Genesis GV60 2022 Review

The GV60 battery-electric small SUV previews the future for Genesis, and it even has a crystal ball inside…Genesis is the luxury brand owned by Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group, which also owns the Hyundai and Kia auto brands. Only sold here as a stand-alone brand since 2019, Genesis has steadily expanded its line-up and is now venturing into electric vehicles. In fact, three of them launch in September including this all-new small SUV, the 2022 Genesis GV60. Available in two model grades priced in a narrow band not too far over $100,000 (before on-road costs), they offer strong performance, a comprehensive equipment list and zero tailpipe emissions.Most significant
The 2022 Genesis GV60 might be the most significant model the neophyte Korean luxury brand has yet launched in Australia.

Okay, that’s not saying that much considering Genesis has only been active here as a stand-alone brand since 2019.

The GV60 is a five-seat compact battery-electric vehicle, but what really marks it out is it’s the brand’s first EV not tethered to an internal combustion engine (ICE) model and the first to be based on the Hyundai Motor Group’s EV-specific E-GMP architecture.

So while all-electric versions of the Genesis G80 luxury sedan and Genesis GV70 mid-size SUV also launch in September, they are extensions of an existing ICE model range and platform.

The path GV60 is defining is the future for the brand. Genesis intends to stop launching new ICE models in 2025 and stop building them altogether in 2030.There are two GV60 models on sale in Australia: the GV60 AWD priced from $103,700 plus on-road costs, and the GV60 Performance AWD that starts at $110,700 plus ORCs.

Both vehicles have an electric motor on each axle supported by a 74.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack under the floor.

As its name suggests the Performance AWD has more power and torque and some tastier mechanical bits (we’ll get into the detail further down) and that’s why you pay more.

The promotional hook is Boost Mode that delivers max power and torque for 10 seconds and a 4.0sec 0-100km/h time. That’s BMW M4 territory.

Externally, the GV60 twins are differentiated by elaborate alloy wheel designs (20-inch for the AWD and 21-inch for the Performance AWD) and different-coloured brake callipers – silver for the AWD and black for the Performance.