Genesis GV60 AWD Performance review, quirky tech, speed and luxury
Genesis finally delivered the much sought after GV60 to our home for a week test drive, and immediately I had questions: Wy all of this amazing speed, interesting tech and luxury, but no wireless CarPlay?
There’s a ton to love about the GV60 Performance and probably the best thing is that performance which pushes the AWD from 0-60 in a AWD chirping just over three seconds.
The GV60 also drives like a dream with a soft suspension and almost no road noise. The low center of gravity and big wheels make taking harrowing turns almost fun; this is a drivers car camouflaged as a crossover.
But, as we’ll see in a theme here, there’s a caveat to this performance. The highest level of acceleration must be activated from the “Boost” button on the steering wheel. When you do this the car accelerates for about 10 seconds, the screen turns red, and you get a hyperdrive graphic.
That feels cool, like a Knight Rider trick to show your friends (and I did), but in reality when you really need the boost, like on an on-ramp or during passing, you don’t want to be reaching all over the steering wheel to find a button. It would be much simpler to just have that power delivered through the accelerator. I understand that the “Boost” button is only good for a few boosts within a given time period, and that’s fine – just give me all it can safely deliver through the accelerator without the parlor tricks.
Like I said, that’s a theme here – lots of neat tricks that don’t necessarily enhance the driving experience. Probably the best example of this is the glass orb that turns into the gear shifter. It is quite cool and a conversation piece… for a few days… then it becomes a plain old delay. As in it takes about five seconds from starting the car for it to complete its transition. That’s not a lot of time, but when you want to get in and go, that’s an annoying delay. I wish Genesis had provided a “gear shifter only” mode so I can have those few seconds back.
While that’s happening, I’ve learned to do other things. One neat trick is that the GV60 has a fingerprint reader (sadly not on the steering wheel but in the back of the center console). You can start the car with only your finger, no fob or smartphone app required. But it is also where driver profiles are stored, so you’ll want to finger login while the orb is changing into a gear shifter.
Another thing you are required to do before driving is plug in your phone because there is no wireless CarPlay or Android Auto. Yes, this car that is packed with every available gadget and gizmo doesn’t have the one thing that every car in 2020 should have: wireless CarPlay.
I realize most people want to charge their phone on long drives, and I’m one of these people. But for short drives, I’d rather leave my phone in my pocket or just drop it on the wireless charger (which the GV60 has – for some reason). I hate to say it, but this is going to be a dealbreaker for some.
One thing that’s not a gimmick is the heads-up display which is bright and full-featured and includes your speed, the speed limit, and road variables. I find that a good heads-up display such as this one makes driving a lot safer and easier.
The traffic aware cruise control isn’t anything to write home about. It freaks out when entering a highway without turn signals, for instance. I know you are supposed to use your turn signal to do this, but it is seldom done in real life because it is the only option. I guess the upside is that it teaches the driver to use a turn signal during merging, lest they get basted with alarms.
Forward collision-avoidance assist is also mediocre or perhaps overly sensitive with a few false positives in my experience. I know this is a hard problem to solve, but Genesis didn’t solve it.
The GV60 is a great looking car
I hate to be superficial, but I love the look of the GV60, and I think it is the best looking out of a handsome class of E-GMP platform (Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5, 6) vehicles. It looks like something that slices through the wind and at the same time carries the whole family – including the dog. Size-wise, it feels like a good mid-sized CUV crossover with plenty of room in the back. Compared to Tesla Model Y/3 and Chevy Bolt:
Frovebox?
The frunk, just like on other E_GMP vehicles, is a glorified glovebox but still a good place to stuff a small charger cord or other smaller things you want to hide and mostly forget about. It looks like an afterthought, and I’d expect future models to either have more space or no frunk at all, depending which way customers prefer to go.
I’ve noticed that if a frunk is easy to open and roomy, it gets used a lot. This one is neither, so Genesis market research may come back saying, “No one is using it, scrap it!”
Rear wiper? Not needed!
Another weird omission is lack of rear wiper. I’m assuming the idea, like on other rear wiper-less vehicles, is that the wind pushing over the window removes most water. I didn’t have an issue seeing out the back in a slight drizzle, but driving slow in heavier rain wouldn’t be great, I imagine. Also I should note that view-ability out the back window is already very limited. That’s not a dealbreaker for me, but others might not agree.
The GV60 features 24 cubic feet of storage with the rear seat in place and a total of 54.7 cubic feet of cargo space when they’re folded. It has a rear retracting cover that will likely live in the corner of your garage after being removed on the first day of driving.
