Hyundai’s luxury brand, Genesis, launched its redesigned GV60 in Advanced model guise and new high-performance GV60 Magma on a drive program in Canberra last week.
Don’t groan.
Venture outside the Parliamentary Triangle and the ACT is charming suburbs, mountain ranges, national forests and spectacular winding roads, with the best pies and almond croissants I’ve had in a long time at Sonoma, in Braddon, that feels just like Leederville back home.
The GV60 is one of five Genesis models available in Australia. It’s electric — initially introduced in 2022 with two all-wheel-drive variants that have been scrapped for one rear-wheel-drive model we have on test here that’s $15,000 cheaper than before.
You’re looking at $88,300 before on-road costs for the Advanced (matte paint is an extra $4000), so it’s strategically positioned below the luxury tax threshold for fuel-efficient vehicles ($91,661), making it eligible for full fringe benefits tax exemptions for novated lease buyers — till the end of March 2027, at least (but not from April 1, 2027, so check the rules if you’re tossing up a purchase).
This wrap-up is about the GV60 Advanced. You’ll have to wait till next week for the GV60 Magma, which is $130,000, plus on roads, and quite a different car.
What’s new
A single rear-mounted motor producing 168kW/350Nm replaces the previous dual-motor AWD set-up with 234kW/605Nm in base guise, which is a notable step down — but range has increased to 561km WLTP (previously 470km) with a bigger fourth-gen 84kWh battery (previously 77.4kWh).
There’s still the same 400/800V multi-charging system, which means you can top up from 10 to 80 per cent in about 18 minutes using a 350kW charger, plus an upgraded battery conditioning system. Realistically, you’re likely to see charging capacity peak around 265kW.
Outside, the GV60 Advanced gets a redesigned front bumper and rear bumper with diffuser, micro-lens array headlights, five-spoke 19-inch alloys and a new “aerodynamic” underbody cover that drops the drag coefficient — a measure of energy efficiency — to 0.28, which is pretty good for an SUV.
Inside, it’s a whole new look with the 27-inch OLED panoramic display that combines infotainment and driver information systems, a three-spoke steering wheel, leather seats (just get the two-tone Glacier White/Ash Grey), dashboard and door trim, plus an enchanting crystal sphere that swirls into a shift-by-wire selector when you press the start button.
Key tech features include an upgraded over-the-air update controller and Digital Key 2.0 that can be shared with 15 friends (I don’t have that many) with both near-field communication and ultra-wideband technology, which lets you use your smartphone or smartwatch to lock and unlock the car from about one metre away, as well as start the engine.
In practice this means that smart devices with UWB function can control the vehicle without touch, while smartphones without UWB can use NFC by tapping the device against the door handle to open the car, and on the NFC wireless reader to start the car.
The lowdown
+ Rear-wheel drive
+ Battery: 84kWh lithium-ion
+ Claimed range: 561km WLTP
+ Outputs: 168kW/350Nm
+ Energy use: 18.5kWh/100km
+ 0-100km/h: 7.8 seconds
+ Maximum speed: 185km/h
+ Drag coefficient: 0.28 Cd
+ Tare mass: 2075kg
+ Braked towing capacity: 1600kg
Safety
The GV60’s five-star ANCAP safety rating is carried over for the 2027 model year, with the Advanced including a full suite of driver aids, including a forward collision-avoidance system that detects vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles, plus an upgraded advanced driver assistance system that has additional lane-keeping features and a hands-on detection steering wheel.
The drive
Easy and effortless.
Think of it as a smooth operator — yes, like the song by Sade — and I’m sure it will be loved in seven languages.
Unfortunately, only the Magma comes with 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio.
But the Advanced has had some suspension upgrades, better soundproofing and windscreen sealing for a smoother and quieter ride.
You’re looking at a 2-tonne EV that feels like a magic carpet ride. It’s a pure delight to drive around town and feels more like a “conventional” car than an aggressive EV, with strong, linear acceleration that benefits, in part, from the rear motor set-up.
There’s weight here, but you don’t feel it, and the 19-inch alloys have tyres with relatively thick sidewalls — 235/55 Michelin Primacy 4s — that do a good job of absorbing road surface bumps.
Steering is light, maybe a touch too light for me, even in Sport, but this is the way it’s tuned and makes for easy manoeuvrability all round.
Handling is stable. This is a luxury cruiser, after all.
For a moment, heading out on a 53km loop from the National Arboretum, in Yarralumla, around Mount Stromlo Observatory through Uriarra Village, I wonder if it has air suspension (it hasn’t), because I feel a bit of floatiness at 100km/h, something you’re unlikely to get in, say, a sports SUV — but think of it more as embracing the road rather than attacking it.
I don’t notice much difference between Eco, Comfort and Sport modes (there’s also Snow and you can set custom steering and braking), certainly not at speed, though acceleration is obviously sprightlier in Sport than in Eco.
There’s minimal outside noise in the cabin, even at 100km/h, and I keep it largely in Sport with level 3 regen because it means I can just ease off the accelerator going into bends.
But even i-Pedal is immaculately calibrated, so there’s no jerkiness driving.
All up, improvements in the braking system reduce abruptness during acceleration and regen braking, which matters — it reduces the motion sickness that EVs are known for — and allows for smoother acceleration and deceleration.
The ADAS is non-intrusive, apart from intermittent lane beeps on winding roads — and usually I would turn off the lane-keeping assist in conditions like this, but it’s no big deal in the car.
Energy use is 17.7kWh/100km, so not far off the 16.7kWh/100km claimed.
Warranty and servicing
The GV60 comes with a five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty, five years of complimentary scheduled servicing as part of Genesis To You, which means the car is picked up and dropped off at your location so long as it’s within 50km of the nearest authorised service outlet, and complimentary roadside assistance.
If you know, you know
Genesis was originally a model name in Hyundai’s line-up till it was spun off as a separate luxury division in 2015, launching in Australia in 2019 with the internal combustion engine G70 and G80.
It’s still somewhat of a dark horse here, the range Down Under taking in the G70 and G80 sedans and the GV60, GV70 and GV80 SUVs.
Think of it as Lexus to Toyota, though Genesis hasn’t quite differentiated itself as much in Australia from its parent company — yet.
If you can get over brand snobbery, there’s a lot of value here compared with the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which it’s set out to rival.
Genesis Motors Australia head Justin Douglass said the GV70 — which comes in both internal combustion engine and electric powertrains — is by far the best seller, accounting for 70 per cent of the brand’s market share.
“We do attract an older demographic, but as more and more people discover our halo models, like the Magma, it will appeal more to a youth element,” he said, adding that a new platform was in the works and would accommodate a variety of electrified powertrains, including an extended-range electric vehicle — but wouldn’t commit to a Genesis ute, just yet, though was open to suggestions.
OK, that was a trick question.
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