Yahoo Autos 2023 Genesis GV60 Review: Doesn't raise the bar high enough
Pros: Exceptional tech; distinctive interior design; ample standard features; comfy ride; hatchback versatility; bold colors
Cons: A $60,000 hatchback won’t be for everyone; poor value relative to Hyundai and Kia siblings; iffy range
The 2023 Genesis GV60 is the third, luxury-oriented take on the same excellent electric car platform found in the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 (the Ioniq 6 will be the fourth). Given its luxury badge and market position, the GV60 raises the bar from its siblings in terms of performance, features content and interior quality. Frankly, none of the above are exactly issues for its siblings, which is perhaps the GV60’s greatest issue. Although impressive in a vacuum, we’re not sure it raises the bar far enough, especially when its lofty price point puts it in line with a BMW i4 and other luxury-branded EVs.
That’s not to say that Genesis can’t stand toe-to-toe with older luxury marques in terms of delivering actual luxury. Far from it. Its interior ambience, quality and technology can be superior. Infotainment and safety tech in particular are incredibly well executed, and are joined by novel features like facial recognition entry and fingerprint starting. Indeed, you don’t need a key to get underway in a GV60. Just look at the B pillar from the outside and the door will unlock; once in the driver seat, put your finger on a spot on the center console and watch as the strange glowing orb on the center console rotates 180 degrees to reveal a rotary shift knob. It’s fancy, futuristic stuff that’ll make your friends go “oooooh.”
Instead, we wonder if the typical American luxury shopper (and their friends) is going to be wowed by what is effectively a midsize hatchback that starts at $60,000 and tops out at $70,000. Genesis may market the GV60 as a “crossover,” but in person, it totally looks like a hatchback. That might be a tough sell compared to an i4 or a Tesla, and worse, it doesn’t go as far on a charge as those.
Interior & Technology | Passenger & Cargo Space | Performance & Range
What it's like to drive | Pricing & Trim Levels | Crash Ratings & Safety Features
What's new for 2023?
The GV60 is an all-new model this year.
What are the GV60 interior and in-car technology like?
If the exterior is a bit weird and not exactly what one expects from a $60,000 luxury car, the interior is absolutely what one should expect from a $60,000 luxury car. Materials quality is excellent, from the fanciful switchgear (people just love the rotating shift orb) to the leather covering most surfaces up front. We especially like the unique Torrent Navy leather interior with Sao Paulo Lime accents you see above. You’re definitely not getting that in a Tesla. Very cool.
The GV60 has a slightly different tech interface than other Genesis models as well as its E-GMP siblings from Hyundai and Kia. The huge 12.3-touchscreen unit is the same and the graphics are consistent for Genesis, but there are slight functionality changes, particularly in regards to radio control, that make it a bit more needlessly complicated. It’s still one of the better, more user-friendly systems out there, but there was no need to change what works. Thankfully, the redundant control wheel sticks around, as a knob is still a superior way to control certain menu functions. One nitpick: the USB data port is located in a bin down by your feet and there is no wireless CarPlay or Android Auto.
Standard tech feature content is tough to beat, including wireless charging, head-up display and a Bang & Olufsen sound system. You also get fingerprint recognition vehicle ignition and facial recognition entry. Just stare at a circle on the B pillar and if it turns green, the car has recognized you. Then, just put your finger on a fingerprint scanner on the center console to start up the car. No key needed.
How big is the GV60?
The GV60 isn’t as long as its Hyundai and Kia platform mates, and is about 8 inches shorter than the Genesis GV70 compact SUV. It looks quite small in person, but that’s mostly due to its unusual proportions. In particular, its wheelbase is gigantic for a vehicle of its size, resulting in a huge back seat that allows for tall adults and rear-facing car seats to easily fit. As a result, although the GV70 may be longer than the GV60 on the outside, the electric Genesis is in fact more passenger-friendly inside.
Cargo space isn’t quite as generous as the GV70, and its 24 cubic-feet behind the raised back seat falls in between the EV6 and Ioniq 5 (though as we’ve seen in the Ioniq and EV6 luggage tests, the specs may not equate to real world usefulness). We did not get a chance to conduct a luggage test on the GV60.
What are the GV60 range and performance specs?
There are two versions of the GV60 available in the United States: the Advanced and Performance. Both feature “dual-motor powertrains” that place a motor on each axle to create all-wheel drive. They also share the same 77.4 kilowatt-hour battery and state-of-the-art 800-volt electrical architecture that allows from 10-80% recharges in only 18 minutes with a 350-kilowatt DC fast charger. In other words, it’ll charge quicker than most other electric cars … and usually by a considerable margin.
