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.
Kia’s electric hot hatch will be here before you know it. After getting a sneak peek of the EV4 GT’s interior for the first time, it looks a bit familiar.
First look at the Kia EV4 GT’s interior
Kia’s bringing the hatchback back in style. The EV4 is Kia’s first all-electric hatchback, also available as a sedan or fastback.
Although it’s already pretty cool-looking with Kia’s new design elements like the Digital Tiger Face grille, Star Map Lighting, and aggressive stance, the GT version promises even more style, performance, and fun features.
Kia revealed the electric hot hatch for the first time earlier this week, showcasing its new GT Wrap. The new foil design “infuses models in development with the energy and attitude that define Kia’s GT production models.”
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By reimagining the Gran Turismo for a new generation of drivers, Kia said it’s bridging the gap between its heritage and future innovation. The GT Wrap will be used for a new generation of Kia performance vehicles. It still features the signature neon color, which has become a “symbol of electricity,” Kia said.
Now, we are getting our first look at the interior. The video from HealerTV offers a closer look at the EV4 GT’s interior, free of camouflage.
Right off the bat, you can see this is clearly a Kia GT. It has about the same setup as the EV9 GT and EV6 GT, including the steering wheel, infotainment, and seat design.
Kia EV9 GT interior (Source: Kia)
The EV4 GT’s interior is essentially a blend of the regular EV4 and the EV9 GT. One slight difference is that the GT’s armrest has storage space rather than just a flat surface.
The back seats also look about the same as Kia’s other GT models. It appears to include ambient lighting on the door panel and back of the driver’s seat, like the EV9 GT.
Kia EV4 GT prototype with “GT Wrap” design (Source: Kia)
Although it has similar features, HealerTV noted that the EV4 GT still has a unique interior and decent design, which should help differentiate it. According to Autocar, which saw it firsthand, the interior “received a significant makeover” with lower-sitting seats, neon green accent colors throughout, and an added GT Mode button on the steering wheel.
Like Kia’s other GT vehicles, the electric hot hatch will be equipped with a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive (AWD) powertrain with around 400 horsepower.
The EV4 GT will launch in 2026, joining the EV6 GT and EV9 GT in Kia’s expanding performance EV lineup. Looking ahead, the EV3 and EV5 are also in line for a GT upgrade.
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bp pulse has opened a new 40-bay EV fast charging hub near Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport, marking the company’s latest move to expand its US charging network. The Hobby Airport hub is bp pulse’s second in Houston, as it opened its first US hub in early 2024 at bp’s Houston headquarters.
The new hub, located at 8100 Monroe Road, is just 1.5 miles from the airport and features 150 kW DC fast chargers designed for ride-hail drivers, airport rental car customers, and local EV owners who need a quick top-up. The chargers are situated under a covered canopy, and drivers can enjoy free wifi while they wait. bp pulse hasn’t indicated which connectors are available, so I’ve emailed them to find out and will update when I hear back.
This latest opening is part of bp pulse’s broader initiative to install EV charging hubs at airports across the US, in partnership with Hertz. The two companies recently opened hubs at SFO, Boston Logan, and LAX, making the latter the largest bp pulse location in the US.
“As our rideshare drivers often turn to EVs, having fast, reliable charging near key locations like Hobby Airport makes a real difference,” said Doria Holbrook, EVP of mobility at Hertz. “This new bp pulse hub offers the convenient access and ultrafast charging our drivers need to stay powered and productive.”
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bp pulse is also expanding its network across bp’s retail network of bp, Amoco, ampm, Thorntons, and TravelCenters of America sites. Many of these locations offer additional amenities, such as convenience stores, restaurants, and car washes. The company recently announced plans to add EV chargers at Waffle House locations starting in 2026.
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Police in Colorado’s Columbine Valley recently tracked down a “porch pirate” who stole a package from a suburban home in Bow Mar, Colorado. The only problem: they got it completely wrong, and the accused had to resort to footage from her Rivian truck to exonerate herself.
The police used technology from a company called “Flock” which has been gaining popularity with law enforcement in recent years. The company operates a network of cameras that automatically read license plates, tracking movements of vehicles wherever they go (you can see an incomplete list of its cameras here).
And when police saw a certain green Rivian truck entering a neighborhood 20 times over the course of a month, they got suspicious. Then, when they noticed that the truck’s driver and the porch pirate were both blonde women, they knew for certain that they had their criminal. Surely, there is no reason anyone would both drive and be blonde at the same time and not be up to something nefarious.
