Genesis GV60 vs Polestar 2 Luxury Electric Performance with a European Flair

Comparison: 2022 Genesis GV60 Vs. EV Crossover Rivals From Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Tesla And More

Hyundai and Kia have already wowed us with the Ioniq 5 and EV6 EV crossovers, and now its the turn of sister brand Genesis to show what it can do with the groups E-GMP electric platform.

The Genesis GV60s chassis architecture and EV powertrains closely follow those of its sister cars, but this being a Genesis, its being pitched at a more upmarket crowd. Lets find out how it stacks up on paper against those premium rivals, and a blue-collar EV with enough street cred to turn even snobby heads.

Read More: 2022 Genesis GV60 Electric Crossover Is Here And Were Intrigued

The EV crossover markets youth means theres more variation among the cars than in other sectors in terms of size and price. But the cars were highlighting are all fully electric machines with plenty of ground clearance and liftback designs. And most have the option of a single motor and two-wheel drive, or two motors and all-wheel drive. Which would you pick?

Genesis GV60

Price range: $50-60,000 / 45-55,000 (both est) Wheelbase: 114-in. / 2,900 mm (est) On sale: early 2022 (est)

Although Genesis has released the first official images of its new EV crossover, including its strange Crystal Sphere shifter and digital mirrors, it didnt reveal much technical or marketing details about the car itself. So we can only speculate for now on its exact size and cost.

But since its essentially a re-skin of the Kia EV6, were not totally flying blind. Given the GV60s premium positioning, it might well skip the entry-level EV6s 167 hp single-motor configuration and go straight to the 218 hp version of the same motor that should deliver 300 miles of range.

An AWD version with around 313 hp is a certainty, and crucially, all variants will have 800v charging capabilities that will take a battery from 10-80 per cent in as little as 18 minutes.

Will it get the supercar-slaying EV6 GT range-toppers 576 hp powertrain? Possibly, but since the Genesis philosophy is about refinement rather than all-out performance, we wouldnt bank on it.

Audi Q4 e-tron

Price range: $45,000-55,000 (est) / 40,750-66,750 Wheelbase: 108.8-in. / 2,764 mm On sale: late 2021 (already available in Europe)

The Q4 e-tron is the most luxurious car yet created from the VW MEB platform that also forms the basis of cars like the Skoda Eniyaq iV, Cupra Born and VW ID.3 and ID.4.

It comes in regular hatch and more slippery Sportback shapes (the latter adding 7 miles of driving range) and noteworthy tech includes an augmented reality head-up display similar to the one available on the Mercedes S-Class.

Depending on the market, base 35 e-tron cars get a 52 kWh battery and 168 hp motor that delivers a so-so 208-mile WLTP range and zero to 62 mph in 9 seconds. The Q4 40 e-tron which is the entry-level model in the U.S. range is equipped with a larger 77kWh battery and a 201 hp motor, shaving the 0-62 mph sprint time to 8.5 seconds and boosting range to 316 miles.

Other versions include a 261 hp bi-motor 45 Quattro and a 295 hp 50 Quattro, though the 6.2-second 0-60 mph time means even the fastest Q4 is slow by EV standards.

Ford Mustang Mach-E

Price range: $42,895-64,900 / 40,350-67,225 Wheelbase: 117.5-in. / 2,984 mm On sale: now

The ICE Mustangs forward-thinking brother is outselling the retro-styled original, and even if the link between the two is tenuous, the Mach-E is a great car in its own right, and cool enough to overcome its non-premium badge.

Handsome, roomy and boasting a Tesla-like minimalist interior dominated by a giant touchscreen, its also fun to drive, if not as stable or refined as some of the VW MEB-platform cars.

The range kicks off with a 266 hp single-motor version that sends you to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, but the twin-motor AWD Premium boosts power to 346 hp and cuts the 60 mph time as low as 4.8 seconds. Still not fast enough? You can get the Mach-E GT with the optional Performance pack that does the job in just 3.5 seconds.

Polestar 2

Price range: $45,900-49,900 / 39,900-45,900 Wheelbase: 107.7-in. / 2,735 mm On sale: now

This four-door EV is more sedan than crossover, but with the right kind of badge, a raised ride height, and some solid electrical tech under the skin, the Polestar 2 could well be on a GV60 buyers radar.

The original line-up comprised a single powertrain setup that placed a motor over each axle. With a total output of 402 hp and 487 lb ft it can crack 60 mph in under 5 seconds. The downside is a fairly poor 249-mile EPA range.

If youre willing to sacrifice some performance you can raise that to 265 miles by choosing the new 231-hp single motor model; European buyers also get the choice of marrying the single motor with a smaller battery.