The back storage area is moderately roomy and well lit – plenty of room for groceries or even a small tuba. There’s not much storage underneath the floor, however. I think there would be plenty of room back there for a medium-sized dog, and I’d feel OK traveling with our 50 pound Husky, for instance.
Charging speed is amazing, but range isn’t
We already know that E-GMP platform 77.4-kWh battery pack vehicles charge at some of the fastest rates we’ve seen on a kilowatt basis with only GMC’s 200+kWh Hummer seeing higher speeds. I didn’t get to check out the high speed charging speed first hand because the local chargers top out at 150kW, but many others have seen 270+kW, so I’ll trust their experience. The GV60 is able to go from 10% to 80% of charge or 165 miles in just 18 minutes.
The problem here is that with the high performance 430 horsepower motors and huge wheels, the GV60 Performance only sees about a 235 mile range, and my testing confirmed this. The 314 horsepower “advanced AWD” version sees a slightly better 248 mile range.
That means that while charging stops will be quick, they will be more often on longer trips, especially compared to a 300+ mile range of its EV6 or Ioniq 5 siblings. Again this isn’t a dealbreaker, and 235 miles is plenty for the occasional road trip, but something to add to the buyer’s math.
Electrek’s Take
Reading over this review, it feels like I had a lot of complaints, but really I enjoyed the GV60 quite a bit. It is about as fast as you’d ever want a CUV to go at just over three seconds 0-60. It handles the street incredibly well with almost no wind noise and great balance. It charges quickly and has a lot of admirable tech like the heads-up display, and it is packaged with a luxury interior. It also looks dope.
Yes, I had quibbles, in order of importance: the lack of wireless CarPlay, 235 miles of range, rear visibility, and quirky gadgetry. But for most people, none of those are dealbreakers and, if you can find (an extremely limited supplies) one, I think most EV buyers will love this car.
Priced at $59,290-$68,290 find one at a local dealer here.
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Los Angeles has officially cut ties with coal. City officials say the Intermountain Power Project (IPP) in Utah – the last coal-fired power plant supplying the US’s second-largest city – went offline just before Thanksgiving.
IPP’s two massive units had a combined capacity of around 1,800 megawatts (MW) when fully operational, and as recently as 2024, they still supplied around 11% of LA’s electricity. The plant sits in Utah’s Great Basin region and powered Southern California for decades. Now, for the first time, none of LA’s power comes from coal.
There’s a political hiccup with IPP, though: the Republican-controlled Utah Legislature blocked the Intermountain Power Agency from fully retiring the coal units this year, ordering that they can’t be disconnected or decommissioned. But despite that mandate, no buyers have stepped forward to keep the outdated coal units online.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is transitioning to newly built, hydrogen-capable generating units at the same IPP location, part of a modernization effort called IPP Renewed. These new units currently run on natural gas, but they’re designed to burn a blend of natural gas and up to 30% green hydrogen, and eventually 100% green hydrogen. LADWP plans to start adding green hydrogen to the fuel mix in 2026.
“L.A.’s coal divestment is not just about discontinuing the use of coal to power our city – it’s about building a clean energy economy that benefits every Angeleno. This milestone will further accelerate our transition to 100 percent clean energy by 2035,” said Mayor Karen Bass.
To reach that goal, LA is investing heavily in solar, wind, battery storage, and local programs that expand rooftop solar and energy efficiency.
One of the city’s biggest milestones was reached in August with the completion of the Eland Solar-plus-Storage Center – a massive project that pairs 758 megawatts of solar with 300 MW/1,200 MWh of battery storage. It’s one of the largest solar-plus-storage plants in the country, capable of powering more than 260,000 Los Angeles households. Bringing Eland online helped push LADWP’s power supply past 60% clean energy in 2025.
Read more: In a first, renewables generate more power than coal globally
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![Kia's small EV drops its camo, plus a sneak peek at the interior [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Kia-EV2-spotted-camo.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Kia’s most affordable electric SUV will be here in just over a month. Ahead of its debut, the EV2 was spotted with light camo, offering our best look yet.
Kia EV2 looks more like an SUV with less camo
Just days after Kia confirmed the EV2 will debut at the Brussels Motor Show on January 9, 2026, the small electric SUV was spotted in Europe with barely any camo.
The EV2 is a fully electric B-segment SUV set to be Kia’s new entry-level EV. It will sit below the EV3, which is already the UK’s most popular retail electric vehicle and among the top-sellers in Europe.
“With the EV2, we reaffirm our commitment to make electric mobility truly accessible to a broader audience,” Kia Europe president and CEO, Marc Hedrich, said earlier this month.
