floor and stretched wheelbase delivers more room for passengers here than in the larger GV70, says Genesis.
Two undisputed attention-grabbers in the interior are, first, the large dual screen display (integrating two 12.3-inch screens) that runs in a seamless arc in front of the driver and almost to the passenger side. We've seen the setup before, in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 EVs, and we like. Screen resolution is crisp, so is the response speed, and the common commands are easy to find, especially if you’re already familiar with Genesis’ interface and its ergonomic strategy.
The second highlight? That one’s a bit more gimmicky, but it’s still way cool; I’m talking about the crystal sphere sitting there on the bottom portion of the central console when you get in. Turn on the motor (using the button, or your fingertip if you’re using the facial/fingerprint function the folks at Genesis took time to introduce us to when we first got in our tester), and the sphere flips over to reveal the knob for shifting gear. It's not just for show, either, as it serves to signal to the driver when the EV's motor is actually on.
I won’t go into detail on all the tech featured, only that there’s a lot of it, which is only de rigueur for a vehicle in this price range. There’s a head-up display, wireless smartphone charging, that fingerprint/facial recognition stuff and way more. Know also that for the first time, Genesis is offering over-the-air updates, and purchase of the GV60 brings with it five years of Genesis Connected Services. Oh, and there’s bi-directional charging to, for example, handle your coffee-making needs next time you’re camping next to your car.
The drive
No surprise, initial acceleration is absolutely impressive from this EV, but unlike in some others of the genre, that capability doesn’t diminish much when you’re wanting to go, say, from 60 to 100 km/h in a hurry. This powertrain provides a boatload of power for this small vehicle, the construction of which, using high-strength steel and with the battery pack placed for even weight distribution and a low centre of gravity, ensures a stiff body and road-hugging zeal that allows you to take corners at pace, and this despite the model's considerable weight.
Steering is not heavy, but you don’t feel too disconnected from the road. Engaging Sport mode does tighten it up as well, but overall it’s totally possible to steer this thing with two fingers, to give you an idea.
The roads we borrowed in and especially around Austin and its nearby Hill Country were for the most part in excellent condition and were a poor substitute for our own pockmarked surfaces, but the few segments of rougher asphalt I did encounter were reduced to irrelevance, this even with the bigger tires of the Performance trim I was driving. The electronically controlled suspensions features a road preview function and it took its job seriously, making tiny adjustments where needed when “trouble” was spotted up ahead. Again, I’ll wait to try this out on some of my favourite local post-apocalyptic roads to form a final opinion, but it’s promising.
Genesis employs an active noise cancellation system to suppress road noise, and I must say the ride was quiet even on the larger wheels.
The last word
Beyond the questions that inevitably arise when you ask just who is going to buy a small vehicle for a very expensive price (one obviously not eligible for any current government EV incentive), the 2023 Genesis GV60 marks what can only be described as a successful entry into the all-electric pool by its maker.
The vehicle is cute rather than ravishing-looking on sight, but it feels well-built and solid, demonstrates exceptional handling on the road and delivers a truly premium interior, as well surprising second room space. Trunk space isn’t so exceptional (432 litres), but it’s not a drawback either. Seating is extremely comfortable, and the ride is as quiet as it is fleet. There’s enough tech to satisfy the needs of the most demanding customers.
Now the question becomes, as it does with every new EV these days, will Genesis be able to produce supply to meet the demand? The automaker’s representatives were hesitant to venture too far in making predictions, but they did tell us that the current pre-orders, of which there are roughly 1,500 in Canada, would take up to 12 months to fill. Which means that if you order one today, that is likely the minimum period you can expect to wait.
The 2023 Genesis GV60 goes on sale officially later in May or in June.
We like
Great handling, acceleration
Quiet ride
Premium interior
Fairly roomy, including in back
Few faults in design or execution
For what it is, reasonably priced
All drive-assist systems included with the base model
We like less
It’s still not cheap
Not a huge trunk
No rear wiper - trouble ahead in winter?
The potential wait to get one!
The competition
Audi Q4 e-tron
Ford Mustang Mach-E
Polestar 2
Tesla Model Y
Volvo C40
Specifications sheet of 2023 Genesis GV60 Advanced
Specifications sheet of 2023 Genesis GV60 Performance AWD
Specifications sheet of 2023 Genesis GV60 Performance AWD w/Navy Interior