Like the idea, but not the styling? Sister brand Volvos XC40 Recharge SUV and C40 Recharge crossover are very similar under the skin.

Tesla Model Y

Price range: $53,990-60,990 / 49,000-58,000 (GBP est) Wheelbase: 113.2-in. / 2,875 mm On sale: now (autumn in Europe)

The hugely popular Model 3 sedans SUV alter ego gets a liftback body, more headroom and ground clearance, plus the option of a third row of seats, but otherwise its a similar recipe.

Unlike the less expensive Model 3 though, which starts off with a single-motor, rear-wheel drive model, all Model Ys get two motors and all-wheel drive.

The simple two-tier lineup starts at $54k for the Long Range, which the EPA says will do 326 miles on a charge and can hit 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. Step up to the Performance models and youll storm past 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, but the range is pegged back to around 300 miles.

Mercedes-Benz EQB 350

Price range: $57,000-67,000 / 48-58,000 (both est) Wheelbase: 111.4-in. / 2,829 mm On sale: early 2022 (U.S.), late 2021 (Europe)

Unlike the other cars here, which were built from the ground up as EVs, Mercs EQB can trace its DNA to the gas-engined GLB. For buyers on a budget, or who dont need much space, theres also the EQA, but the EQB is the GV60s more natural rival.

Besides the Tesla Model Y, this is the only EV here to offer seating for seven but dont expect to put any NFL or NBA buddies in the third row.

Mercedes hasnt yet detailed the full EQB line-up, but eventually buyers will be able to choose from front- and all-wheel drive configurations, as well as different power outputs and battery sizes, depending on where they are in the world.

The EQB 350 4Matic announced for Europe has a pair of motors producing a combined 288 hp for 0-62 mph in around 6.2 seconds and 260 miles of WLTP driving range, while the single motor EQB 250 makes just 187 hp.

BMW iX

Price range: $83,200 / 69,905-94,905 Wheelbase: 118.1-in. / 3,000 mm On sale: order now, delivery 2022

BMWs most controversially-styled car yet is a much more expensive machine than the GV. The only model confirmed for the U.S. is the dual-motor iX xDrive50 that makes 516 hp, is rated at 300 miles of electric driving thanks to a colossal 111.5 kWh battery, and costs a hefty $83k.

European buyers get the xDrive50, too, but they also get the option of a dual-motor iX xDrive40 with a 70 kWh battery pack that is rated for 249 WLTP miles on a charge, makes 322 hp and costs 25 per cent less.

Neither model is a direct rival for the GV60, but the iX3 is. Unfortunately for clean-living North American BMW fans, though, this EV derivative of the regular X3 SUV isnt available in the U.S.

Tested: 2023 Genesis GV60 Is Like at First Sight

UPDATE 7/8/22: This review has been updated with test results for a Performance AWD model.

Before it lets you in, the Genesis GV60 takes a deep look into your eyes. Don't get too excited, its stare isn't a romantic one. A small camera on the B-pillar gives you a once-over and then unlocks the doors. Once you're in, there's more getting to know you because to start it, you touch a fingerprint-recognition button on the center console. The car is electric, though, so you're not really starting anything.

The GV60 is Genesis's first EV. Without an engine that whirrs to life, the telltale sign you've turned on the GV60 is that the glass-like sphere in the center console rotates around to reveal a shifter. It's a novel bit of design and one we expect will soon spread to the rest of the Genesis range. Like the other Genesis models, the interior has a clean and uncluttered appearance. A glass panel as wide as the Mississippi houses two 12.3-inch displays: gauges directly ahead of the driver and a center touchscreen. Unfortunately, phone mirroring (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) requires a cord, even as wireless systems are becoming the normone of the few missteps in the GV60.

Built on the E-GMP architecture, a dedicated EV platform shared with the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, the GV60 comes in a crossover shapea sleek and attractive one at that. A clamshell hood hides a small storage space up front, and behind the second row there's 24 cubic feet of space, enough for a full complement of luggage. The brand's signature split headlight design makes an appearance, as does the winged badge, although it's slimmer and less in your face than on other models. Two versions, both with all-wheel drive and dual motors, will be available at launch: The Advanced AWD model totals 314 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque, while the Performance AWD trim delivers 429 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque with a brief "overboost" of 483 horses and 516 lb-ft available for 10 seconds of silliness.

From our time with the more powerful Performance version, we can report that from a stop with the overboost activated, the front motor briefly overwhelms the front tires despite the rears also being driven. The run to 60 mph takes a mere 3.7 seconds, and the quarter-mile passes in 12.2 seconds at 112 mph.

