EV Comparison: Genesis GV60 Performance vs Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition

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Jonathan Yarkony: I’ll be straight with you. This comparison is not the comparison we originally planned. We booked ourselves into a Ford Mustang Mach-e because that was far and away the most popular request when we asked what you wanted us to compare with our Hyundai Ioniq 5 long term test. Alas, when going to pick up the Mach-E, the Hyundai fleet manager noted that our Ioniq 5 was about to go over its mileage limit, and we had to park it and return it. So then we went shopping. The other Ioniq 5 was not available the same week, but as it turned out, its fancy cousin, the Genesis GV60, was parked in the corner just waiting for a dance partner. 

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We quickly fired up the old Driving.ca Research section and found that the Genesis GV60 was much closer to the Mustang Mach-E lineup in terms of price ($70-80K for Genesis to $57-92K for Ford). The GV60 we were offered also boasts up to 483 horsepower in Boost mode (though generally 429 hp), which also matches up nicely with the Mustang Mach-E’s maximum 480 hp. To top it all off, both models’ top trims get the “Performance” label to let you know they mean business, so we ended up with the Genesis GV60 Performance vs Ford Mustang Mach-e Performance Edition.

While we also went into this comparison planning to focus on said performance and their EV qualities, Mother Nature had a little something to say about that and threw an epic storm at us on our shoot day. Being the fearless Canadians we are, we turned the snowstorm into a testing opportunity and took a closer look at their behaviour in these worst of winter conditions, but at the end of the day, we wanted to determine which of these is the better year-round performance EV. 

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Sami Haj-Assaad: In terms of performance, the Mustang nameplate has a storied history, though hardcore enthusiasts have been vocally unpleased about seeing the pony logo on an electric crossover. However, after one spirited spin around the block or your favourite backroads, those concerns fade away. The Mustang Mach-E GT Performance feels like it can stick the fun-to-drive elements despite its size and weight. 

The 480-hp powertrain is responsive and pushes the speeds beyond reasonable limits. However, the firm ride, direct feeling steering and stiff chassis help communicate how much grip is available and how to keep the EV on the road at top speed. 

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The GV60 boasts plenty of power as well, peaking at 483 hp, which helps the Korean EV keep up with the Mustang, at least in a straight line. Both cars can sprint from zero to 100 km/h in under four seconds, while the GV60 has an extreme boost mode (triggered by a tempting “BOOST” button on the steering wheel) that amps the powertrain to 11, enabling immediate passes or instant progression through intersections. 

However, unlike the Mustang Mach-E, the GV60 doesn’t feel as confident or responsive at higher speeds. It can’t hide its weight, and some moments suggest that there’s more power here than the chassis can handle. It’s as though Genesis is walking the line between delivering a luxurious ride and an exhilarating experience. There’s a lot of body roll, which feels unpleasant when pushing the limits of the torquey crossover on a windy road. Somehow, while feeling floaty in motion, the GV60 can also feel stiff and crashy at times. The adaptive suspension is to blame here, not feeling up to the task when we wanted it the most.

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That’s not to say the GV60 is wholly unpleasant to drive though. The cabin is serene and loaded with cool technology that enhances the overall experience.  There are two 12.3-inch displays in the cockpit; one plays the role of gauge cluster, while the other is for infotainment duties. These screens look and act like modern tech, something that can’t be said about the tiny, rectangular, digital dash found on the Ford. 

We also can’t discount the fact that the cabin of the Genesis also features physical controls for commonly used items. Things like heated seats, HVAC settings and switching pages on the infotainment system are infinitely quicker and easier to control on the GV60 than they are on the Mustang, which requires additional tapping and could potentially ask drivers to take their eyes off the road to accomplish simple tasks. 

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The Genesis also feels a bit more customizable, with additional drive modes and fine-tuning of various settings. You can change the look of the dash, you can customize a drive mode, enjoy multiple levels of regenerative braking, and there’s even a snow mode, which was helpful during our testing. In comparison, The Ford has fewer custom settings, only one regen setting, and three vaguely named drive modes. It asks you if today’s drive calls for Whisper, Engage or Unbridled mode, which feels a bit more conceptual than practical. 

JY: Despite the Mach-e’s so-called drive modes, they felt barely distinguishable and none of them had any chill. On the flipside, it was the Ford Mustang Mach-e that felt more comfortable in the freak snowstorm that pounded us on shoot day. Both cars were competent at harnessing their AWD and doling out electrons to all four wheels (both cars equipped with identical snow tires) to get the cars rolling confidently. Under braking however, the Genesis GV60 would squirm at the slightest lift off the throttle even in its snow mode with regen braking minimized, whereas the Ford maintained a steady line and balance, giving confidence when braking and turning in the deep snow.

