The Genesis GV60 is an EV crossover with Drift Mode

It’s quite the departure from what we’ve seen so far from Genesis, isn’t it? Not necessarily in a good way. The saloons and SUVs benefit from well-known silhouettes typical of their classes, over which the distinctive Genesis design language is draped. 

The GV60 has similar tropes, clever design trickery and clever proportions but like with the Mach-E, there’s no escaping the more generic EV crossover shape. The GV60 won’t be the only electric Genesis model in the range for long. The marque has expressed a strong commitment to full electrification before the decade is out. 

On the inside, there are elements familiar to those that have seen inside an Ioniq 5. The vents are similarly located, albeit with a more premium finish, which is a good generalisation for the rest of the cabin, using a variety of premium sustainable materials. 

There are two screens united in a single unit, for the driver’s display and infotainment, featuring a next-generation UI. The coolest bit, however, is probably the ‘Crystal Sphere’ which, while the vehicle is on, is the drive selector. While the car is off, it’s a mood light, rotating to alternate between modes. 

There’s Face Connect facial recognition to unlock the doors, via a camera in the B pillar and even fingerprint recognition to start and drive it. Worth noting also are the camera mirrors, which the GV60 gets exclusive dibs on. Its Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 cousins are so far sticking with traditional mirrors. All very sci-fi...

So, what’s underneath? Predictably, the platform is the familiar Hyundai/Kia E-GMP 800-volt EV architecture that already underpins the Ioniq 5 and EV6. There are 77kWh battery packs across the range, with a selection of rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive variants, with the Performance model getting the latter. 

Okay, time to revisit the Drift Mode. Yes, it’s real. It optimises the distribution of power between the two 217PS (160kW) electric motors and the e-LSD, for some instant-response sideways antics. There’s also a Boost Mode button on the wheel, yielding an impressive claimed 0-62mph time of 4 seconds on the nose. 

Adding a bit of attitude is the electric-Active Sound Design. Driving mode and speed influence the sound, while the pedal is a sort of instrument to control it. You know, like a combustion-engined car. Three sounds are available, ranging from ‘Futuristic’, which does what it says on the tin, ‘G-Engine’, which simulates combustion engine sounds and ‘E-Motor’ which splits the difference, building on the car’s motor sounds.

The shove of the Performance model means it only gets an estimated range of 228 miles. The entry-level rear-drive models are expected to cover 280 miles between charges, while the mid-tier AWD model with 317PS is expected to go 250 miles on a charge. Those numbers could change under the WLTP range certification but you can expect not too much of a deviation from the IONIQ 5’s 238-298-mile UK range numbers.

Like other E-GMP cars in the Korean EV trio, the GV60 enjoys fast charge times, too. A 350kW charge speed means you could, if plugged into the right outlet, juice up from 10 to 80 percent charge in 18 minutes.

There’s no word on pricing yet but expect it to go on sale in the UK next year. What do you think of the Genesis GV60? Are you more interested in this, or the Ford Mustang Mach-E? Let us know...