After a few years of lagging between value pricing, the Genesis brand is in a really good groove these days. Every time a key wearing the Wing and Shield logo crosses our desks, we know we’re bound to have a good time behind the wheel.
That’s true of just about any product Genesis makes today, whether it’s the G80 and G90 luxury sedans, the GV70 or GV80 crossovers, or even the long-in-the-tooth G70 sport sedan. The brand is indeed firing on all cylinders, though with the arrival of the GV60 fastback crossover, we’ll have to find a way to modify that phrase. Not because it isn’t great, but because there are no cylinders to fire – this sucker is fully electric and all the better for it.
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Brandon Turks, Managing Editor
- Favorite Thing: BOOOOOSSSSTTTTT
- Least Favorite Thing: The value argument
Folks, I’m a 38-year-old boy with the attitude of a 14-year-old delinquent, so when I get in the car and see a big, bright yellow button labeled “Boost,” I jump at every opportunity. do
The thing is, the Genesis GV60 is already a fast car. Until corporate sibling Kia introduced the EV6 GT, it was the most powerful EV in the Hyundai/Kia/Genesis stable, temporarily boosting output from 429 horsepower and 446 pound-feet to 483 hp and 516 No button was needed. lb-ft and that fact only made me tap the pretty button more.
It’s exactly the kind of feature we need in performance EVs that struggle to distinguish themselves from mainstream models, regardless of actual output, due to instant on-torque. It’s a bit moody, a bit theatrical. This is exactly what makes performance cars – ICE, EV, or otherwise – so entertaining.
But is that drama worth the high price? I’m still not sure. The GV60 Performance retails for $70,000, about $8,000 more than the EV6 GT, which is even more powerful than the Genesis at 576 hp and 545 lb-ft. At the same time, you get most of this car’s thrills (sans Boost) in the dual-motor EV6 and Ioniq 5. Yes, the Genie has a nicer interior to go with the extra speed, but both of those cars are available to get around. $20,000 less. The younger part of me loves the funniest feature of the GV60, but can’t ask a 38-year-old semi-rational to save that amount of coins.
Jeff Perez, Senior Editor
- Favorite thing: All the boost
- Least Favorite Thing: Funky styling
I echo Brandon’s sentiments – give me all the boost. The most interesting feature of the GV60 is the neon yellow button at the base of the steering wheel that says “BOOST” in big bold letters. Once you push it, there’s no going back; Even the most casual trips to the grocery store require at least one use of the boost function because it’s fun. An additional 54 horses and 70 pound-feet give the GV60 even more speed, for a car that’s already very quick.
But my problem with the GV60 (a small one), is how silly it looks. Genesis makes some of the best-looking cars on sale in the GV70, GV80, and G80, but the GV60 just doesn’t work. There are a lot of funky design elements, lots of weird creases – like the one behind the rear window – and the profile is very flared. Plus the 21-inch wheels on the Performance model look like they were ripped off a Hot Wheels car.
Brett T. Evans, Senior Editor
- Favorite Thing: The well-designed cabin
- Least favorite thing: Leapfrog styling
In a world where even the world’s best luxury sedans feature chintzy black plastics, the Genesis GV60 somehow manages to dazzle its occupants with the most comfortable and inexpensive materials. The door panels are lined all the way to the floor, the lower dash and drawer-style globe box get nicely grained soft-touch plastics, and the Nappa leather upholstery feels richly old-school.
If you opt for the navy blue cabin color there are also plenty of striking, chic details, such as the crystal ball shift selector and lime green stitching. Even the parts of the interior that are hard plastic – the door sills, shift binnacle surrounds, and dashboard appliques – are dressed with a good texture and low-sheen finish to help them look and feel more expensive.
As beautiful as the interior is, I’m not so convinced when it comes to the exterior styling. The fastback roofline and high body sides work together to give the GV60 a creeping look, like a bullfrog getting ready to leap onto the next lily pad. A bottom feeder grill compounds the problem. But I love the chrome lightning bolts that run across the top of the greenhouse, and the massive wheels that look cartoonish, but in a fun and playful way. Against its stylish yet conventional G80 and GV80, the polarizing GV60 at least looks fresh and unique.