Despite its compact size, the EV2 looks and feels much bigger in person. It has a similar high-riding, blocky design as Kia’s latest electric SUVs, such as the EV5 and three-row EV9.
In the teaser images Kia posted a few days ago, the EV2 was shown under a drape with a design that looked nearly identical to the EV2 Concept from earlier this year.
Now, we can finally confirm it. The Kia EV2 was recently spotted in Europe in light camo, rocking a tall, SUV-like stance. The latest image from KindelAuto gives us a solid look at its profile, which still resembles a mini EV5 or EV9.
Kia will begin EV2 production alongside the EV4 hatch at its Zilina, Slovakia, plant shortly after its debut at the Brussels Motor Show next month, ramping up output throughout 2026.
Although Kia has yet to reveal specifics, the EV2 is expected to be about 4,000 mm (157″) long, or slightly smaller than the EV3 at 4,300 mm (169.3″). It will be closer in size to the Hyundai Inster EV.
Prices are expected to start at around €30,000 ($35,000) in Europe, given that the EV3 starts at about €36,000 ($42,000).
A new video from HealerTV offers a glimpse of the interior. Although the EV2 concept included sliding benches, detachable seats, cushions, and other innovative features to unlock more space, the interior looks more like Kia’s latest EVs, such as the EV3, EV4, and EV5.
You can see it has a standard armrest and a separate storage spot, similar to the EV5. The door handles are about the same as those in the EV3 and EV4.
Although it’s just a preview since the windows were covered, the second row looks about the same as the EV3. The reporter mentioned a “family look” similar to Kia’s other electric vehicles.
The compact electric SUV is expected to ride on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform, with similar battery pack options as the EV3. The EV3 is available with 58.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh battery options, delivering a WLTP range of 410 km (255 miles) and 560 km (348 miles), respectively.
The EV2 will debut at the Brussels Motor Show on January 9, 2026. Kia will hold a press conference at 10:40 am CET to introduce the new entry-level EV. Check back for updates leading up to the event.
For those in the US, sadly, the EV2 is not expected to make the trip overseas. However, Kia is offering generous discounts of over $10,000 off its current EV lineup.
Interested in a test drive? We can help you get started. You can use the links below to find Kia’s electric vehicles near you.
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Nissan is looking for a partner to co-develop new EVs with as it struggles to turn things around, but only on one condition.
Nissan is still looking for EV partners
After its plans with Honda fell through earlier this year, Nissan is still hoping to find a partnership to build next-generation EVs.
As part of its recovery plan, Re:Nissan, the automaker has already announced significant job cuts, factory closures, and other extreme measures to cut costs as it looks to return to profitability.
Nissan has been actively seeking new partnerships, but it won’t settle for “just a transaction.” Speaking to Automotive News at an event earlier this month, Ponz Pandikuthira, chief product and planning officer for Nissan Americas, said that although it was open to partnering, it would have to be a two-way street.
“We would not engage with a partner just to buy a vehicle, or platform, or piece of tech,” Pandikuthira said, adding, “That’s what makes it a long-term commitment instead of just a transaction.”
Pandikuthira suggested Nissan is already in talks with several potential partners, including Honda and Mitsubishi. Sources told Automotive News in October that Nissan was in discussions with Ford and Stellantis to supply a new electrified SUV based on the Rogue.
The sources claimed the electrified Rogue would use Nissan’s new e-POWER hybrid system. According to Pandikuthira, Nissan could also use the next-gen Frontier platform, set to underpin the new Pathfinder.
So what would the partnership look like? The product and planning boss said it could involve automakers either buying the technology or Nissan building rebadged vehicles, but the partner would still need to use its tech. It would be a two-way commitment, not just a transaction.
Either way, Nissan will need to move quickly. It already cut the Ariya electric SUV from its 2026 lineup in the US, and is reportedly struggling to sell the new LEAF.
We know we need economies of scale for an EV, and we would be open to a discussion with another partner to jointly develop an EV,” Pandikuthira stressed. That could involve a family of SUVs, Nissan’s product boss suggested.
Electrek’s Take
Starting at $29,990 with over 300 miles of range, Nissan says the 2026 LEAF has “the lowest starting MSRP for any new EV currently on sale in the US.” If it’s already having a tough time selling the low-cost LEAF EV, it could be a long road ahead for Nissan.
Like Hyundai and General Motors, which announced plans to co-develop five new vehicles, combining resources with a new partnership could help Nissan reduce development costs, leverage new tech, and achieve economies of scale.
What are your thoughts on a Nissan EV partnership? Which company would be the best fit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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