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Compare Genesis GV60 vs Mustang Mach-e specs

The quality of the ride was in stark contrast with the quality of the interiors. Inside the cabin, the Genesis had the clear edge, with soft-touch materials and solid switchgear and a pleasing, cohesive look. The Mustang Mach-e impresses with its massive vertical screen, but the main controller dial felt, light, flimsy, and rickety. A very poor execution for the primary point of contact with the system, not just in comparison with the GV60, but even in isolation for a car costing north of $90,000. Elsewhere in the cabin, Ford managed some cool looks and materials, but the hard plastics creep in everywhere and are hard to ignore. Not only is the Genesis solidly built, but the flourishes like the transmission shifter that flips over and is lit from within and unique features like a fingerprint scanner, massaging seats, and self parking from the fob create a package that has a true sense of occasion and high-tech luxury.

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When it comes to practicality, the GV60 is a bit smaller (about 8 inches or 20 centimetres shorter in length), so the cargo area is a bit small compared to the Mach-e. There’s just 680 litres of storage, compared to over 800L in the Mustang, while folding down the seats in the Genesis results in 1,550 L to the Mustang’s total of 1,690. And although the head-, leg-, and hiproom measurements are all within an inch, the Mustang Mach-e felt more spacious and comfortable for adult occupants. 

The other aspect of practicality that is almost too close to call is charging and range. Yes, the Mustang Mach-e claims a range of 418 km from a 91-kWh battery compared to the GV60’s 378 km with just a 77.4-kWh battery pack, but the Mustang’s always-on performance mentality meant it was consuming energy more quickly compared to the GV60 in Eco mode with more aggressive regen braking. Granted, the temperature and cruising speed would have a greater impact than the regen braking over longer trip, but the GV60 also claims a better charging rate and because its battery is smaller, it promises 10 to 80 per cent charge in less than 20 minutes if you can find an ultrafast DC charger that will actually put out 300 kW charging. The Mustang Mach-e is limited to maximum 150 kW charging, and Ford does not publish ideal charging scenarios, but safe to assume it would take longer with a bigger battery and slightly lower rated onboard charger (10.5 Kw to 10.9). Then again, it’s rare to see even the best chargers operating at more than 50 kW, so it’s all a bit theoretical.

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SHA: The term value is thrown around a lot, and frankly, it’s a tough topic to discuss with these two specific rides. The Mustang Mach-E boasts a starting price of $59,190, but this GT Performance model is a whopping $85,190, but topping 90 when you add in $5K in options plus $1,995 destination fee. Its interior doesn’t live up to that price, but I’m willing to say the supercar-rivalling acceleration is a thrill that’s worthy of that asking price. The car handles closer to a sport sedan and can be enjoyable to drive both in humdrum situations and spirited sprints through windy roads. As an enthusiast, it’s the one I feel myself gravitating to, but the interior and implementation of its technology have me hesitating to commit.

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The Genesis GV60 starts at $71,000 and feels like a value-packed luxury car at that price. The $79,000 Performance model adds many appreciated features, but bestowing a ‘Performance’ moniker upon it doesn’t feel right. I was happiest in the GV60 when I could appreciate its cabin and technology, but lost interest whenever I was hustling it through corners or putting it through its paces. It was especially less confident in fresh snow.

The choice is yours in the end. Those after the jack-of-all-trades, speed-oriented-EV will be satisfied with the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT. If all you need is some zero-emissions luxury, then the Genesis GV60 is the right choice, in either of its trims. Just don’t expect it to have the thrill and driving joy of the Mach-E.

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JY: You hit the nail on the head, Sami. If you are looking for a more well-rounded EV that doesn’t necessarily skew specifically toward luxury feature overload or sporty performance, the car that was originally supposed to be in this comparison needs to be mentioned. Our long-term test has shown that the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is capable of both efficient comfort and spirited performance at $62K, if not on the level of the top-trim $90K Mustang Mach-E GT, and it was an absolute champ throughout the winter months and loaded with all the expected features at a relative bargain compared to these two.

However, the Ioniq 5 was not in this comparison, and this comparison and the variety of conditions we drove in showed that the Genesis was a value-packed but flawed luxury EV, while the Mach-E was a steeply priced performance EV. While each has its own unique niche, the Ford Mustang Mach-e wins this comparison because, in addition to living up to its performance EV mission, it proved itself the better winter-weather champ, a necessity in this country and its long, harsh winters.

Check out the latest Ford Mustang Mach-e and Genesis GV60 models.