Genesis GV60: Everything we know so far

Genesis, the luxury arm of Hyundai has just launched all-electric Genesis GV60 as part of bulking out its growing product portfolio. Loosely billed as a crossover SUV, the EV boasts striking looks on the outside and promises plenty of luxury on the inside too. 

In much the same way as Lexus offers a high-end step up from the regular Toyota brand, Genesis does a nice line in premium, especially when it comes to interiors —, and the GV60 looks to be no exception.

Of course, Genesis is already a well-established premium auto brand in the U.S. with a promising portfolio of quality models including the G70, G80, Electrified G80 and G90. It’s also got a couple of slick SUVs in the shape of the GV70 and GV80. 

Meanwhile, the release of the Genesis GV60 could see it offering appeal to a whole new audience by mixing that luxury edge with EV credentials.

Genesis GV60: Price and availability

The Genesis GV60 is on sale in the United States, with a starting price of $58,890 — plus a $1,090 destination charge. Genesis parent company Hyundai is still eligible for the federal tax credit, meaning you could save up to $7,500 on that price.

This makes the car more expensive than the $40,900 Kia EV6 and the $44,000 Hyundai IONIQ 5. That's no surprise given the premium nature of the Genesis brand.

Initially the GV60 is set to be sold at select retailers in California, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. So if you don't live near one of these states, you will have to wait a little longer.

Genesis GV60: Range and battery

The Genesis GV60 will be built using the same Electric-Global Modular Platform, or E-GMP platform as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and soon-to-arrive Kia EV6. Two models are available in the United States, each powered by a 77.4 kWh battery.

The Advanced AWD model is rated for 248 miles of range, per the EPA, while the Performance AWD model will come with 235 miles of driving distance.

A RWD 'Standard' GV60 is also being sold, but this doesn't appear to be coming to the United States. This model is rated for 321 miles under the WLTP cycle.

As for charging Genesis claims that the GV60 will be able to accept up to 240kW DC charging speeds. Provided you can find one of those chargers you'll be able to charge from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes.

We're not quite at gas station-level convenience right now, but we're inching closer all the time.

The GV60 can also accept up to 11kW AC current, which is a lot slower but more suitable for home-based and other low-key charges when time isn't an issue. We don't know exactly how long this will take right now.

Genesis GV60: Performance

Early on, Genesis kept the GV60's performance specs pretty close to the chest. But now we're getting closer to launch some of the figures have been revealed — including how much raw power is available from the models that will be available.

The all-wheel drive Performance model will pack in dual 160kW motors, offering 320kW in total — which works out at around 429 horsepower. However if you opt to use the GV60's Boost Mode, the car can add an extra 20kW to each motor meaning they can offer 180kW or 241 horsepower. Maximum to 350Nm to each motor in this mode.

The Advanced AWD model has a 74kW motor on the front wheels and 160kW of power at the rear. That's 314 horsepower in total, and 605nM of torque. The RWD model will offer a single motor of 168 kW, or 225 horsepower, and 350nM of torque

In terms of actual speed, you can expect a maximum speed of 146mph and a 0-62mph time of around 4 seconds in the Performance model. 

Genesis GV60: Design

One of the obvious benefits of buying a Genesis GV60 will be its premium feel. On the outside the all-electric model has plenty of neat features, albeit incorporated into a design that might generate mixed reactions. 

According the Genesis, the GV60’s design focus is based on ‘Athletic Elegance’, with Two Lines Quad Lamps and a funky Crest Grille giving it a look that’s certainly unique.

There’s a clamshell hood too, which means that the hood and fenders are all part of the same panel and this keeps the lines simple, but effective. The seamless design thinking continues with digital door mirrors, meaning less clutter along the sides of the car. Around the back it’s a similarly slick and smooth arrangement, with more subtle flourishes including Two Line rear lamps and a fixed wing spoiler.

Genesis GV60: Interior and Features

The press shots you see here indicate plenty to get excited about on the interior front however, with unsurprisingly a strong whiff of the interior design features that adorn the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6. Being a Genesis though means you can expect much more sumptuous seating, plenty of bling on the design front and, naturally, infotainment that ticks all the right boxes.

Interestingly, one of the key features on that front is the so-called Crystal Sphere, which allows you to select a drive mode as well as advising on driving conditions. The tech angle is boosted by two displays, one housing the main instrument cluster in front of the steering wheel supplemented by a central infotainment panel. Meanwhile, screens at each end of the dash are displays for the digital door mirrors.

With premium appeal being a big part of the deal with the Genesis brand it’s also reasonable to expect a decent amount of interior space. This is obviously going to be helped thanks to the flat floor provided by the E-GMP platform and its underfloor battery pack.

Genesis has spoken about adding both facial and fingerprint recognition to the car, allowing the driver to start the vehicle without a key. Though these features do not appear to have made it to the production models.

But on a similar note Genesis has partnered with Samsung to offer a digital car key feature. That means the car will lock and unlock based on its proximity to any compatible Samsung Galaxy phone. It's not a unique feature, since companies like Tesla have employed this sort of thing for a while, but it's pretty cool none-the-less.

Rumours circulating on the web suggested that the Genesis GV60 may also feature a wireless charging system as part of the specification. However this appears to have been bogus, and Genesis's website doesn't include any mention of wireless charging — beyond the wireless phone charger in the cabin

Still, the thought of being able to charge your Genesis GV60 at home without the hassle of plugging in could be a very tempting selling point. Presumably features like this would also ramp up the price tag in the process.

Genesis GV60: Outlook

Reaction to the Genesis GV60 looks to be mixed so far, with those quirky exterior looks failing to fire up enthusiasm from some of the more critical areas of the motoring press. 

However, there’s no doubting that the Genesis GV60 will come with all of those luxury fixtures and fittings that you expect from a luxury carmaker. It may also be the model that will help the brand broaden its appeal in Europe.

However, the Genesis GV60 might find itself doing battle with its own close relatives given the enthusiasm being shown towards both the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Kia EV6. Nevertheless, once specifications and pricing are confirmed, the GV60 might find its own niche with buyers who want that extra touch of refinement when they purchase their first fully electric car.