LOOKS

The 2023 Genesis GV60 features a futuristic, unique and attractive design compared to EV rivals, featuring a sloping roofline. Genesis nails the look with one-of-a-kind wheels, two-stripe headlights and a less in-your-face grille design than other SUV models, along with smooth curves and lines.

The door handles are embedded and retract only when you unlock the car through key fob or facial recognition. A rear spoiler is also featured.

Moving inside, you get a respectable 101 cubic feet of passenger volume (the rear seat is actually roomy for passengers when compared to some rivals), and 24 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats up (55 cubic feet with rear seats down).

The GV60 is a bit less fancy than some luxury EV rivals, and even other Genesis models (like the new Electrified GV70). But that’s because it’s decidedly more focused on tech than luxury. Worry not, though: Materials are still high-end, seats are comfortable, and you get plenty of amenities.

These include: Nappa leather seating surfaces, aluminum trim, microfiber suede headliner and pillars, leatherette wrapped instrument panel, power front seats with four-way power lumbar, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and heated steering wheel.

There are also some unique storage spaces in the vehicle, including a long area for cargo under the center console. The glove box is also untraditional: It’s just a tray you pull out. 

One bright spot is that the rear passengers can control how far back the front seat is, a rarely-seen feature outside the ultra-luxury world.

HOW’S THE RIDE?

The 2023 Genesis GV60 Performance trim is powered by a pair of 160kW motors (one in front and one in the rear) and a 77.4 kWh battery. The Advanced trim offers a 74kW motor up front, and 160 kW motor in the rear.

The Advanced trim delivers 314 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. Upgrading to the Performance trim gets you 429 horsepower (483 in Boost mode) and 516 pound-feet.

The GV60 offers an extremely quiet ride, responsive and smooth driving style, while also being very powerful, which combine to offer the best of all worlds for the driving experience.

All-wheel drive is standard, and the GV60 features an adaptive suspension and handles superbly, especially on curvy roads. And when you hit the gas, this machine gets moving better than you would ever expect from an EV. You'll get noticed not only for the looks of the GV60, but for how quickly you are getting through traffic.

The Boost button blasts you off like a rocketship, boosting horsepower up to 483 temporarily for a short burst, allowing you to make a pass or get into the proper lane with plenty of room to spare. It’s a nice feature to spice up the ride, and means you can go from 0 to 60 in around 3.5 seconds.

A glowing orb in the center console spins around and unveils a gear shifter once the vehicle is started. It’s a bit of a gimmicky setup, but still a unique feature you won't find elsewhere.

Settings can be adjusted that relate to regenerative braking, to the point where one-pedal driving is possible, and the vehicle simply slows down and stops as you lift your foot off the gas. No need to touch the brakes at all except in extreme emergencies. This takes time to get used to, but might be preferable for many drivers.

 
TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

Technology is an area where the GV60 stands out vs. the EV competition, breaking new ground.

For starters, the massive 12.3-inch center touchscreen in the GV60 hosts a boatload of information and options. From info about the vehicle and charging, to navigation info, voice memos, settings, phone call and message history, a 3D setup of the car, climate, seat settings, Connected Services like weather and calendar, and the vehicle manual.

No stone is left unturned and all physical controls are very well-placed, including a center dial, simple and effective volume and music channel dial changers, and climate buttons. Despite it being high tech, the GV60 has tech even a Luddite could embrace.

Navigation works very well, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included (but don’t work wirelessly), satellite radio is included, and the Bang & Olufsen premium audio system was top-notch. Also, a wireless phone charger can keep you charged up while on the road.

Controls included on the steering wheel controls are very helpful, and if you don’t want to deal with physical buttons, the vehicle responds well to voice commands.

Little touches also add to the level of tech impressiveness. For example, there is a voice that warns you if you leave the window open, leave the phone in the wireless charger, etc. 

Then, there are the big and bold changes that foresee the future of how we drive.
Using biometrics, I literally taught the vehicle my fingerprints and my face, allowing me to drive without even having a vehicle key in my possession.

