Tested: 2023 Genesis GV60 EV – A Plush, Handsome Nervous Nellie

It is nice to be pleasantly surprised by the looks of any Genesis, and I was by the GV60 EV. It’s an original, tasteful design inside and out and it doesn’t resemble anything else on the road. It also delivers rocket-like acceleration from a dead stop, something every EV owner enjoys, and there’s even a wheel-mounted button you can push and get extra velocity as you please. Is there is a Cayenne next to you at a red light? When it turns green, you’ll go head to head. (Almost.) Let’s check it out.

Body

It is a charming “clamshell” SUV with flush doorhandles which, when the camera on the “B” pillar recognizes you, will make said doorhandles open. It got plenty of stares and compliments during the week’s test.

Inside

It’s pleasingly wide, spare and uncluttered, with much body room in the front and a big center console that’ll fit your Gulp. The upholstery has unique and clever touches like blue upholstery stitched in lime-green.

The driver’s chair is comfortable and pleasant, and visibility all around is good. You’ll look forward to sitting in it as well as driving it.

Range: Just ok

Every GV60 EV arrives with a 77.4-kWh battery pack. The EPA says the all-wheel drive GV60 Advanced will deliver 248 miles of driving range, with the Performance trim bringing an estimated of 235. Neither is impressive, especially after spending a recent week with Mercedes-Benz’s EQE and its 300-ish miles of range. The good news is that you can, when hooked to a DC fast charger, get an 80% charge in under 20 minutes.

Performance

Two all-electric powertrain choices are available. The base Advanced trim gets two motors making 314 horsepower and 446 pounds-feet of torque, sent to all four wheels. A Performance trim delivers 429 hp and 446 pounds-feet of torque, but you can get 483 hp and 516 pounds-feet of torque for up to 10 seconds if you press the “Boost” button.

You’ll do zero to 60 in under 4 seconds, making this truly a speedy blaster-offer. It took turns reasonably well but not it’s not a “corner carver.” Its brakes are A-plus – when you step on that pedal, you stop, period. (The EQE’s brakes had been a mushy experience.)

Tech

There’s a reconfigurable 12.3-inch gauge cluster in front of the driver, seamlessly connected to the 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen to its right. Apple Car Play and Android Auto are not available in wireless; a cord must be used. The list of modern gadgetry is vast. For instance –

With the Digital Key app, the vehicle can be shared with other drivers. The app can remember your radio presets and seat position and those of a registered user. You’ll have help finding the car in parking lots, be able to keep an eye on your range, call roadside assistance and more. You can also receive software updates and update the infotainment and nav sys without having to go to the dealer. If all this sounds a bit big brother, everything is encrypted and kept within the car; only the driver can access it or wipe it out when the time is right.

Safety features galore

“If it saves a single life, it’s worth it” is a credo no one with a heart can argue against. And yet I cannot remember the last time I was bombarded with such constant corrective and unnecessary noise from a modern automobile. My biggest gripe is that the car “thinks” I’m going to hit something – or what? It beeps loudly at you while you’re changing lanes or traveling at speed and scares the crap out of you – but it never tells you what the problem is. I finally took to saying “What’s wrong, baby?” but basically ignoring every “You’re wandering out of your lane” or “Consider taking a break” or any noise pitched my way from this infernal safety system which cannot be disabled.

This is not to take away from the many and innovative aspects of the software itself, however. A forward collision avoidance system capable of detecting pedestrians and cyclists, parking collision avoidance, blind-spot collision avoidance, a highway driving-oriented adaptive cruise control, and a remote parking system are all here. You can even get out of the car and remotely park it.

Price

A base Advanced trim begins at $60,385 and the Performance trim, our tester, starts at a considerably higher $69,385. These prices, however, don’t guarantee you can get a GV60 any time soon as availability is limited – ask your dealer.

Conclusion: Install a “disable” button on all alarms, Genesis, and you’ve got my endorsement. For everyone else, if you don’t mind a machine constantly on your back about your driving, or you are hearing-impaired, this is your ride.