Genesis GV60
Korean EV promises a premium package that’s backed by a five-year care plan. Can it cut the mustard in this company?
GENESIS is positioned as a brand to rival the premium big-hitters. However, the £47,005 price tag for this Single Motor Premium GV60 model we’re testing puts it in the same ballpark as the Nissan Ariya and VW ’s ID.5. So how does it fare?
Design & engineering
IN some ways the Genesis GV60 looks like a standard family hatchback when it comes to its proportions. That rounded body shape has been cleverly designed, however, because it disguises a car which, at just under 4.6 metres long, is actually slightly larger than the Ariya, and almost identical to the ID.5’s size.
Mechanically, the GV60 is off to an excellent start, because its shares its E-GMP platform with not only the talented Kia EV6, but also our 2021 New Car Awards winner, the Hyundai Ioniq 5. In this rear-drive Single Motor model, that means a battery with a 72.6kWh usable capacity, plus 226bhp and 350Nm, so it has the most performance on paper.
It’s something of a tech showcase, too. There’s a forward-facing camera that can be shown on the digital instrument panel, blind-spot and kerb cameras that activate when you use the indicators, and semi-autonomous cruise with lane assist that can be activated on a motorway, a feature that really takes the strain out of longer journeys. An optional Bang and Olufsen hi-fi adds noise-cancelling tech to reduce road rumble at speed, while the Outdoor Pack allows for Vehicle-to-Load use, letting you power other devices from the GV60’s battery.
Although Genesis is positioned as a premium brand, in some areas the GV60’s cabin can’t quite live up to the expensive feel of the Ariya. Some of the details are fantastic, with the door mirror controls, the volume dial and, of course, that spherical gear selector – which rotates on its axis as you power the car up – offering plenty of theatre, but some of the materials surrounding them feel a little plasticky.
Driving
OF these three EVs, the GV60 has the softest suspension. In some areas, this approach works very well; on a motorway cruise, it takes on a floaty yet sure-footed gait, which is deeply relaxing. It’s even more so if you engage the self-steering system, which guides you between lanes automatically for short periods. There is a touch more wind noise than in either the Nissan or the Volkswagen, though.
But find a twisty road, and the GV60 doesn’t feel as well tied down as the Ariya, nor is there quite as much grip. But thanks to a neutral balance, rear-wheel drive and the most naturally weighted steering here, it’s still great fun to drive, just in a different way to the Nissan. Body roll is noticeable but it doesn’t get out of hand.
At lower speeds, the ride can be a little fidgety; you’ll notice items such as keys rattling on urban roads. It feels the largest car here from behind the wheel, and the 11.9-metre turning circle is 1.1 metres more than the Nissan’s and 1.7 metres behind the VW ’s, so it’s the least manoeuvrable in tight spaces.
The GV60’s motor feels keener than the Nissan’s initially, but once up to speed the pair feel very
similar, and there’s only 0.3 seconds between their claimed 0-62mph times, in the Ariya’s favour. The GV60’s brake regeneration can occasionally engage more harshly than you might expect, but overall the Korean model’s powertrain is slick.
The Genesis does offer its driver more scope for adjusting the brake regeneration, though, thanks to paddles on the steering wheel. The five modes range from complete freewheeling up to full one-pedal driving. The Nissan also offers the latter feature, but has fewer brake regeneration settings in total.
Practicality
CHARGING plays a huge part in the life of anyone who uses an electric vehicle, with top-up speeds a key consideration. The quicker the car can refresh its battery, the less time you’ll need to spend waiting.
From this perspective, the Genesis is out in front here. Find a charger quick enough, and it’ll officially replenish at speeds as high as 220kW, meaning that a 10-80 per cent charge – giving roughly 200 miles of range – can take as little as 18 minutes. The Nissan and the Volkswagen are behind, but are closely matched, at 130kW and 135kW respectively, offering 10-80 per cent charge times of around 30 minutes.
For many EV owners it’ll be home charging that’s more important. The GV60 can top up its battery in seven hours and 20 minutes from a wallbox, while the Ariya and ID.5 take 10 and 7.5 hours respectively.
Ownership
A KEY selling point for the Genesis is the brand’s Five Year Care Plan. Not only does this include a five-year warranty with no mileage limit, but also servicing and courtesy cars; roadside assistance and over-the-air updates for the vehicle and navigation system are all included for five years, too. Beyond that, Genesis staff will also provide a home pick-up and delivery service when it’s time for maintenance.
These benefits will not only provide peace of mind for GV60 owners, but it’s where Genesis’s premium positioning comes in, too.
The Nissan and the Volkswagen are matched for both warranty and breakdown cover, with three years of protection on each, plus a 60,000-mile limit on their warranties.
Running costs
RUNNING an EV really comes into its own if you’re a company-car user, thanks to Benefit-in-Kind calculations which strongly favour zero-emission vehicles. All three cars fall into the two per cent category, which means that a higher-rate income tax payer will only face deductions of £358 for the Nissan, £376 for the Genesis and £397 for the VW.