Genesis GV60: 2022 carsales Car of the Year Highly Commended

If there was any doubt over whether Genesis would ever make an impact in Australia as an upstart luxury brand asking to be favoured over Europe’s storied finest, that’s now been answered by the all-new Genesis GV60 – and its Highly Commended award in carsales Car of the Year 2022, proudly presented by Bingle.

This is a breakthrough car for Genesis. Not only the Korean marque’s first dedicated electric vehicle, but its most accomplished model yet and its most convincing as a genuine alternative to other luxury brands – be they from Europe, Japan, America or anywhere else.

The GV60 will lure new buyers into the fold and stands as a beacon for aspirational but loyal Hyundai and Kia owners, who now have a way forward with something familiar, but something very new, too.

Of course, the Kia EV6 has taken out top honours in carsales Car of the Year 2022, and the Hyundai IONIQ 5 was our 2021 COTY.

These two outstanding electric cars are built on the same EV platform as the GV60 and have close connections underneath the skin, particularly at the top end of the range. Both the Kia and Hyundai EVs are also premium models in their own right.

But that does not diminish the impact or appeal of the Genesis GV60 small SUV.

At first blush, the higher pricing may look to be a bridge too far for some would-be buyers, starting at $110,700 plus on-road costs for the top-tier GV60 Performance AWD model tested in COTY. The two-model range opens with the GV60 AWD at $103,700 plus ORCs.

However, in the luxury car market, where price sensitivity is less and the features much higher, the GV60 slots in comfortably with its good looks, lavish interior, advanced tech, quality build, high specification and outstanding attention to detail – seen in the cabin, in the driving and the ownership experience.

The GV60 ranked highly across the full carsales COTY assessment criteria, which covers cost of ownership, safety, innovation and technology, practicality and presentation, and road testing.

On the latter, the GV60 Performance, which boasts a 360kW/700Nm dual-motor electric powertrain, is quick. Really quick.

With Boost mode in play, our testing came within a tenth of a second of Genesis’ 0-100km/h claim of 4.0sec, while the immediacy of the EV torque combined with crisp steering makes for a fun and effortless drive.

Aided by a sophisticated ‘road preview’ adaptive suspension and mechanical limited-slip rear differential, the GV60 Performance is zippy around town, solid on the freeway and supremely comfortable carving up backcountry roads as if it was a grand tourer.

Among a variety of adjustments the driver can make to the car’s powertrain, steering, stability control and suspension, the front motor can be disengaged for greater efficiency. A ‘smart generation system’ also allows for one-pedal driving.

All EVs should be as charming, engaging and hassle-free as this one. The driving range is generous (466km claimed), the charging options for the 77.4kWh battery are first-rate (up to 350kW DC) and the purchase price includes either a home AC charger and installation, or a five-year Chargefox subscription.

Peace of mind continues with five years of complimentary servicing and 10 years of roadside assistance, which contribute to the GV60’s excellent RedBook rating for total cost of ownership – a significant factor in carsales Car of the Year assessment (covering purchase price, standard features, finance, insurance, general running and maintenance costs and, not least of all, depreciation).

Overall, the GV60 came in third for total ownership costs among our 10 finalists and two wildcards, behind the Kia EV6 in first and Cupra Formentor second.

For sheer refinement, the GV60 is also a standout, thanks to quality engineering and construction combining with active noise cancellation to make this one of the quietest EVs on the road.

All this, in a cabin that’s striking and sophisticated, oozing charm, brimming with technology and never failing to bring a smile when the crystal orb rotates to show that the car is actually turned on and ready to roll.

You’re forever reminded of the high specification when settling into the sumptuous Nappa leather seats – heated and cooled, with 18-way power adjustment and massage function – and performing simple tasks like checking the rearward view via high-definition exterior cameras rather than plain old mirrors.

Fingerprint authentication ensures you’ll never lose your key again, and embedded sat-nav with augmented reality (and 10 years of free mapping updates) means you should theoretically never lose your way again either.

It’s not gimmicky, but rather genuinely classy. It feels like the future has arrived, and yet the GV60 really only represents where Genesis is now starting to move.

That might see it overtaken by other models in the brand’s stable in the years ahead. But as the torchbearer of a new era for the Korean luxury brand, the Genesis GV60 deserves its podium position in carsales Car of the Year 2022, proudly presented by Bingle.