More and more battery-electric vehicles are showing up in dealer showrooms and on the highway, and the manufacturers are making every effort to make sure the new additions to their product lines make a big impression.
Overview
One of the new batch of EVs — and one of the most impressive — is the 2023 GV60 Performance. It delivers the latest technology in a plush package that points the way to the future for the Genesis brand, the luxury brand created from scratch by Hyundai. It features plenty of advanced technology, including a facial recognition system, which allows the owner to unlock the vehicle by looking into a panel on the driver’s-side door.
While it competes with luxury EVs such as the Audi e-Tron, BMW iX and Cadillac Lyriq, the GV60 also has more than enough power to please experienced motorists, transitioning from a vehicle with an internal combustion engine. It is quiet and comfortable on longer trips and has the necessary features to help put drivers suffering from range anxiety at ease such as an app to help locate public chargers and a gauge, which tracks the charge and the range available in the vehicle’s lithium-ion battery.
Exterior
With its sleek lines and low-slung appearance, the GV60 is taking advantage of the new architecture underneath electric vehicles. While the GV60 is classified as a sport-utility vehicle, the clamshell-style hood and the nose slope down from the windshield rather than being squared off in as is the case with the basic two-box design.
One continuous line flows from the very front of the GV60 through the hood and windshield and across the roof line to the wing at the rear tip of the vehicle, like in the designers’ original sketches. The lights have a modern appearance and the 21-inch wheels at the corners on the vehicle I drove add muscle to its appearance. The overall design makes key competitors, such as the Tesla Model Y, look dated.
Interior
The GV60 does not fit the traditional notion of a luxury vehicle since it is a compact crossover with seating for five rather than a full-size sedan, SUV or sports car. But Genesis stylists stuck to the “luxury car script,” using nappa leather on the seating surfaces as well as a leather-like material made from plants on the instrument panel as well as microfiber for the headliner. Thus, it feels as if you are sitting in a well-appointed living room.
The cabin also features a slim cockpit design. The look is enhanced with a 12.3-inch touch screen for entertainment, navigation and vehicle functions as well as a separate 12.3-inch screen for the instrument cluster and a unique Crystal Sphere, which signals when the vehicle is on.
The interior is quiet while driving and the flat floor opens space for the rear-seat passengers. The Bang and Olufsen sound system adds to the cabin’s luxurious feel. The interior served as a comfortable quiet space for work and phone conversations while I was recharging the battery one chilly evening.
Powertrain
The GV60 is powered by two 160 kilowatt electric motors. One is located is the front of the vehicle. The second is at the rear, and both are linked to a 1-speed direct drive transmission, which also features all-wheel drive.
There are different drive modes for the driver to select. The electric drive system, which includes a 77 Kilowatt per hour lithium-ion battery, delivers the equivalent of 429 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque. A boost function, which increases horsepower, also is available.
Since the GV60 depends completely on electric power, the fuel economy is impressive. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gave the 2023 the Genesis GV60 Performance a combined fuel economy rating of 90 mpg, including 97 mpg in the city and 82 mpg on the highway. The EPA also rated the range of the battery on a single charge at 248 miles.
Safety and Technology
In addition to the multiple airbags for protection in frontal and side-impact accidents, the GV60 is equipped with forward collision avoidance assistance, lane-keeping and lane-following assistance, blind-spot collision avoidance assistance, surround view monitor, blind-spot monitor, and rear cross-traffic alert.
It also features smart cruise control with a start-stop feature, driver attention alert, parking assistance, active noise cancellation and heated seats front and rear with safety exit alert. It also comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a head-up display and heated steering wheel. It also has parking assistance and wireless charging as well voice recognition, and facial and fingerprint recognition to enter the vehicle.
Driving Impressions
I was impressed the GV60’s driving dynamics. The steering is crisp and accurate, while the battery pack underneath the vehicle lowers the center of gravity, giving it a smooth ride and handling over a variety of road surfaces.
The electronically controlled suspension built into the GV60 also adds to the vehicle’s impressive sense of stability and solidity. The power for the electric drivetrain comes on instantly and the substantial torque moves the vehicle from a standing stop out ahead of traffic very efficiently. While the GV60 has ample power for quick starts and travel at highway speed, those jackrabbit departures and speeding do take a toll on the battery.
2023 Genesis GV60 Performance Specifications
| Dimension | Length: 177.8 inches/W: 74.4 inches/H: 67.4 inches/Wheelbase: 114.2 inches |
| Weight | 4,872 pounds |
| Powertrain | two 160 kWh electric motors, direct drive and lithium-ion battery |
| Fuel Economy | 97 mpg-e city/82 mpg-e highway/90 mpg-e combined |
| Performance Specs | 429 horsepower and 449 pound-feet of torque |
| Price | Base price: $61,020; As tested: $69,560 including $1,095 destination charge. |
| On-Sale Date | Available now |
Wrap Up
The shift to electric vehicles is underway but the EVs now on the market are still expensive. The GV60 I drove cost $70,000 or about 40% more than the average vehicle sold in the United States nowadays.
Otherwise GV60 has all the benefits of driving an electric crossover. Its quiet and thus can help reduce stress while commuting or on trips of any duration. It is also very well equipped with a great sound system and a very full array of driver assistance features. But the range, which is 248 miles, according to the EPA, is problematic. Even with access to a fast charger, it would need regular attention if it is used as a household’s primary vehicle.
2023 Genesis GV60 Performance — Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to charge a Genesis GV60?
Hooked up to a DC fast charging station, Genesis says the GV60’s battery can be charged from 10% to 80% capacity in just 18 minutes.
How much horsepower does the GV60 performance have?
The Advanced model makes a combined 314 hp while the Performance trim makes 429 hp; that number can be temporarily increased to 483 horsepower though when the Performance model’s Boost driving mode is engaged. With that driving mode in use, we launched the GV60 Performance to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds.
Is the Genesis GV60 the same as the Ioniq 5 and EV6?
The GV60 rides atop the same Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) as the Ioniq 5 and EV6, but it adds a few specific tricks. For a start, Genesis is not offering the smaller 58.0-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery — every GV60 will carry the 77.4-kWh pack as standard.