Tackle a few bends, and the GV60 corners securely and has a liveliness borne of its quick steering. An electronic limited-slip differential in back keeps power flowing to both sides of the road, and the front-to-rear torque split lends a rear-drive attitude. The harder you push, though, the more you're made aware of its 4862-pound curb weight as the 21-inch Michelin Primacy Tour A/S tires begin to audibly protest. Our test car mustered only 0.83 g of grip around the skidpad and needed 180 feet to stop from 70 mphadequate but hardly invigorating figures. An adjustable multi-stage regen system that's capable of one-pedal driving keeps the brakes from feeling much stress. Body control is good, and the handling is Porsche Macan-like, except the Genesis doesn't futz with downshifts and upshiftsit just goes.

Quiet and refined, the GV60 is a convincing luxury vehicle if you drive it calmly. A camera-based system that scans the road ahead keeps the adaptive dampers supple over bumps, though we did notice some unsettledness from its rear end during harder cornering on uneven pavement. But that may just have been the result of its camera not reading the road surface clearly. Turn off the ridiculous and headache-inducing Jetsons sound effects that whoosh and whirr in response to accelerator positionand there are a number to choose fromand there's near silence thanks to the absence of road and wind noise. Perhaps some credit is due to the active noise-cancellation system with eight microphones that plays through the audio system's 17 speakers. Whether it's the noise cancellation or the sound deadening or the aero package, the GV60 is a quiet machine, registering just 64 decibels inside the cabin at 70 mph. Even at full whack, this Genesis is eminently hushed.

A 77.4-kWh battery provides 248 miles (Advanced) or 235 miles (Performance) of EPA range; we were able to coax a reasonable 200 miles from our test car on our 75-mph highway route. A Level 2 charger will replenish the battery from 10 to 100 percent in about seven hours. Hook up to an 800-volt DC fast-charger, and the battery can go from 10 to 80 percent in a claimed 18 minutes. The Advanced AWD model starts at $59,985, roughly $11,000 more than this same powertrain in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 but less than $4000 more than that car's top Limited trim. The Performance AWD variant starts at a dearer $68,985, which can seem like a lot for a compact SUV. But from its strong acceleration to its refinement to the lovely execution of its interior, the GV60 is easy to like.

Specifications

Specifications

2023 Genesis GV60 Performance AWD Vehicle Type: front- and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICEBase/As Tested: $68,985/$69,560Options: Uyuni White paint, $575

POWERTRAINFront Motor: permanent-magnet synchronous ACRear Motor: permanent-magnet synchronous ACCombined Power: 483 hp Combined Torque: 516 lb-ft Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 77.4 kWhOnboard Charger: 10.9 kWTransmissions, F/R: direct-drive

CHASSISSuspension, F/R: struts/multilinkBrakes, F/R: 14.2-in vented disc/14.2-in vented discTires: Michelin Primacy Tour A/S 255/50R-21 102W M+S GOE

DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 114.2 inLength: 177.8 inWidth: 74.4 in Height: 62.6 inPassenger Volume: 101 ft³Cargo Volume: 25 ft³Curb Weight: 4862 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS60 mph: 3.7 sec100 mph: 9.3 sec1/4-Mile: 12.2 sec @ 112 mph130 mph: 17.8 sec150 mph: 30.7 secResults above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.Rolling Start, 560 mph: 3.7 secTop Gear, 3050 mph: 1.7 secTop Gear, 5070 mph: 2.2 secTop Speed (gov ltd): 151 mphBraking, 700 mph: 180 ftBraking, 1000 mph: 358 ftRoadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.83 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY75-mph Highway Range: 200 mi

EPA FUEL ECONOMYCombined/City/Highway: 90/97/82 MPGeRange: 235 mi

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

A car-lovers community for ultimate access & unrivaled experiences.

JOIN NOW

Tony Quiroga is an 18-year-veteran Car and Driver editor, writer, and car reviewer and the 19th editor-in-chief for the magazine since its founding in 1955. He has subscribed to Car and Driver since age six. "Growing up, I read every issue of Car and Driver cover to cover, sometimes three or more times. It's the place I wanted to work since I could read," Quiroga says. He moved from Automobile Magazine to an associate editor position at Car and Driver in 2004. Over the years, he has held nearly every editorial position in print and digital, edited several special issues, and also helped produce C/D's early YouTube efforts. He is also the longest-tenured test driver for Lightning Lap, having lapped Virginia International Raceway's Grand Course more than 2000 times over 12 years.

Mike Sutton is an editor, writer, test driver, and general car nerd who has contributed to Car and Driver's reverent and irreverent passion for the automobile since 2008. A native Michigander from suburban Detroit, he enjoys the outdoors and complaining about the weather, has an affection for off-road vehicles, and believes in federal protection for naturally aspirated engines.