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MOTORING JULY: Genesis GV60 Sport


George Loveridge Driving Around, for Travel News Update 


Genesis likes to make cars that remind us of yesteryear. Big saloons and SUVs wrapped in leather and wood, with an internal combustion engine strapped to the front. Big power, poor fuel economy. However, this GV60 is an all-electric model, but do not let that put you off. Here, we are working with nearly 500bhp and just as much plush leather as you would hope for. 

As a model, the GV60 dates back to 2021, so it is still a relatively new and therefore, not many people have ever seen one of these GV60s. Naturally, there are various trims you can opt for, and this one is the top of the range Sport Plus. Nothing less for TNU! What does that mean? As aforementioned, power to the tune of 490bhp, along with 700Nm of torque, appropriate for the name. Moreover, we have got special colours such as the £740 Hanauma Mint exterior finish and the £250 New Navy nappa leather interior with contrast lime stitching. The interior refinements also include Genesis’ innovation pack that will set you back £2,180! Benefiting all occupants with heated seats, steering wheel, heads-up display, wireless phone connectivity and plenty more. As for toys, the answer is yes! 


On the road, the GV60 Sport Plus really is the antidote for petrol heads looking to experiment with EV ownership. Thanks to a solid four-wheel drive system, wrapped in Pilot Sport tyres, the grip is phenomenal which is essential when you are working with this much power – 245bhp shared across both axels. In the car’s Eco mode, it feels as though just the rear axel is being powered, and you can drive the GV60 in a relaxed and efficient manner. Should you wish, there is a Sport mode which alters the digital driver’s cluster to give you a more aggressive set of dials, and also sends the remaining power to the front wheels.

The steering is actually quite heavy for such a luxury vehicle, which can get annoying considering how rubbish the steering lock is. Despite this, the GV60 glides along, and is able to carry so much momentum through the bends despite a 2.1 tonne kerb weight. If you dare, there is a lime green BOOST button positioned on the steering wheel. This gives you 10 seconds of unfiltered power, full power. Think of it like hyperdrive! Honestly, you do not want to use this unless you are on a straight dry road. Is it just a gimmick? Perhaps. But the acceleration never gets old. Of course, fully electric so no gears, you just keep accelerating, and accelerating without any interruptions. As far as noise goes, we have got Active Sound Design, which allows you to choose from various sounds to be pumped into the cabin. Because I am nine years old in my head, I love this. But, if you are the targeted Genesis customer, you can switch this off to result in a totally silent drive. 

Inside, this GV60 is cavernous. Again, no transmission so we get a completely flat floor, allowing for more space in the back, and a storage area that extends from the front seats into the rear. The door bins are large enough for only one bottle, but the centre console houses two large cup holders, as well as an additional storage bin underneath the climate control. No instrument cluster, instead we get one long slab of glass across the dashboard which is split into two halves, infotainment display and digital instruments. This latest version of the Hyundai / Kia / Genesis software is easier to use than ever, and allows for easy switching between radio, wireless media and maps. The seats are hugging both front and rear, and are wrapped in that navy blue leather with the lime stitching. At first, it is a bit much, but after nearly 900 miles in the cabin, I grew to like it. Moreover, we also get blue carpets and floor mats! When was the last time you saw a car with blue carpets! For me, it was in a 1950s Rover P4… 

So far, we have learnt that this GV60 is luxurious, quiet, and very quick. But what if you want to use it as a car, day to day? A 432-litre boot is easily accessible thanks to an electric tail gate along with a false floor hiding your charge cables, puncture repair kit and owner’s manual. At the front of the car, we get a frunk. Housing a small storage tray which on this car accommodates the detachable tow bar. Plus, a petit 2.5-litre screen wash bottle and the regular 12-volt battery.

Despite the performance, this Sport Plus model can actually calm down and become very efficient. On the motorway, it does eat up the charge a little bit faster than you would want. However, you get a realistic range of 240 miles, rather than the circa 300 miles that Genesis quote. Considering that this is with the radio and climate control enabled, you do not really have to worry about range. Combined, I found that the GV60 could manage 3.1 miles per kilowatt hour. What is that in English? 3.1 m/kWh is approximately 120mpg in old money. For something with so much performance, you cannot argue with that. 

The George Loveridge Verdict 

Overall, the Genesis GV60 Sport Plus has been another positive step in the right direction for me accepting a future with electric cars. With the goliathan power figure, comfort and overall efficiency, I would happily run one of these every day. Although, I am in the fortunate position to have a home charger, meaning that I can charge at an agreeable rate, and start every journey with a full tank of juice. My favorite feature of all though, and this is across all Genesis models, the steering wheel has a button that instantly disables lane keep assist. Hallelujah. Living in the countryside of West Yorkshire, lane keep assist is a misery to endure. The GV60 still lets you drive despite all of the safety tech which is how it should be. 



Price as tested: £74,855
Lead in price: £54,115
Average consumption: 3.1m/kWh 
Range (electric): 240
Battery size: 74.4 kWh 
0-60: 4 seconds

Performance 10
Handling 9
Transmission 10
Noise 9
Economy 7
Ride and Comfort 10
Accommodation 8
Styling 5
Brakes 9
Finish 10
TOTAL= 87%

 

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