Genesis GV60 long-term test: report 1

The car Genesis GV60 168kW RWD single motor (Premium) Run by Stuart Milne, digital editor

Why it’s here Can a sprinkling of ‘premiumness’ elevate the upmarket Genesis GV60 clear of the family SUV pack – and into luxury SUV territory?

Needs to Be as comfortable and quiet as the best electric SUVs, yet offer the all-important tangible appeal buyers of premium models want.

Mileage 8387 Price £54,105 Target Price £54,105 Price as tested £59,605 Official range 321 miles Test range 310 miles Options fitted Innovation Pack (£2810), Bang & Olufsen Audio System (£990), Vehicle-to-Load (£880), Mauna Red paint (£740), Door mirrors with auto-dimming (£80)

12 April 2024 – An electric SUV for the prog rock generation

Passing the house where Mike Oldfield composed Tubular Bells, listening to Pink Floyd and driving a Genesis is surely the holy trinity for any fan of 1970s prog rock music. And the nuances and quirks of both the complex structure of that musical genre and the dramatic features in the Genesis GV60 were not lost on me as I passed by Oldfield’s former home in east London a few weeks ago.

Like prog rock, cars increasingly employ all kinds of eye-catching trinkets in order to elevate themselves above what came before. The GV60’s equivalent of prog rock’s dry ice is a gear selector that rotates to reveal an illuminated crystal-like dome when the car is switched off. Its noodling guitar solos are replaced by pop-out door handles. And its Hammond organ is its fingerprint and facial recognition security systems.

But also like prog rock, features like this can be an acquired taste. My kids love the ‘spinny’ gear selector, and a driver’s seat that slides back automatically when the car is switched off (to aid exit and entry) holds a strange appeal for them. Me? I’m not so taken with such theatrics, because I prefer to just get into a car and go.

Even at this early stage, the GV60 is earning major brownie points for its range. I’m able to cover around 310 miles between charges – not far off its official figure of 321 miles. The 77.4kWh battery takes around seven hours to charge via a 7kW home wallbox, and at its maximum rate of 233kW, a 10-80% top-up can take as little as 18 minutes.

I’ve chosen our favourite Premium trim, because even though it’s the entry-level model, it comes with all the equipment you could reasonably need, including adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and an electric tailgate. Unlike more expensive versions, it sends its 226bhp to the rear wheels, rather than all four. It’ll reach 62mph from a standstill in 7.5sec, which is plenty fast enough for me.

I’ve added a few options, including an upgraded Bang & Olufsen audio system (£990) and a Vehicle-to-Load Pack (£880) that provides a three-pin plug socket under the rear seat that’ll power my laptop during charging stops.

Three levels of regenerative braking (which harvests energy under deceleration to help eke out range), plus a one-pedal mode that can bring the car to a complete halt without me touching the brake pedal, are accessed via simple steering wheel paddles, so selecting the correct setting for the road conditions is easy. If I have a criticism, it’s that it’s a little more eager to illuminate the brake lights than some other electric cars I’ve driven – including the Volkswagen ID Buzz I ran previously.

On the other hand, the infotainment tech is much better in the GV60. It centres around three screens, all of which are clear, crisp and responsive – and they need to be, because there are so many features. The head-up display (part of the £2810 Innovation Pack) is another strength; it’s particularly clear and able to provide visual information regarding the excellent driver assistance systems.

But while the GV60’s A-side is packed full of hits, there are also some B-side fillers. For what is quite a large car, the 432-litre boot is smaller than you’ll find in a Tesla Model Y or Volkswagen ID 4; we easily filled it on a recent family weekend away. What’s more, there’s no rear windscreen wiper, and a spoiler that stretches across the rear window hampers rear visibility further.

Not that this matters to those who’ve stopped me in the street to ask what it is. Several have asked if the GV60 is the ‘new Tesla’, but most think it’s rather enigmatic – just like the very best prog rock albums.

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