Genesis GV60 Review 2026: Prices, specs and verdict

What is the Genesis GV60?

The Genesis GV60 is a premium electric car that you’d choose if you didn’t want to follow the herd. And it’s just been improved for 2026.

Genesis is the luxury brand of the Hyundai Motor Group, like what Lexus is to Toyota. But while Lexus registered over 16,000 cars in 2025 (a figure still dwarfed by brands like BMW and Audi) Genesis registered a mere 1,225 cars.

That makes cars like the GV60 rare, and rarity is cool when the big three German premium brands make up nearly 20% of the UK’s new car market. Such exclusivity also allows Genesis to offer services like personal assistants, collection of your car for servicing and other luxury touches.

The GV60, for those that aren’t aware, is based on the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6. Both of those have received facelifts recently, so now it’s the Genesis’ turn with styling tweaks, kit upgrades and a new Performance model. Does that keep it competitive? Our review finds out.

Verdict: is the Genesis GV60 a good car?

We reckon the Genesis GV60 is well worth considering if you find Teslas and electric Audis a bit…obvious. It might not set new standards for range or driver appeal, but the GV60 is comfortable, very refined, packed full of standard kit and has a lavish interior with old-school usability. We reckon it deserves to be a big seller.

Pricing, specs & rivals

Prices for the updated Genesis GV60 start off at £54,115 for the entry-level Pure model with the single motor power source. That’s quite a bit more expensive than a base Tesla Model Y and is also more than the Audi Q4 e-tron, but it’s in-line with the Polestar 4.

Pure models are quite far from sparse, though, with standard kit such as 19in alloys, adaptive LED headlights, heated front seats with electric adjustment, a heated steering wheel, keyless entry, an electric tailgate, a rear-view camera and wireless phone charging. That’s along with a vast array of standard driver assist tech.

Sport models, from £58,000, are effectively the same in terms of kit, bar an upgrade of the alloy wheel size to 20in. The primary reason for choosing it is the upgrade to the Dual Motor, all-wheel drive power option, bringing considerably faster acceleration.

Performance variants are considerably more expensive, from £67,715. However, they include substantially more power, along with significant technical upgrades such as the ‘Virtual Gearshift’ system pinched from the IONIQ 5 N.

The Performance version also gets 21in alloys, an electronic limited slip differential, adaptive suspension and the Comfort and Innovation option packs are thrown in. These include 18-way electrically adjustable and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a head-up display and augmented reality navigation, alongside other bits.

Rivals

The Genesis GV60 sits somewhere between a large hatchback and an SUV, so its rivals are diverse. It’s also closely related to the Hyundai IONIQ 6 and Kia EV6 beneath the posh design, so you might want to consider those too.

Key rivals include the BMW iX2, Audi Q4 e-tron and Mercedes-Benz EQA, while you’ll also want to consider the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Volvo EX40 and Lexus RZ. Of course, the top-selling Tesla Model Y will be on your shopping list too.

At the same time, more low-slung alternatives like the Polestar 4, BMW i4 and new DS No.8 could be considered as GV60 rivals.

Interior comfort, quality & technology

Genesis doesn’t do Tesla-style minimalism with its car interiors, preferring a bolder design and rich materials to give a real luxury car vibe. And in the GV60, it works.

There’s almost no evidence that this is based on a Kia or Hyundai underneath, with much more premium feeling soft-touch materials, including synthetic leather on the dash and doors and smart metal trim elements. Opting for the quilted Nappa leather option really boosts the luxury vibe, too – this is a much more enticing place to sit than a Q4 e-tron.

One key detail that remains is the quirky ‘crystal ball’ drive selector. When you start the car up it spins round electrically to reveal itself, which is a gimmick but a cool touch nonetheless.

The fundamentals are good, too. The driving position is higher up than a saloon but not as perched up as many SUVs, with plenty of adjustment in the seats and steering wheel along with good visibility out the front and sides. The rear view is a bit restricted by the sloping roof, however.

Genesis also has an old-school approach to tech, with plenty of physical buttons to operate key functions. This busier layout may put off those who prefer a cleaner look, but it does make features easier to operate on the move than the screen-dominated Polestar 4 and Tesla Model Y.

Infotainment, sat-nav, stereo and connectivity

As part of the late 2025 update, every version of the GV60 gets a significant infotainment screen upgrade. Whereas the old version has two separate displays in one bezel, this new car has a single, enormous 27in OLED screen spanning the driver’s side of the dash.

It’s not only visually stunning, because the bright and crisp display also has intuitive menus and quick response times. It’s also great to see that Genesis has kept the old BMW iDrive-style control wheel even when BMW itself is gradually leaving it behind.

It might feel a bit old-school at first, but the control wheel between the front seats is a doddle to use on the move without needing to reach forwards to prod on-screen icons. What’s more, there are separate menu buttons and even a physical climate control stack with its own screen.  

Of course, the GV60 gets wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with built-in sat-nav and various music and video streaming options. This new model also gets the expected wireless phone charging pad (the old model didn’t have it).

