Genesis GV60 review: Price, spec and performance set electric SUV up against tough rivals

A few years ago the electric premium car segment was pretty sparsely populated. Only Tesla claimed to offer a high-end EV experience.

Fast forward to early 2022 and every prestige player is flinging out EVs with wild abandon, with everything from sensible electric saloons and SUVs to futuristic grand tourers hitting the market in quick succession.

Genesis only arrived in the UK last year but already it is following suit, with three EVs planned for this year alone. Two are fully electrified versions of existing cars - the G80 and GV70 - while the third is this brand new GV60.

The GV60 is built on a dedicated EV platform that also underpins the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 but thanks to Genesis’s premium positioning and a wider choice of motors and prices, it is competing with everything from the Audi Q4 e-tron, Mercedes EQA and Tesla Model Y to the Ford Mustang Mach-e GT and Jaguar I-Pace.

Such a wide spectrum or rivals could be an advantage or disadvantage as it jostles for recognition but there’s no question Genesis has its work cut out to make an impact among some high-quality rivals.

One thing is for certain, the GV60 certainly stands out visually, especially in the eye-searing Sao Paolo Lime of the launch cars. Even in subtle hues the car’s looks are a little challenging but it does look a lot better in the metal than in photos.

It has the now familiar Genesis face, with the split quad headlights - LED as standard, adaptive matrix as an option - and the crest grille, this time set low in the front to aid battery cooling. Behind that “face” and the clamshell bonnet, the rest of the car rises up a lot and looks chunkier, a feeling enhanced by the pinched window line at the rear. The bulk of the back end is broken up slightly by the neat V-shaped slash in the metallic trim on the C-pillar and the tailgate-mounted spoiler.