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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Chrysler parent company Stellantis is sinking billions on electric Jeeps and Chargers that no one wants, but the they’ve developed market-leading EVs in Europe, and this latest, £36,995 DS Automobiles No4 is exactly the sort of electric crossover that could rejuvenate the brand’s American prospects. The only question now is: why won’t they bring it here?
Both the Dodge and Jeep-branded Stellantis EVs are being offered with huge discounts in a bid to generate some kind of market interest, but the company’s American product and marketing teams seem to be deeply confused about what the market actually wants. Over in Europe, though, Stellantis’ EVs are hot sellers – and this latest five-passenger crossover from the company is expected to steal even more sales from the Model Y.
The new all-electric No4 E-Tense model from Stellantis’ French brand DS Automobiles will be offered at three trim levels starting with the Pallas at £36,995 (approx. $48K US), rising to £39,160 for the Pallas+ and topping out at £41,860 (approx. $56K US, before incentives get applied) for the range-topping Etoile.
All three trims use a front-mounted electric motor rated at 213 hp, drawing from a 58.3‑kWh battery pack. That setup delivers up to 280 miles on the WLTP cycle (about 240 miles by EPA estimates). That feels like a lot of miles from a relatively small battery, aided no doubt by the DS No4’s aerodynamic. Inside the No4’s sculpted flanks is enough room for five adults and a bunch of their stuff, as well as an incredibly sexy dash and infotainment layout that (in the official press photos, at least) seems positively slathered in Alcantara (think “vegan suede”).
With 120 kW fast charging capabilities, the No4’s battery pack can replenish from 20 to 80 percent in under 30 minutes. Thanks to built‑in V2L/V2X tech, the No4 can also supply power back to external devices.
Electrek’s Take
I think it would be a hit. As for why the marketing gurus at whatever’s left of the old Chrysler corporation seem to think an electric muscle car that no one asked for or a Dodge-branded Alfa Romeo that no one will ever ask for is a better use of their marketing dollars – that’s simply beyond me.
Maybe you guys know? Check out these photos of the new DS No4, then scroll on down to the comments and let us know what you think of Stellantis’ US product plans, and whether or not they messed up canceling the Airflow after all.
SOURCE | IMAGES: DS Automobiles.
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The clock is running out on some of the best EV lease deals of the year. With the 25% tariff on imported EVs already hitting and the federal tax credit set to vanish after September 30, automakers are dangling some serious end-of-the-month offers. If you’ve been waiting to go electric, now’s the time. CarsDirect spotted three August EV price drops worth a look, but you’ll need to move fast, because these deals won’t last past the holiday weekend.
2025 Mercedes EQE SUV: $62 per month price drop
Mercedes is sweetening the pot on its EQE SUV as it works to move inventory. The 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ SUV can now be leased for $629 a month for 36 months with $7,923 due at signing. That works out to an effective $849 a month – a $62 drop from previous deals. For a nearly $80,000 luxury EV, that’s not a bad offer.
But timing is key. The federal EV tax credit disappears next month, and Mercedes is set to pause US EV orders on September 1, which could make finding the right model tougher. Current incentives run through September 2, so if you’ve been eyeing an EQE, lock one in now before the market shifts.
Click here for a local dealer with the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ SUV in stock.–trusted affiliate link
Click here to find a local dealer with the Mercedes EQE SUV in stock.–trusted affiliate link
2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz: $90 per month price drop
As of August 22, the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz picked up a hidden $3,000 Dealer Lease Bonus – that is, dealer cash that only shows up if you lease.
That incentive knocks the Pro S trim down to $589 a month for 36 months with $5,999 due at signing. Do the math, and that’s $756 a month effective cost – a $90 drop from the earlier $846 offer. With $10,500 in total savings, this is the best deal yet on the ID. Buzz and one of the standout Labor Day EV lease offers.
Click here for a local dealer with the Volkswagen ID. Buzz in stock.–trusted affiliate link
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N: $150 per month price drop
Hyundai just slashed the price on its most powerful EV yet. The 2025 IONIQ 5 N can now be leased for $549 a month for 36 months with $3,999 due at signing (10,000 miles a year). That works out to an effective $660 a month – a huge $150 drop from July.
For a track-ready performance car, that’s a steal. And unlike most performance machines, the IONIQ 5 N doesn’t guzzle gas – you can just plug it in overnight at home. Current offers run through September 2.
Click here for a local dealer with the IONIQ 5 N in stock.–trusted affiliate link
Read more: From $129 a month: 5 of the best EV lease deals in August
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
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UK delivery firm DPD is putting one of Terberg’s heavy-duty electric yard tractors to the test at its giant, Oldbury, UK logistics hub – and its findings will help DPD shape a cleaner, more sustainable fleet strategy for the future.
DPD operates a fleet of over 50 yard hostlers (or “tugs” in the UK) to perform all trailer movements across its five sorting hubs in Oldbury, Smethwick, and Hinckley. Currently, those yards are serviced by a fleet of diesel tractors – but the company is interested in decarbonizing and “keen” to understand how EVs could be deployed across the fleet in the longer term.
“Tugs are the lifeblood of our hub operation, performing all trailer movements efficiently and safely across the five sites,” says Tim Jones, Director of Marketing, Communications, and Sustainability at DPD UK.
To that end, the company has deployed a Royal Terberg YT203-EV fitted with a pair of 78 kWh batteries, but it can be spec’ed up to 236 kWh and an almost unbelievable 105 tonne GCVWR. Even with “just” 156 kWh, the Terberg is able to work nearly a full 24 hours between charging – capability that is on par with diesel. At least.
“Terberg DTS are proud to be able to assist DPD on the way to Net Zero (emissions) and it was great to be able to work with DPD’s drivers and demonstrate what the YT203-EV can do in their own yard,” explains Peter Giles, Head of UK Logistics Sales at Terberg DTS. “Their aim is to be one of the leaders in the march to a more sustainable fleet future and they have already amassed a lot of knowledge and experience working with EVs. We know just how versatile and effective the vehicle is, but every operation is slightly different and working on-site with their own drivers means DPD can get really meaningful feedback from those who know the job better than anyone.”
Several operators will be trying out the YT203-EV across different shifts and operations to get feedback. So far, however, they seem hyped. “The electric tug (performs) incredibly well,” adds Jones. “Our drivers were really impressed, especially with the ease of use and driver comfort.”
Electrek’s Take
Whether it’s Terberg, Tico, or Orange EV, terminal tractors are an ideal application for electrification, and companies like DHL have spent more than a decade proving that out. And now that DPD is giving these HDEVs a chance, expect to see a whole lot more of them getting deployed soon.
SOURCE | IMAGES: DPD UK.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
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