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So, police officer Jamie Milliman of the Columbine Valley police went and aggressively confronted the Rivian driver, Chrisanna Elser, telling her that he knew she was the porch pirate the police were looking for. Per Milliman, proudly referring to Flock cameras: “we have cameras in that town and you cant get a breath of fresh air without us knowing.” A full video of the encounter is available online.
It took Elser by surprise, as she had no idea at first why the officer was there accusing her of a crime. Milliman claimed he had video proving Elser had committed the crime, and she asked “can I see this video or something?” to which the officer replied “if you go to court you can, but if you’re gonna deny it I’m not gonna extend you any courtesy – if you’re gonna lie to me, I’m not gonna extend you any courtesy.”
But, in fact, it was Milliman who was lying, because the police had no such video proving Elser’s guilt. In fact, they didn’t even have video of the truck in the area – merely tags of it entering Bow Mar (it also left the area minutes later, indicating a drive through, rather than crawling through neighborhoods looking for packages – but police neglected to check the exit timestamps).
Instead, the video Milliman was referring to seemed to be doorbell camera video, which Elser found herself on Nextdoor. That video showed a blonde woman walking up to a door, ringing the doorbell, then picking up a $25 package and running off. The woman has the same color hair, but different facial and nose shape and apparent age than Elser, which is all reasonably apparent when viewing the video. (Photos on left are Elser; on right are the suspected thief)
Instead of comparing these videos to Elser’s actual face and seeing that they obviously had the wrong suspect, police issued a court summons to Elser. Milliman said “it is her, it is 100%, it is locked in, there is zero doubt” that it is Elser in the porch video.
Elser was then forced to collect and provide her own evidence to prove her innocence – in contravention of the presumption of innocence which is meant to form the foundation of the US legal system.
Thankfully, Elser had access to her own evidence due to her Rivian’s onboard cameras, which constantly record footage of what’s happening on the road around the vehicle. During the initial encounter, Elser offered to provide this evidence to Milliman, but he declined, stating that he already knew where she was and had all the evidence he needs.
Through Rivian’s “Road Cam” feature, the car can be set to record footage of everything happening around it. Unlike a normal aftermarket dashcam, this doesn’t require installing additional cameras, since it uses the car’s built in cameras for its driver-assist features (Tesla has a similar feature). However, if you want to record footage all the time, you’ll need to plug in a USB-C external drive, because video takes up a lot of space.
Elser’s Rivian driving through Bow Mar, Colorado
It turns out, that day, Elser had indeed driven through Bow Mar, as Big Brother’s Flock cameras had indicated, but she was in fact heading to her tailor, and not jumping into a time machine that made her younger and changed her nose and cheekbones so that she could steal a $25 package.
After weeks of trying to contact police with her exonerating evidence, Elser finally got an email back from the Columbine Valley Police Chief Bret Cottrell, clearing the court summons that Milliman had served her with (and telling her “nicely done btw” – for doing the police’s job for them, for free). Elser has asked for an apology for Milliman’s aggressive behavior during the encounter, but has heard nothing back from the department despite a call, email, and physical appearance at the police station.
Electrek’s Take
In one way, this is a positive story about a Rivian owner using technology in a novel way to improve her life. It shows how companies can leverage technology in interesting ways to give customers something useful, and how over-the-air updates make cars better even after they’re purchased (since “Road Cam” wasn’t rolled out at vehicle launch, but came in a later software update). These are all directions that it’s nice to see the industry going.
But in what I would say is a more important framing, this is a dystopic story of an overbearing police state going mad with power and picking whatever random person they can to accuse of a crime simply so they have someone to pin the blame on. They weren’t interested in getting it right, they were just interested in getting anyone at all.
But citizens should not need to own a $70k+ truck, or even a $100 external hard drive, to keep track of everything they do in order to prove to power-tripping officers that they didn’t commit a crime.
If police can act like this in a low-crime suburb, imagine how often it might happen in a place where they are stretched more thin, with more actual crime to go after. And if it takes a $70,000 truck to exonerate a suspect, imagine what happens to suspects that don’t have that kind of money to assist in their defense. Or when the crime, and potential punishment, is more serious than the theft of a $25 package.
It also brings into question whether police, who have been proven to misrepresent evidence in the pursuit of any suspect at all right here in front of our eyes, should be trusted with the sort of surveillance that tracks every moment of every person’s life outside their house.
Americans like to act superior to countries like China or England and their massive government surveillance CCTV networks, but here we have an unaccountable private company (and unaccountable police) watching every part of our lives and facilitating false accusations and violations of the Constitution. I guess this is what happens when you start treating 1984 as an instruction manual, rather than a warning.
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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.
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