Optional kit includes a digital rear view mirror (where the traditional mirror can be switched to a rear camera feed) a head-up display and augmented reality navigation, which projects directions onto the screen.

You’ll find a couple of USB-C ports up front and a couple in the rear for charging devices. The standard eight-speaker sound system sounds pretty good, but the 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen system is right up there with the best sound system upgrades of premium rivals. It also has Active Road Noise Cancelling tech.

How practical is the Genesis GV60?

The Genesis GV60’s dimensions are 4,515mm in length, 1,890mm in width and 1580mm in height. That makes it substantially shorter than the Kia and Hyundai models on which it’s based, with a 100mm shorter wheelbase (the space between the front and rear wheels).

That means the GV60 isn’t quite as roomy as its siblings, but overall it still offers a decent amount of passenger space. Up front both leg space and headroom are generous, while the car’s width means no fighting with your front seat passenger for armrest space.

In the rear, the GV60 lacks the limo-like legroom of its siblings, and the Tesla Model Y. However, it’s still got significantly more than a Volvo EC40 and is on a par with the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback. Headroom isn’t as generous as some rivals, but six-footers shouldn’t struggle and only the exceptionally tall might find their head hits the roof. We’d avoid the panoramic sunroof option if you’re regularly carrying taller adults back there.

The GV60 isn’t ideal for carrying a fifth passenger because its middle seat is raised up, impacting on headroom. There isn’t loads of space to slide your feet under the seat in front, either. But as a four-seater, the Genesis is pretty good overall, and the rear seats are comfortable.

Storage and boot space

There’s a fair level of cabin storage in the GV60, particularly up front. Here you’ll find a medium-sized glovebox with a drawer-like sliding opening, a decent-sized under-armrest space and reasonable door bins. There’s also a pair of cupholders and a phone storage area in the centre console, plus a tray beneath the dash.

In the rear things are typical for a premium EV, with decent door bins, some pockets on the front seatbacks and a centre armrest with cupholders.

It’s a pity you don’t get 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, but you don’t in the related Hyundai or Kia either. You’re also unlikely to buy the GV60 for boot space alone, as its 432-litre capacity falls well short of most SUV rivals and is a full 95 litres short of the IONIQ 5.

In isolation, though, the boot is practical enough for a large weekly shop or luggage for a week away. You also get a large hatchback opening to make the most of it, but the sloping roofline does impede on carrying taller items. Still, it’s a useful shape and the loading lip isn’t too bad.

You also get a decent amount of storage under the boot floor. However, you don’t need to store your charging cables here because there’s also a small storage area under the bonnet. It’s a 53-litre space in the Pure model but reduces to a tiny 20 litres in dual-motor versions.

Performance & drive: What is the Genesis GV60 like on the road?

The Genesis GV60 gets three different power outputs depending on which trim level you plump for, with performance ranging from perfectly ample to really quite rapid.

We suspect the Pure version makes the most sense for everyday drivers. It’s rear-wheel drive thanks to a single electric motor putting out 225hp – enough for a 0-62mph time of 7.8 seconds.

That might sound underwhelming for a premium EV, particularly when Tesla will sell you something far faster for the same money. But in the real world the GV60 never feels sluggish or underpowered thanks to the instant punch of an electric motor.

Having said that, the mid-level Dual Motor variant is a lot more effortless. With four-wheel drive and a 318hp output, it’s fast enough to crack 0-62mph in 5.5 seconds. Again, there are fastest EVs out there, but this GV60 compares well with the fastest Audi Q4 e-tron 55.

Topping the Range is the Performance model (formerly called Sport Plus). This pumps out a generous 483hp through all four wheels for a 0-62mph time of four seconds dead. In other words, it’s fast enough to embarrass sports cars and feels it – even though the 483hp figure is only for short periods via a ‘Boost’ function.  

The Performance version isn’t just about raw numbers, though, thanks to the combination of augmented ‘engine’ sound and the Virtual Gearshift. Like the N Grin-shift in the IONIQ 5 N, when activated it repurposes the regen braking paddles as ‘gearshifts’, with simulated gearing that will bump off a fake redline and even give you a little kick as you change up.

It sounds like a pointless gimmick, and those who don’t like it can turn it off. But it gives another level of driver interaction for enthusiasts who are a bit bored of the one-dimensional nature of many fast electric cars.

If the Performance model isn’t enough, Genesis will launch the GV60 Magma. This is basically a Hyundai IONIQ 5 N underneath, with an astonishing 650hp for a 0-62mph time approaching three seconds.

The GV60’s four-level regenerative braking system, adjusted via steering wheel paddles, works really well. It’ll let you coast on the motorway with no regen effect, while at the other end of the scale very strong regen gives you one-pedal driving.

Power, 0-62mph times

• Genesis GV60 Pure: 225hp/7.8 secs
• Genesis GV60 Sport:  318hp/ 5.5 secs
• Genesis GV60 Performance: 483hp/ 4.0 secs

Ride and handling

Despite Genesis using terms like ‘Sport’ and ‘Performance’ in its trim levels, the GV60 is about isolating you from the outside world.

