It’s taken a month for me to finalise this review of the Genesis GV60, yet the driving experience is still so fresh in my mind I expect to walk outside and find it still in my driveway. This car delivers everything that the future promised us with zero emissions motoring.
If you’ve seen one on the road you might have an understanding of the beauty that I’m going to try and put into words. It’s a car that turns heads and makes people stop to ask about the brand. The lines are smooth and sumptuous. Not flashy like a sports car. More like bubbling stream in an alpine wonderland.
Clear isn’t a colour or an object, but I feel the Genesis GV60 could be described in this way. Maybe it was the Hanauma Mint exterior colour which is subtle and bold at the same time. Or it could be the effortless interaction required to propel it through the gritty urban landscape.
The Genesis website uses terms like ‘interactive, multi-sensory design’ and ‘Athletic Elegance’. To emphasise the significant statement being made with the launch of the GV60, Genesis has invented a new segment for this delicious looking coupé – its a Crossover Utility Vehicle, or CUV.
Unfortunately this car does have one fault – supply! But this also make it more exclusive.
An updated model was released in May which retains all of the beautiful features and adds Face Connect and Fingerprint Start technology lets users unlock 2023 GV60 using biometric facial recognition, start GV60 with their fingerprint, recall personalisation settings, and access other useful functions.
So what’s it like to drive?
Ok, fair question since I spent most of this review talking about its looks. And without boring you any further, it drives as good as it looks.
It’s ultra smooth and ultra quiet. The outside world seems to disappear as the strain and vibration of the internal combustion engine melts from your memory. The ride quality is exceptional on a patchwork of Sydney roads. Speed bumps, potholes and uneven surfaces can’t penetrate the cocooned serenity that exists within the Genesis GV60. Any hint of the outside world is swept away by the Bang & Olufsen sound system.
Then, when you’re feeling a bit adventurous, you can select sports mode and press the BOOST button to be truly bought back to reality. I’m not sure how to properly use this feature on a modern road network. It’s so fast and powerful that I was looking for the brake pedal after a few hundred metres. Maybe the button is a mood booster because I always felt happier for several minutes after.
One thing you’ll notice the minute you get behind the wheel are the side mirrors have been replaced by cameras and a screen on the inside of each door. It’s distracting at first though within a few hours it becomes normal. I found the digital markings on the screen showing the distance in car lengths very helpful because I didn’t need to guess with how close the cars were.
There’s lots of detail in the interior design which goes unnoticed because it blends in so seamlessly. Lots of round shapes and soft curves. The designers are trying to impress and have achieved this a good balance practicality and comfort.
The rear seats are perfect for two but roomy enough for three adults. Smart design and no floor tunnel create space which complements the other luxurious touches.
Cooling and heating is delivered to the rear passenger via the door pillars with individual vents at the right height for maximum effect. Another example of smart design that has escaped the creativity of manufacturers until now.
The Genesis GV60 retails from $107,700 plus on road costs. It’s one of the best value EV offers in the market for buyers looking for zero emission motoring with a touch of class.
