The Genesis GV60 was released worldwide way back in 2021 as the brand's first electric vehicle. Unlike other models in the Genesis lineup, the GV60 is the only model that shares its platform with a Hyundai/Kia product. This is not a bad thing, as the E-GMP platform the GV60 rides on is highly regarded in the industry for its flexibility, refinement and quality.
This has allowed Genesis to produce an all-electric sport utility vehicle before most of its competitors. In five years, new competitors have entered the market and some of them are really good. Does this week's 2026 Genesis GV60 have the goods to compete with the newcomers or has it been left to the wayside?
What’s new?
A refresh was given to the 2026 Genesis GV60 that made changes inside and out to try and keep up in the segment. The interior has been adorned with a 27-inch wide screen that incorporates the gauge cluster and infotainment display, as seen on other Genesis vehicles, as well as a new three spoke steering wheel. Outside, look for redesigned wheels, refreshened headlights and new bumpers front and rear. Underneath, power comes from a slightly larger 84kWh battery, now fed by a NACS charging port.
Interior Design & Tech
What makes the Genesis brand stand out amongst its competitors are their opulent interiors. The overall design, build quality and materials are second to none, and GV60 is no exception. Brands like Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti could learn a few things from this upstart.
Nappa leather seats and quilted alcantara door cards up the game to another level. Hard plastics? You need to search low and deep. The dash and centre console are covered in leather and premium-feeling recycled materials.
The large infotainment/gauge screen looks like one large piece with no break in between. The graphics and screen are presented in a high definition OLED display. The shift knob that doubles as a crystal ball when not in use, looks sharp but is more for show than anything else. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. The Bang and Olufsen sound system is sharp but there are better systems from other competitors, such as the Cadillac Optiq.
The Genesis GV60 does suffer in usable trunk space, which is smaller than the GV70. Rear seat leg room is similar to its larger brother and can seat two adults comfortably, especially with the flat floor from it being an EV.
Exterior design
As a fan of the Genesis brand, I will confess that the GV60 is my least favorite model in their lineup. Its overall design is good but far from great. In my personal opinion, the GV70 is the best looking sport utility vehicle in their lineup. The 2026 Genesis GV60 with all the exterior updates looks slightly better, but the wheel design is still rather bland, and the overall look is a mixture of several designs blended together. The Porsche Macan Electric and Cadillac Optiq are more cohesive in their overall look.
To make matters worse, there is only one trim level and two colors available for the Canadian market. For a brand that’s always prided itself on customization and a raft of charming colorways, this is more than a little disappointing, even if this Tromso green tester is handsome.
Powertrain
What the 2026 Genesis GV60 loses in looks, it makes it up in power and speed. Power from the two motors pump out an impressive 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, enabling a 0-100km/h sprint in 3.8 seconds. Like many electric vehicles, power delivery is smooth and abundant. For that extra bit of oomph for 10 seconds, hit the Boost button and power jumps to 483 horsepower.
Driving impressions
With all this power, one may expect the 2026 Genesis GV60 to be a sporty drive but you would be mistaken. It does handle extremely well for what it is, it can’t match the handling capabilities of the Porsche Macan Electric or BMW iX.
You will have to wait for the upcoming GV60 Magma for a sharper edged, performance oriented GV60 - which, if it's anything close to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, we should be in for a treat. For now, the GV60 provides a more luxurious ride that isolates those inside and does so in comfort. Genesis does luxury and comfort better than some older brands in the industry.
Range and charging
One of the biggest challenges for the Genesis GV60 upon its release in 2021 has been its electric range and in 2026, the competition is stronger than ever. With the updates for this year's model, our tester is estimated to achieve 406 kilometers of range; up slightly from its previous 378 kilometers. The cold weather we encountered gave me around 350 kilometers of range from completely full.
Thankfully, the Genesis GV60 does recharge faster than most of its competitors, and you can go from 10-80% of charge in 18 minutes, if you can find a DC fast charger healthy enough to transmit 350kW. What also helps is that Genesis switched to the NACS charging port, so GV60 owners can now use Tesla chargers. You will need to download the Tesla app to access and pay for this perk. Competing electric sport utility vehicles with less power do achieve much better range but their charging times are much longer than what Genesis has to offer.
Money
With a starting price of $84,000, the 2026 Genesis GV60 is far from cheap but it does come fully loaded, with the only option being the aforementioned matte green paint, bringing the total to $84,500. Sadly, with the GV60 falling into the luxury brand category and over the $50,000 threshold, it does not qualify for the new Federal EV rebate.
Wrap it up
The 2026 Genesis GV60 offers power, comfort, a fantastic interior and one of the fastest batteries to recharge in the industry. These alone are reason enough to consider one on your driveway, however its competition is fierce and some easily achieve more than 500 kilometers of range in a full charge, which some people are still anxious about. If Genesis can at least offer over 500 kilometers of range on its next version of the GV60, it should stand toe to toe with the best the competition has to offer.
