In the beginning, there was the Hyundai Genesis, the Korean carmaker’s first attempt to create a high-line sedan. Today, Genesis is an independent luxury brand with a fast-growing lineup of sedans and SUVs.
The latest addition: the GV60, an all-electric SUV that could get Tesla buyers to think twice about buying a Model Y. To get a good feel for the 2023 Genesis GV60, GearJunkie headed to Hollywood for a first drive.
This is turning into a big year for EV buyers, with the number of battery-electric vehicles in U.S. showrooms expected to triple. Suddenly, those who saw Tesla as their only option have reason to reconsider. And few of the new models we’ve tested pose a better alternative than the 2023 Genesis GV60.
While neither the fastest nor longest-range model in the compact SUV segment, it has plenty to offer, including good performance, ride, and handling, as well as distinctive exterior design and a truly luxurious and high-touch interior.
It’s worth a closer look by those who might have been thinking Model Y — or one of the other new luxury crossovers, such as the Polestar 2, Volvo C40 Recharge, or Cadillac Lyriq.
The GV60 also introduces a variety of high-tech features, starting with the facial and fingerprint recognition systems that let you drive without bringing a key along. The biggest challenge for the South Korean carmaker, and the GV60, is a lack of awareness of a brand that deserves more attention.
The Genesis of Genesis
Long-time luxury car fans might recall that the Genesis badge first appeared on a midsize Hyundai model in 2009. It was a shocking shift for a brand long focused on small economy cars — and it won a number of awards, among other things, North American Car of the Year (NACTOY).
The Korean automaker subsequently spun Genesis off as a standalone brand, its original GV90 debuting in 2017. Since then, the luxury marque has rolled out a series of well-received new models, including the GV70 sedan that scored another NACTOY win in 2019.
Like mainstream Hyundai, Genesis has laid out an aggressive electrification program. That started with the electrified G80 sedan and electrified GV70 SUV. Both are modified versions of existing gas models.
The GV60, on the other hand, is a ground-up EV. It rides on the same E-GMP architecture, a skateboard-like platform that will be used for future Genesis battery-electric vehicles (and which is shared with products like the new Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6).