This is mostly achieved well in base Pure models with the smallest wheels and, as a result, the most comfortable ride of all GV60s. It gets caught out on the odd lower-speed pothole, but overall it’s as smooth and relaxing as a Q4 e-Tron and less firm than a Kia EV6.

Higher-spec models with bigger wheels lose a bit of ride comfort – the Performance model especially tells you more about the road surface and lets sharp bumps be felt, even with predictive suspension that reads the road ahead. Still, you’d never call it harsh, and the same is true of most premium electric cars with large wheels.

And handling? Well, the BMW i4 is still the benchmark when it comes to a fun-to-drive yet comfortable EV, and the GV60 lacks the steering precision and body control of that car. But the Genesis is at least as capable as many electric SUVs.

Genesis let us out on a racetrack with the GV60 Performance, where it found plenty of grip and decent composure for a two-tonne, high-riding EV. We’d stop well short of calling it fun, or a natural track car – that may come with the GV60 Magma.

Noise and refinement

Thanks to features such as standard-fit acoustic glass all-round, the Genesis GV60 is a very quiet car to travel on the motorway in. There’s very little road or wind noise even by the high standards of the class, and not much in the way of suspension noise or electric motor whine either. It’s a more relaxing place to spend time commuting in than a Polestar 4.

Euro NCAP: is the Genesis GV60 a safe car?

The Genesis GV60 was awarded the maximum five-star safety rating when Euro NCAP crash tested it in 2022. That meets the standard expected of premium family cars such as this.

Scores across the board are strong, with an 88% rating for safety assist tech being a particular highlight. There are alternatives that better protect vulnerable road users in an impact, however.

All GV60s feature a suite of eight airbags along with the usual automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, blind spot collision assist and intelligent speed limit assist. There’s also adaptive cruise control with the brand’s Highway Driving Assist and Lane Following Assist.

Performance models add the clever Blind Spot View Monitor (which displays a camera feed of your rear blind spots in the digital dials when you indicate) along with collision avoidance for reversing. These features, along with other advanced assist tech upgrades, are part of option packs for the rest of the range.

Charging, range and running costs

Alongside recently updated versions of the IONIQ 5 and EV6, Genesis has been able to extract a bit more range on a charge from the GV60 with the latest updates.

The battery size has increased slightly from 74kWh (usable capacity) to 80kWh. That brings the maximum WLTP-rated range of the single-motor Pure model to 348 miles – up from the old version’s 321 miles.

That’s the most efficient, longest-range version of the GV60, and matches up to the top range figure of an Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback. However, standards of the longest range electric vehicles are moving on all the time, with cars like the Polestar 4 promising up to 385 miles and the DS No.8 impressing with an official 442-mile range.

As is usually the case, the more powerful dual motor models sacrifice a chunk of range for performance. The Sport model manages a more modest 318 miles, which drops again slightly to 311 miles with the Performance variant.

In isolation, those figures will likely be fine for most motorists. But there are plenty of alternatives out there with even more enticing range flexibility.

Range on a charge (WLTP figures) 

• Genesis GV60 Pure: 348 miles
• Genesis GV60 Sport: 318 miles
• Genesis GV60 Performance: 311 miles

While the GV60’s range is no longer class-leading, its rapid charging speeds are still impressive thanks to its 800-volt electrical system. All versions are capable of speeds up to 240kW using the very fastest public DC chargers – enough for a 10-80% top up in just 17 minutes.

It’s worth bearing in mind that you won’t always find a charger that can hit those speeds reliably, but it’s nice to know that you potentially can. The GV60’s improved battery conditioning system lets you programme it to warm the battery up before charging, helping you to achieve those peak speeds.

Most of the time Genesis customers are likely to be charging at home or work, with much longer charging times as a result, Nevertheless, the GV60 doesn’t have a vast battery taking ages to charge like some alternatives.

11kW three-phase charging is of course standard, while the GV60 also has optional Vehicle-to-Load capability to power appliances or devices from the car’s battery. Every GV60 comes with a heat pump, too, to help reducing the impact of cabin heating on the car’s winter range.

Charging speeds

(Figures from EV Database)

• 7kW charging: 12hr 45 mins
• 11kW charging: 8hr 45 mins
• 50kW rapid charger (10 to 80% charge): 71 mins
• 150kW+ rapid charger (10 to 80% charge): 17 mins

How much does the Genesis GV60 cost to insure?

The Genesis GV60 is unlikely to break the bank when it comes to insurance costs by premium car standards, but some alternatives could be cheaper.

The GV60 range starts at insurance group 38 for Pure models, rising to group 43-45 for Sport models and group 46 for the Performance variant. That’s inline with the equivalent BMW i4, but an Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback starts in lower groups across the range. Still, the Genesis looks to be cheaper to insure than a Tesla Model Y.