The facial recognition allows you to look at the driver’s door, touch the handle and gain access into the vehicle, then the fingerprint recognition allows you to start the vehicle and drive away with no key.

This is truly groundbreaking technology and a truly liberating feeling — you’ll never lose your car key, because you are the key. It’s showing us the future of keyless driving, and it is here now. It’s the next step that goes beyond Tesla's “phone as a key” strategy.

And if the car is sold, you can simply remove your biometric info from the car’s memory and let the new owner set up their information.

Moving on the safety side of the tech conversation, the GV60 is an EV that has received Top Safety Pick honors from the government, and is full of all the driver aids you could imagine.

Its basic self-driving system worked well, and I was comfortable with how it handled the steering and braking, even on curvy roads. Among the bevy of features included are: Forward Collision Avoidance-Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Surround View Monitor, Blind-Spot View Monitor, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Smart Cruise Control, Remote Smart Parking Assist, Advanced Rear Occupant Alert, and Safe Exit Assist.

The head-up display was also very helpful, beaming key information onto the windshield, and kept my eyes facing forward and on the road, where they belong.


RANGE

Range is the key number many people want to know when deciding on an EV to purchase. On the GV60 Performance model, that number is 235 miles, and the base Advanced model is slightly better at 248 miles.

The Performance model’s overall ratings come in at 90 combined MPGe (97 MPGe city/82 MPGe highway). The Advanced offers 103 MPGe city and 86 MPGe highway. 

My overall thoughts in terms of these range numbers are that automakers need to work on getting those numbers higher if they want mass adoption of EVs. A range of roughly 250 miles is fine for regular local driving, but if you want to drive any significant distance or take a road trip it will require a lot of stopping and charging, making the vehicle impractical.

On the plus side, public charging of the GV60 can be a smooth experience. If you can locate a 350-kW DC fast charger, the battery can go from a 10% charge to 80% in less than 20 minutes.

When I took the GV60 to a public charging station, I was able to add about 100 miles of range within an hour, but it wasn’t one of the fastest stations available.

I’m an advocate of EV buyers installing Level 2 home chargers, as it’s just not realistic to rely on public charging all the time, and a standard plug is way too slow to use. While the public infrastructure is important for the growth of EV sales, buyers seeking a vehicle for everyday use can solve the issue by charging at home in the evenings a few times a week, eliminating all range worries.

One thing’s for sure, the annual costs related to charging your GV60 will be easier on the wallet than filling up a traditional ICE vehicle. And a cool EV-related feature is that the GV60 allows you to power electronics, tools and small appliances with the car's battery pack.

PRICE

My test vehicle, a GV60 Performance model offering up to 483 horsepower, was priced just under $70,000; the base Advance model with 314 horsepower starts around $60K.

Under the latest rules, the federal EV tax credit can not be applied to the GV60.

While you do get more power and better overall ride quality on the Performance, those who take home the Advanced model will still be very happy with their vehicle.

Strengthening the value proposition somewhat are the segment-leading warranties offered on the GV60, including:
— FIve year/60K mile new vehicle warranty

— 10 year/100K mile powertrain warranty
— 10 year/100K mile electric vehicle system warranty
— Three-year/36K mile complimentary maintenance

BOTTOM LINE

Unique from any other vehicle I’ve tested, the 2023 Genesis GV60 and all of its high-tech bells and whistles are a sign that the future of EVs has arrived, and things are only going to get more advanced.

While this level of tech is not going to appeal to everyone yet, and is still a bit pricey, this type of vehicle will only become more common, and prices should go down as adoption of EVs grows.

I applaud Genesis for being one of the companies that is willing to push design and tech boundaries as they embrace their EV-focused future in the present day. The first of many EVs from Genesis, the GV60 sets a strong tone and leaves little to be desired, and puts the leading EV makers on notice that Genesis is ready to compete. 

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