If you don’t like electric vehicles, you should drive the Genesis GV60. Because here’s the thing: I don’t like EVs either. At least I was pretty convinced I didn’t. But the driving experience of the Genesis GV60 is good enough to make me realize, it’s actually not the concept of an electric vehicle that I don’t like. Rather, it’s what they’ve come to represent over the last few years. And as astute & honest car enthusiasts, we have to be able to separate ‘the car’ from its stigma and/or its politics. Facts:
The way EVs have been presented, pushed, & mandated on the people…
Has been to their demise with at least HALF of the American public. The current administration came into office & told us that EVs were our future. They didn’t ask. And that in itself turned roughly half of the people off to EVs… straight out the gate. Whether you agree with what I’m saying or not, is not the point I’m trying to make. The point is: People need to understand WHY half of this country has become so adamantly close-minded to the idea of electric vehicles. And it’s not because they plug in. It’s because…
Our current administration overreached into the automotive industry…
Took it too far. In many cases, they disregarded the peoples’ wants, needs, & financial abilities… as well as general common sense. Then they (along with complying carmakers) began marketing EVs with false narratives that were deceptive, if not outright false. And in those actions…
A strong resistance was created towards electric vehicles…
It’s a resistance that would probably never have existed if they had been allowed to compete naturally. But the powers that be undermined themselves when they tried to deceive the American public, and take away our freedom of choice & voice. And this wasn’t just an American-exclusive scenario. This was a regulatory, imposing movement across most 1st-wold countries. It backfired. And now – for roughly half the American people, buying an EV is a sign of conformity & obedience to big government. Again – I’m telling you how people feel, and WHY so many people feel that way… I’m not saying to have to agree with them. So now that the stage is set, let’s talk about the Genesis GV60…
Design-wise, the Genesis GV60 breaks the mold…
Sure – it looks like an EV. But it also looks intriguing, and a little more athletic, inspiring, & driver-centric than most electric vehicles. The Genesis GV60 takes the proportions & design cues of a futuristic hot-hatch. But it then expands them to be a little less ‘compact’… & a lot more livable for the general public. Think about a hot-hatch, but magnified to crossover size. With good size & visibility, the Genesis GV60 is easy to drive, corner, & park… but with ample room for passengers & cargo. Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia have dialed-in this design aesthetic, and it works! You can see it in application on the GV60, the Ionic 5, the EV6, and the Hyundai N Vision 74 concept that sent shockwaves through the automotive world. These designs are clearly coming from teams with an enthusiast background. People who grew up with car-posters on their bedroom walls.
Driving the Genesis GV60…
Does not disappoint. It’s not a lullaby. Yes, the GV60 is quiet. And yes, it’s incredibly smooth. But the Genesis GV60 is not disengaging. And that’s an important distinction from other EVs, and modern vehicles in general (ICE included). The tech & infotainment in the GV60 does not consume you, distract you, or annoy you. Genesis knows how to let drivers be drivers. EVs have become stereotypically synonymous with autonomy and/or soullessness, but that’s not the driving experience of the GV60.
The GV60 is fast…
As most EVs are. But because of that hot-hatch spirit I mentioned earlier, the GV60 kind of beckons you to DRIVE IT more than most EVs. EVs are heavy (by nature of their batteries), and you definitely feel the weight transfer. But the weight is low in the chassis. The weight changes the character of the GV60’s performance, but does not impede it too much. With the GV60, it’s fun to hug a corner, and then explode out of it with instantaneous power. I wouldn’t go so far as to say the GV60 is a dog constantly pulling on its leash. It’s not that playful. But it’s also not another ‘fast EV’ that you only drive slow. It’s somewhere appropriately in the middle. I’d say it’s similar in nature to an S-model Audi: a rocket when you want it to be, with an otherwise civilized demeanor.
The Genesis GV60 has a boost button on the steering wheel…
The boost button dumps ALL the power on you at once, for about 10 seconds. It’s neat. I’d like to be able to say it’s just a party trick that you use to impress first-time passengers. But alas, I indulged quite often lol. Put it this way: The Genesis GV60 is an EV that I put into Sport Mode every time I drove it. It became part of the starting sequence: 1) Start it, 2) Sport Mode on, then 3) Put into Drive. I will say…
The interior of the GV60…
Was a little too zen for my tastes. All the space-age whites & light grays look appealing, but there’s no way they’d age well with my lifestyle. I’m interested to see how the Magma editions present themselves.
Charging & range of the Genesis GV60…
You can expect about 250 city miles out of a full charge. More like 235 if you go straight to Sport Mode like I do (it’s worth it). But here’s what I found interesting & exciting about the GV60. Since I don’t own an EV, I don’t have a home charger. All I have is the standard wall outlet to plug into. So when we get electric vehicles to review, the charging process is usually miserably slow. The GV60, however, was faster-to-charge than any previous EV we’ve tested. Still ‘slow’ on the 120-volt relatively speaking. But – I was impressively able to drive the car for a week, and never have to hit a public charger. That is – aside from the new ones Rivian just installed at my local mountain bike trails. And that one, I just used out of convenience (not necessity) to charge while I was riding. That shows a lot of promise & improvement in the EV ownership experience, just year-over-year. And that made me realize…
Politics & preconceived notions aside…
The Genesis GV60 is a great option, IF it fits your lifestyle requirements. Maybe it does; maybe it doesn’t; maybe it’s best you get to decide & not the government. But also maybe you’re digging your heels in to make a point… and maybe cheating yourself out of something cool in the process. Maybe not lol. I can’t speak to the GV60’s value, resale value, or future obsolescence… you also gotta slide that scale on your own. But I can say, with the right approach, the Genesis GV60 could make a great addition to a lot of car lovers’ garages. Not as a replacement to their beloved sports cars and/or 4x4s of yesteryear… but as an addition to them.
I’ll be honest, the Genesis GV60 has opened my eyes to some misapplied hate I had for electric vehicles. That doesn’t make all the valid EV criticisms all-the-sudden untrue. But it DOES make some of them perhaps unfair. If you’re in the market, not just for an EV, but for a new car (daily) in general. Check all your preconceived notions at the door of a Genesis dealership, and experience what the GV60 has to offer with no strings attached. Whether or not it ends up being your cup of tea, it’s something worth experiencing.
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Still a big NO! Cant sell me on an EV, even if you put a gun to my family’s head