Genesis GV60 vs. Volvo XC40: electric SUV under test

newsabc July 24, 2022

0 59 5 minutes read

We’ve only had Genesis for a year. And from day one, the premium Hyundai brand really sets the pace. The GV60 now follows the G80, GV80, G70 and GV70. You have to wait years for so many models elsewhere.

The GV60 is the brand’s first pure electric car – that was the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric Twin Motor, that’s the full name of the matching Volvo, by the way also with the Swedes at the end of 2021.

The GV60 stands out, especially in the color Barossa Burgundy Matte of the test car (1300 euros). Depending on how you look at it, the design is almost spectacular, and definitely elegant and independent. Side effect: The 4.52 meter long and 1.89 meter wide GV60 always looks bigger than it actually is.

The not so much smaller Volvo XC40 (4.44/1.86 meters) looks comparatively delicate next to it. Volvo also calculates the inconspicuous Sage Green metallic paint at 1140 euros.

XC40 with a little less space

Inside, it is just as reduced in design as it is outside. The instruments in the 12.3-inch instrument cluster are easy to read, and the menus in the nine-inch multimedia touchscreen are well structured. The infotainment works with Google Android and a correspondingly excellent navigation system – but it has to be online, otherwise the range of functions is considerably restricted.

Engine design in front

performance in front

Rear engine design

rear performance

Torque front/rear/total

overall peak performance

top speed

transmission

drive

Brakes front/rear

test car tires

tire type

wheel size

Range (WLTP combined)*

Consumption (WLTP combined)*

battery type

battery capacity net

Charging power AC/DC

charging port

pass-by noise

trailer load used/unused

drawbar load

trunk volume

Length Width Height

wheelbase

Basic price (before funding)

Test car price (is evaluated)

350/350/700 Nm (boost mode)

360 kW (490 hp) (boost mode)

Michelin Pilot Sport EV

432-1550L + 20L front

Michelin CrossClimate 2 SUV

419-1295L + 31L front

Compared to the Genesis, the XC40 offers slightly less space. No problem at the front, everything is very spacious here, but it gets uncomfortable in the tight rear. Especially because of the very short edition of the rather spartan rear seat.

In the noticeably more spacious rear of the GV60 you sit better – but also not optimally, the rear seat is mounted too low above the ground. Oh yeah, the batteries are underneath. But there is a lot of encouragement for the very comfortable armchairs in front.

We give even more praise for the outstandingly made interior, Genesis ignites a whole firework of original ideas here, everything also processed extremely carefully. Well, the large, colorfully shimmering glass ball on the center console, called the “Crystal Sphere”, which rotates on itself when starting and becomes the selector lever for the transmission, is perhaps on the verge of cockiness – but it’s just fun. (E-car vs. plug-in and petrol engine: GV60 meets Sportage and Kodiaq RS)

GV60 with 490 hp in boost mode

But the (configurable) instruments on the 12.3-inch display in front of the driver are simply beautiful, as are the graphics on the 12.3-inch touchscreen for multimedia. And Genesis has lovingly designed every button, every window winder, every switch, everything is simply a feast for the eyes.

Technically, the GV60 is related to the already successful Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6. An electric motor with 245 hp is located at the front and rear, with the 77.4 kWh battery in the middle. To write it down again: a total of 435 hp and 605 Nm. For those who still don’t have enough, there is the boost mode, which is 490 hp and 700 Nm for ten seconds.

The driving performance is, you can’t put it any other way, in the sprint in the range of super sports cars: The GV60 sprints to 100 km/h in a whopping 3.9 seconds. In addition, unlike many other e-mobiles, it runs well over 200 km/h , manages 235 km/h relatively effortlessly.

Typical Volvo XC40 with a top speed of 180 km/h

No, the XC40 can’t keep up with that, as is typical for Volvo, it runs at a maximum of 180 km/h anyway. But still, it manages the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in a remarkable 4.8 seconds. The XC40 is powered by two 204 hp electric motors on the front and rear axles, the torque is 330 Nm each, the battery has a capacity of 75 kWh.

The system is very easy to dose, the gas pedal reacts very sensitively and can also be used in one-pedal mode – until you come to a standstill. This works well, but the recuperation cannot be further adjusted, unlike the Genesis.

Acceleration 0-50km/h

0-100km/h

0-130km/h

0-160km/h

0-180/200km/h

Intermediate sprint 60-100 km/h

80-120km/h

curb weight/load

Weight distribution v./h.

Turning circle left/right

seat height

Braking distance from 100 km/h cold

from 100 km/h warm

Interior noise at 50 km/h

at 100km/h

at 130/160 km/h

saving consumption

test consumption

Average of the 155 km test lap (deviation from the WLTP specification)

sports consumption

CO2 (local)

Range

With the GV60, the system can be tuned in many ways, we recommend the clever i-Pedal mode, the one-pedal driving also works well here up to a standstill, perhaps not quite as sensitively as with the Volvo.

Genesis with adaptive chassis

Unlike the XC40, the GV60 has an adaptive chassis with a look-ahead function, a front camera that observes the road. Genesis has agreed to him bindingly, he takes transverse joints quite heartily.

With its direct, not too easy steering, the excellent traction and of course the crazy performance, it drives tight, very quickly and quietly. The tunable artificial sound is fun, there is (almost) everything there between subway and cruisers of Starfleet.

But it certainly has a longer range, Genesis promises 466 kilometers for the 490-hp GV60, in the test it came to 320. The 408-hp Volvo managed 325 – instead of the promised 433. Well, that’s probably the status of the Technology.

With the XC40, the soft suspension tends to rock, in direct comparison the Volvo drives more phlegmatic and sluggish than the Genesis. The indifferent, diffuse steering and also the all-season tires have a part in this – they may be very practical, but not for steering precision and agility.

The test Volvo is in the list at 64,450 euros. A lot of? You think Genesis would like to get another 10,000 euros paid for the GV60 with 74,300 euros. Pretty confident for the newcomer to the market.

1. Genesis GV60: 555 points

Aesthetically a pleasure, technically up to date. Top driving performance, plenty of space, high quality. Five year guarantee.

2. Volvo XC40: 545 points

Well-functioning electric drive, a little less space than in the Genesis. Google Android with many functions.

newsabc July 24, 2022

0 59 5 minutes read