2023 Genesis GV60

Automakers are (finally) challenging Tesla and flooding the market with electric SUVs. But only Hyundai’s global reach can boast three compelling choices in electric SUVs: the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and now the Genesis GV60. Like the gas-powered GV70 and GV80 before it, this new electric crossover is a solid addition to the electric luxury ranks, combining endearing performance and lightning-fast public charging with the clever features and design flourishes we’ve come to expect from the fast-rising Genesis brand. 

Both trims of the AWD Genesis have some Dr. Jekyll-and-Mr. Hyde in their DNA, happy to cruise among the citizenry in impeccably quiet fashion or unleash murderous acceleration. The Performance model will knock off 60 mph in well under 4 seconds. Despite Michelin tires that prioritize energy savings, the GV60 will romp through curves at a pace that can match many high-performance luxury SUVs, then fly past them the minute the road straightens. As with other Tesla rivals, range is the biggest letdown at a modest 248 miles for the Advanced model and 235 miles for the Performance edition. 

The GV60 aims straight at the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E GT along with other luxury electric SUVs from Volvo, Jaguar (I-Pace) and Audi (e-tron). Regenerative brakes are wonderfully tuned and versatile, with a spectrum of five settings (including for one-pedal driving) versus the take-it-or-leave-it settings of some rivals. The GV60 may not win as many styling plaudits as some previous models—or the Ioniq 5—but it’s still a fluid and appealing design. That includes the sloping, coupe-like roof that’s in favor among SUVs, and surprisingly efficient interior space considering its compact footprint, but its cargo hold is tighter than competitors.

The GV60 amasses more power, luxury, tech and features than its South Korean counterparts, albeit at a higher price: The GV60 Advanced model starts from $59,980, with 315 horsepower from dual electric motors, which means standard all-wheel drive (AWD). The GV60 Performance (from $68,990) unleashes up to 480 electric horses at the press of a “Boost” button on the steering wheel. It’s a switch that speed demons will surely find addictive.

A stylish, uncluttered interior is a major upgrade over the Hyundai, despite sharing a few inconspicuous interior bits. Optional leather and Alcantara swaddle seats and other surfaces, and the dash is capped with a pair of 12.3-inch displays. Those striking touchscreens run a new infotainment system with a Mercedes-like range of features. There is a learning curve, and a clickwheel controller is frustrating at times. Another design coup is the “Crystal Sphere,” a sci-fi inspired, illuminated console orb straight out of Doctor Who that flips to reveal a drive selector. 

Ingenuity shows with a programmable facial-recognition camera to automatically unlock doors, and a biometric fingerprint reader to recognize individual users. In theory, an owner could leave the key fob at home, though some of this tech raises privacy concerns. A 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system is surprisingly standard, and lavish available features include a scent diffuser, ambient lighting, head-up display and the latest driver-assistance tech. The Genesis brings style, luxury and build quality to the premium electric SUV space. 

Performance: 14/15

Like its electric siblings from Hyundai and Kia, the GV60 is a delight to drive, with a supple ride, fast-reacting (if somewhat numb) steering and a surprisingly frisky attitude. The Performance edition especially packs a serious wallop: Press a Boost button on the steering wheel, and the GV60 unleashes 483 horsepower for bursts of up to 10 seconds. In that overboost mode, a sprint to 60 mph takes less than 4 seconds, faster than many sports cars and only a hair behind the Tesla Model Y Performance. 

Even the Advanced model is plenty quick, with 314 horsepower from its own dual motors and standard AWD. Regenerative brakes are another highlight, with a welcome range of five settings, including modes for robust one-pedal driving without having to touch the brake pedal. A limited-slip rear differential helps a driver apply power to the pavement without losing traction, especially when exiting fast corners. 

The GV60’s Michelin Primacy tires are the only weak link for performance: The tires are geared toward energy savings and comfort, and begin to howl and lose grip when drivers push them aggressively. 

Range, Energy Use & Charging: 10/15

The GV60 is EPA rated at 95 MPGe for its Advanced model, which drops to 90 MPGe for the muscular Performance edition. That efficiency pales before the 125 MPGe of a Tesla Model Y, but is on par with models like the Mach-E. The Advanced model’s 248-mile range is also mid-pack for the segment, and drops to 235 miles for the Performance edition. 

Speedy performance extends to charging: An especially robust electrical architecture lets the GV60 refill its 77.4 kWh battery from 10 to 80% in as little as 18 minutes on a powerful DC public charger. A deal with Electrify America gives SUV owners three years of free 30-minute charging sessions across the charging network. 

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 13/15

Standard safety and assistance features include automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature. Forward collision avoidance can detect cars, bicycles or pedestrians. 

