Performance Review: 2023 Genesis GV60 Performance

With more power than a Ferrari F40 Supercar, how does the 2023 Genesis GV60 Performance handle on a track? We put this one through its paces and you won't believe the results!

​Originally published in the Nov./Dec. 2022 issue of the EV Resource Magazine. Slight editorial updates were made, but these did not affect the narrative of the article.

Hard onto the brakes, the GV60's front tires screamed in protest as the sudden shift of the SUV's nearly 5,000 lbs. pushed them into the pavement. The large body leaned to the right as the soft suspension was quickly overwhelmed by the sudden left turn. Exiting the corner, the right foot of the driver eased into the accelerator, the body returned to a neutral position, power flowed to the electric motors... and with the push of a button, all 483 horses were unbridled as the Genesis made its way to the back section of the racetrack.

The spectacle of the electric vehicle on the two-mile, Dominion Raceway road course was a thing of beauty, leaving observers in awe... or so I'm told. I wasn't in the audience. I was the driver. If you're somewhat new to the EV Resource Magazine you may not be aware that we test electric vehicles at Dominion Raceway in Spotsylvania, Virginia. And before you continue reading this review, I strongly encourage you to go to the EV Resource YouTube page and watch the videos in the "Hot Lap" category. You will find this test there, and it will give you a good frame of reference for how the GV60 Performance compares to other EV models.

Before getting to the numbers and the test results however, I want to take a minute to point out how incredibly stunning the GV60 is to look at, this one in particular. The "Atacama Copper " paint color (pictured above) sparkles in the sunlight and the contrast of the black and chrome accents really stand out against the metallic work of art. Even at a distance, you can tell that there is something very special about this vehicle. What you cannot see, however, is the incredibly ferocious power slumbering within that begs to be unleashed with a press of the accelerator pedal. The dichotomy is uncomfortable at first. A vehicle this heavy and luxurious should not be able to move so quickly... but it does, and it does so with ease!

So let's talk about that power, shall we? The Genesis GV60 Performance is equipped with two 160 kW electric motors, front and rear, that put out a combined 320 kW of power, or 429 hp, and 516 ft-lbs of torque. However, it's also equipped with a BOOST button that gives it an additional 40 kW of power (54 hp) for a duration of 10 seconds at a time. This might not seem like a lot, but it sure makes a difference, especially in a straight line. And in a straight line the GV60 Performance is remarkable, both with and without the BOOST button. Although if given the choice, I'd prefer the extra speed of the BOOST button all day long.

The BOOST button is located on right side of the steering wheel

Without the BOOST button the GV60 Performance runs 0-60 mph in 4.26 seconds and the 1/4 Mile: 12.57@108.70mph

With the BOOST button the GV60 Performance runs 0-60 mph in 3.73 seconds and the 1/4 Mile: 12.05@111.27mph

I compared the power of the GV60 to the 1987 Ferrari F40, pointing out that it had more power than the iconic supercar. It's worth noting that the 0-60 and 1/4 mile times for the Genesis are also better. However, comparing to a supercar from 35 years ago might not be the most fair choice. So let's look at some newer vehicle models that are close in numbers to the GV60 Performance:

• 2012 Audi R8 V10
  
• 2017 Shelby GT250R
  
• 2021 BMW M4
  
• 2022 Tesla Model Y Performance

This is not a bad list of vehicles to be compared to at all. In addition to some of the best performing vehicles of their time, the Genesis GV60 Performance would certainly hold it's own, even against the electric powerhouse of the Tesla Model Y.

Without any doubt, the GV60 has the power to put up a fight in a straight line. Through the corners however, the Genesis GV60 Performance starts to really show some weakness. The stock Michelin tires on the 20-inch sport wheels are more suited for comfortable cruising than they are for maximum cornering grip and protested frequently when asked to handle the weight of the Genesis in the turns. In fact, I found the combination of the immense power and lack of traction to be exceptionally frustrating when trying to set a fast lap time on the road course. As with many of the EVs that I test, I really feel that if the GV60 Performance were equipped with a stiffer suspension and better tires, I suspect there is a lot of unused potential that could be unlocked.

​Challenges aside, the Genesis GV60 Performance still proved that it lives up to its name and I was able to take it on its own "hot lap" around the road course in a time quicker than any other EV tested. With a lap time of 1:39.10, it slots into first place only 17 thousandths of a second ahead of the Polestar 2 AWD.