Grasso’s Garage: Genesis does it again … EV style

In Grasso’s Garage, it’s all about comfort, style and power. As you know, my avid readers enjoy knowing about the most popular, most attractive or even the newest to the market vehicles that fit their needs and/or price category.

This week we experienced the 2023 Genesis GV60, Genesis’ first electric vehicle on the market. With the plan being to go all electric by 2030, the beginning is here.

If you think back, we recently reviewed Hyundai’s IONIQ5, the hatchback EV that was really ahead of its game for the current market in both technology and style. The same goes for Genesis and the GV60. More power and more tech, but with less of a driving range. In the Advanced package, the range was 256 miles, while our Performance tester was 235 miles on a single charge. Both packages came with dual motors and in comparison to the IONIQ5 and Kia EV6, we notice a lot of similarities; with the exception of Boost mode … ohhh it gets better!

The GV60 offered 314 horsepower while the performance package offered 429, both generated the same torque, with 446 lb.-ft. But with the 10-second Boost mode option, right on your steering wheel with a push of a button, we got 483 horsepower and 516 lb.-ft. of torque, but only for 10 seconds at a time. That time came in at 4 seconds flat, zero to 60.

With outside competitors like the Audi Q4 E-tron and Mercedes EQB trying to steal the show, we really enjoyed the Genesis GV60, keeping in mind it was not a comparison to the Tesla Model Y.

On the interior, it was all style and luxury. Curiosity was raised by a crystal ball on the center console, which flipped over into a shifter scroll, turn dial, that went hiding when turned off, pretty neat. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch infotainment system were very techy and had some “German-like” engineering struggles that we would see in Mercedes and BMW. Face Connect is a new feature to the Genesis fleet, offering you the ability to no longer carry a key and look into a camera positioned on the driver’s side exterior door panel, look into it, and the doors unlock; genius if you ask me.

Genesis has no problem being an upscale brand in a priced-right market. With its recent confirmation of going all EV by 2030, we anticipate some pretty nicely designed, futuristic models hitting the showroom floors soon. For the GV60, or the upscale IONIQ5, we love it. It is spacious, comfortable and offers tons of tech. We hope to see a longer-range option in the next generation, giving consumers that ability to go further, quicker.

Grasso’s Garage is here for you! Are you in the market for a new car? I would be happy to provide my honest input. All you have to do is email me: [email protected].

Genesis GV60

MSRP: $67,890

As tested: $70,485

MPGe:  97 city, 82 highway, 90.0 as tested