The GV60 was only crash-tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) as of October 2022 and designated a Top Safety Pick+. But the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn’t rated it yet, which hurt its score in our evaluation. It received five-star ratings from international agencies.

Comfort & Room: 12/15

The GV60 is decisively shorter than its Hyundai and Kia siblings, including a 4-inch shorter wheelbase than the Ioniq 5.  Yet the wide-bodied Genesis makes surprisingly good use of available space, especially considering the big battery packaged below the floor. 

There’s plenty of room for four adults, nestled into well-shaped and supportive seats—especially the Performance’s driver’s “Ergo Motion” seat with 18-way adjustments and a Stretching mode that subtly adjusts seats after long periods behind the wheel. 

Real leather and Alcantara boost the intimate, high-end vibe, and there’s even an optional, Mercedes-like scent diffuser. And few things boost comfort and ease like interior quiet and a plush ride: The Genesis is remarkably hushed inside, including active noise cancellation through audio speakers. 

Infotainment: 13/15

Once known for the ease and simplicity of their infotainment systems, Genesis has raised its ambitions, not always for the better. A bit like BMW, the GV60 packs its electronic controls in a pair of conjoined screens, each measuring 12.3 inches. Those screens are part of a new cloud-connected infotainment system with over-the-air updates and a range of connected services, including the Face Connect facial-recognition entry and a biometric fingerprint reader. 

The system offers an endless (and occasionally overwhelming) array of choices, from driving modes, ambient lighting and head-up display controls to three selectable themes for the driver’s gauge cluster. Even the color of the Crystal Sphere can be changed. Some features that might be better served with analog buttons, including climate controls and high-beam assist, are also housed on the screen. 

Users can also control the system via a console clickwheel. The system does look rich and sophisticated, including eye-catching graphics, animations and detailed mapping. The 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system is a standard highlight, offering rich, spacious sound. One head-scratcher is the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both still requiring a wired connection. But Apple Car Key and another digital key app lets you use an iPhone or other smartphone as a key, or text key controls to another user.

Cargo Space & Storage: 12/15

The GV60 offers reasonable cargo space: much less than a Tesla Model Y, on par with a Mach-E, more than a Volvo XC40 Recharge. There’s 24 cubic-feet of space behind rear split-folding seats, and 54.7 cubes with seats folded. That’s nearly 20% less space than the Model Y, with rear seats up or folded. The Mach-E also has a touch more cargo space, plus a generous 4.7 cubic-foot “frunk” versus the Genesis’ near-useless 0.7 cubes up front. 

A ingenious passenger-side, slide-out glove drawer offers more space than any conventional box. And a floating center console features a clever storage pass-through for rear passengers.

Style & Design: 8/10

Compared with Genesis’ gasoline-powered SUVs, or even Hyundai’s high-design Ioniq 5, the GV60 seems less of a stylistic home run. That said, the GV60 offers a pleasant crossover shape whose sloping, coupe-style roof nods to progenitors like the BMW X4 and Porsche Macan. Whether you find it cute or cool, it’s much more aesthetically pleasing than Tesla’s blobby amoeba look.

Familiar brand details include dual, split rows of LED headlamps and taillamps that recall military epaulets, with medals in the form of a winged Genesis badge. A single-panel clamshell hood is a first on any Genesis. Geometric wheels feature a pattern that recalls martial-arts weapons; eye-catching to some, a bit much for others. 

A richly appointed, yet uncluttered interior features a floating center console adorned with the GV60’s bravura design element, the “Crystal Sphere” whose illuminated ball flips to reveal a drive selector. 

Is the Genesis GV60 Worth It? Which GV60 is the Best Value? 

Unlike the Hyundai or Kia, owners don’t have to settle for a single-motor, rear-drive version. That makes the base model GV60 Advanced—with a healthy 314 horsepower and standard AWD—a reasonable value at $59,985 to start (including a $1,095 destination fee). That’s about $7,000 less than a Tesla Model Y Long Range that covers more miles on a charge, but can’t touch the Genesis for style, luxury or build quality. 

The powerful Performance edition, starting from $68,895, is more of a splurge, but still just $1,000 more than a Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Performance, and a few hundred dollars less than a Model Y Performance. 

As of the end of March 2023, the electric SUV is only available in 22 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the 2023 Genesis GV60?

The GV60 should cost as much to insure as its electric peers. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium up to $2,800, though this averages all 50 states. The GV60 is new, however, so based on our research it should align with other similar EVs. A Tesla Model Y owner might pay over $3,100 per year, while the Volvo XC40 Recharge is $2,760 and the Jaguar I-Pace $3,170. For a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.