Genesis GV60 is a plush, posh and striking electric car

Once it gets onto more buyers' consideration lists the Genesis GV60 is an electric car that will make a mark in the luxury electric vehicle market and brings the fight to Audi, Mercedes and Volvo.

The GV60 is a compelling option for those in the market for a luxurious electric car. Its combination of stylish design, impressive performance, practical range and advanced features make it a standout choice. The GV60 delivers on all fronts.

It's rare that my teenage daughter's friends show any interest in the car that is dropping her outside the school gates on a morning. But that actually happened with the GV60. I heard a "Ooh what's that?" just before she slammed the passenger door shut and left me in silence again.

Among the elements that help set the Genesis apart from rival cars is the gear selector, which is hidden beneath a motorised crystal ball in the centre console which inverts on start-up. That prompted a "That's pretty sick!" from daughter, which is a compliment apparently.

Other elements, more practical and less surprising, include an automated tailgate plus battery conditioning and a heat pump that come as standard, ensuring the car’s range is optimised in all climates. Our test car also had popular options including a Bang and Olufsen sound system with active noise cancellation to minimise wind and road noise, and digital side mirrors that use cameras and door mounted screens in place of conventional units.

Inside the spacious, well-built cabin, there is ample room for all passengers and the 432 litre boot space is adequate for a typical family shopping trip. 

A large touchscreen infotainment system, useful voice controls and advanced driver assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control enhance the driving experience, and does the smooth and quiet ride, making it ideal for both city streets and A-roads. 

In front of the driver is a large high-resolution digital instrument cluster, which has a 3D display, and which blends into the infotainment screen in one seamless panel.

Thankfully the dashboard features physical controls for most functions, which reduces distraction. 

There are three variants of the Genesis GV60 electric car, all using a 77.5kWh battery. An entry-level single motor car has the longest range - up to 321 miles - but there is a twin-motor, all-wheel drive model with 490PS (Sport-spec and Sport Plus-spec), capable of 290 miles, for buyers who priorise outright acceleration over range.

All three support 350kW ultra-rapid charging, allowing a 10-80% recharge in 18 minutes.

Prices currently start at £54,105 OTR for a single motor Premium-spec GV60 - quite an uplift on the £47k launch price Genesis UK set in 2022 - to £58,565 for Sport and up to £67,705 for Sport Plus. It's competitive pricing for a car that's pretty exclusive and which won Best Electric SUV in the 2023 What Car Awards.

The challenge for the GV60 is to get on those aforementioned consideration lists. The enlightened few may know about Genesis, but the majority will not. That must change over time, helped by Genesis UK's recent shift of business model from purely direct sales to enlisting a number of AM100 dealer groups to open showrooms and build brand awareness.

That's a good move, because I can't see how anyone who takes a GV60 out on a test drive could come away bitterly disappointed.