Let’s get this out of the way quickly: If you want to buy a Tesla Model Y, go for it. The vehicle has a lot to offer and is a popular choice. However, if you want a better vehicle with more luxury features, controls that are not a tablet glued to your dash, and a better warranty, you should consider the Genesis GV60 Performance AWD.
The GV60 is in what may well be the hottest automotive segment today. It’s a crossover hatchback that is battery-electric. Segments overlap in the automotive world, and this one is in a few that are getting a lot of attention right now. We’ll offer our insights on the GV60 Performance as a vehicle and separately as a battery-electric vehicle. We won't make you wait—it’s one of the best in both regards.
2024 Genesis GV60 Performance AWD - Does It Really Exist?
Many great electric vehicles are imaginary. The automotive media hype them, but they are not actually for sale, or are made in tiny numbers. We checked the availability of the 2024 GV60 near Metro Boston and found dozens in stock at local dealers, ready for immediate delivery. We phoned and asked specifically about the VIN of some to ensure the online inventory matched the physical inventory on the lot, and it did. Our specific examples were GV60 Performance AWD models. So, yes, the GV60 Performance is a real vehicle that can be purchased. At least in Metro Boston.
2024 Genesis GV60 Performance AWD - What’s It Cost?
Examples we found in stock had a consumer cost before dealer documentation fee of $71,950. Dealers in our area were also offering $7,500 discounts at the time of this story’s publication.
2024 Genesis GV60 Performance AWD - Is it Really a Performance Vehicle?
Yes, the GV60 Performance AWD walks the walk. It has over 500 lb-ft of torque and accelerates like a ball shot out of a cannon. We don’t care much about 0-60 MPH times generally, but this is a high-performance model, so we will tell you that Motor Trend reports that they observed a 3.6-second 0-60 MPH time. We believe it. The thing is crazy fast.
The GV60 Performace even has a Boost button on the steering wheel that is a quick and easy way to prep the vehicle for a burst of speed. We like it MUCH MORE than a Sport Mode. It’s not launch control. Rather, it just gets the vehicle ready to sprint at any speed and in any situation.
We didn't track the GV60 Performace AWD, but it felt like it handled curves and turns nicely on public roads at speeds that would not result in arrest. Brakes are good, but not sports-car great. Like all BEVs, it is very heavy, so the vehicle feels great in normal driving, but we would expect it to do the funky chicken if asked to pretend to be a racecar. We suspect that precisely zero Genesis shoppers will ever track this vehicle. On public roads its offers more performance than any sane buyer could put to good use.
2024 Genesis GV60 Performance AWD - Why We LOVE It.
The GV60 is one of this reviewer's favorite vehicles overall. I’d list it with the Mazda Miata, Toyota GR86, and Dodge Challenger/Charger as vehicles I’d love to hop in and go drive. It’s that fun and that satisfying. Now, mind you, its personality is not like those other three. It’s comfortable, it’s a great daily driver, and it is a straight-up luxury car. Plus, it can be stupid fast if you feel that itch needs scratching.
We love the little things Genesis does. For example, the seat controls on the side of the front passenger seat facing the driver. These are super handy, and I used them most days. They allow you to be a nice parent and move a seat forward if a child will be sitting in back, or be a gentleman and move the seat back if a front passenger is going to occupy that seat.
The gear selector is the best in the world. It is a rotary knob but is also an orb of awesomeness. It is crystal and it glows at night. Genesis trumps every other brand here.
The seats are fantastic. Heated. Cooled. Massage (sort of). Made of high-quality real leather, not faux-green plastic or hemp. They are also very comfortable and sized to fit real adults.
2024 Genesis GV60 Performance AWD - Two Ways It Could Be Better
There are two things missing from this near-perfect car.
1) It has no spare tire.
2) It has wired Android Auto.
Add a spare, make AA wireless, and this thing is as perfect as can ever be imagined.
2024 Genesis GV60 Performance AWD - Living Electric
The GV60 uses modern EV technology so that it can charge as fast as the fastest BEVs in production. In our testing, it charged faster than any other vehicle on DC fast chargers, and it can add energy from an L2 charger at a 10.9 kW rate. The official spec for DC fast charging is 350 kW (in the middle of its charging curve). It doesn’t get any better than this in 2024.
The EPA range is 235 miles, which is short for its segment. However, in our testing in super-hot temps in the 90F range, it seemed to closely match or exceed that. We observed an estimated total range of 258 miles, and the driven miles seemed to match that. Would we buy this vehicle for long highway hauls in the winter? Nope. We’d buy a hybrid like a Toyota Venza instead. But if this is your second vehicle and your other one is a long-range model like a hybrid, then why worry about range? Particularly since its charge time is best in class? We wish to also mention that there is a RWD version of this car with an EPA-rated range of 294 miles, but we have not tested it.
2024 Genesis GV60 Performance AWD - Closing Arguments
If you are a Tesla fan, you will see nothing but reasons not to like the Genesis GV60. However, if you are not a Tesla fanboy, give the GV60 Performance AWD drive a look to see if it falls within your budget range. This is a fantastic vehicle with one of the best warranties in the world, which spans ten years or 100,000 miles. Genesis even includes the first three years of maintenance and offers concierge service. If you are looking for the best luxury-performance crossover BEV from the company with the best ownership package, you’ve found it.
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John Goreham is an experienced New England Motor Press Association member and expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on Linkedin and follow his work at our X channel. Please note that stories carrying John's by-line are never AI-generated, but he does employ Grammarly grammar and punctuation software when proofreading.
2024 Genesis GV60 Performance AWD images by John Goreham
Comments
It's a tarted up Kia EV6 GT…
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It's a tarted up Kia EV6 GT with a notch in the trim that truncates its length and makes it look stumpy. BFD. And still no rear wiper.