LAUREN MCCAY: Look, you've seen enough from us about the Model Y.
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Today I'm driving this new hot thing-- fresh on the market, the 2023 Genesis GV60. It has a super sharp look to it. It kind of looks like a bullet and a spaceship had a baby. And I love it.
If you want to spoil yourself or your young family, you're going to want to stick around for this, because in this video, I'm going to bring you all the interesting specs and see how it measures up to the Model Y.
Before I get into all that, go ahead right now and hit Like and Subscribe so you can see more videos just like this. And while you're at it, head over to edmunds.com for all your car shopping needs. And are you selling your car? Go ahead and head over to edmunds.com/sellmycar for a cash offer today.
So Tesla's cars, like the Model Y, are seen as the established big man in the EV world compared to something brand new like this GV60. But before I take a look into the future, I must first take a look in the past. So let me just catch you up on our experience with the Model Y.
The Y has a lot in common with the Tesla Model 3 sedan and has a similar interior design and electric powertrain. It was one of the first small electric luxury SUVs to hit the market, and we've also owned one for some time.
Here's what we love about it-- its super quick acceleration and speed, especially for an SUV, its high-performance handling, and abundant storage space. All of that, bundled with the best charging network out there, make it a tough one to beat.
So the question is, can this new kid on the EV block dethrone the Model Y with its luxury and tech? Dare I try it out? Well, just call me Evil-ette Knievel.
Ah, Genesis, Hyundai's luxury offshoot. It's really been on a roll lately with its lineup of SUVs and sedans getting a lot of praise. Almost out of nowhere, their models have become full-fledged rivals to establish German and Japanese luxury brands. Now it's time for them to delve into the electric vehicle market.
And boom, the first entry from Genesis, the 2023 GV60, a pretty solid start from what we can tell. It's based on the same platform and tech as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6. But you do get standard all-wheel drive and a classier interior than either of those, which I'll get into later. I'm personally into this look, with its smallish size and sloping roofline.
Battery capacity and maximum charge rate are everything for these EVs. And with all the trims in the GV60, you're going to get a 77 kilowatt battery pack and dual electric motors, which means you're going to have good power and good range.
The EPA estimates that the GV60 performance trim, which is what we have, will have a range of 235 miles on a full charge. But in our Edmunds real-world testing, we were able to get out 274 miles, nearly 40 miles more than its EPA estimate.
Here's what I know you're dying to know-- how good or bad is that compared to the Model Y? Well, first off, that range should be more than good enough for most EV buyers. Also, it's not too far off from our real-world test of the Model Y. We got 317 miles out of it.
OK, so here's the deal. When it comes to charging, Tesla has the best charging network to date by far. Genesis, however, has a partnership with Electrify America. But we haven't had consistently positive experiences with their chargers. So we find charging a Tesla to be just a bit easier.
On the other hand, this Genesis charges faster than most EVs because of the way its battery is made with an 800-volt architecture that makes it easier to move power around. It's one way to make the hose bigger.
You know I'd love to really show you in this car, but I forgot the key, like I normally do. But you see this right here? It's a biometric scanner. Yep, your girl just got in a car with a face scanner.
Oh, and you can use the GV60's traditional key fob if that's your jam, or this thing has phone as key text so you can send your friends temporary digital keys too.
Look at this gear selector. It's a crystal ball looking wheel like an orb in the middle of the center console. Call me now, my child. Call me. OK, I might not be able to tell the future. But in this car, I feel like I'm already there. Boy-ee!
So dig it. When you start up the car, this ball actually flips into the gear selector. Then you twist it and get going. You first use the fingerprint scanner, and then you can hit the Start button.
And another thing-- do you want to go fast? How fast? Well, turns out, if you hit this little button right here, it gives you a pretty strong kick.
On the performance or sporty version, that button temporarily takes you from 429 horsepower, which is already a lot, to 483, giving you an extra 55 horsepower, making a significant highway pass a lot faster.
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration is standard. But unfortunately, you can't connect those features wirelessly. On the plus side, the infotainment system's menu is intuitive, and it's easy to set up your fingerprint and face scan entry.
In this Model Y, we have had some issues with its technology overall. Its advanced driver aids perform great in slow, stop-and-go traffic, but they can be annoying and give false alarms, which ultimately can startle drivers.
The Model Y also has only one screen for everything. And we find that to be pretty distracting while trying to focus on driving. In this GV60, your screen is there, but there are also buttons and controls that are easily accessible.
OK, I got to stop everything and talk about this interior. It is badass. With a blue and the outline of the green, it really personally gives me Italian sporty vibes, and I am here for it. The matte white on the outside with this navy blue on the inside, especially with this green stitching, oh my gosh, it's luxury and class, and I'm really digging it.
So when talking about these seats and the comfort, look, it's not Mercedes S Class luxury comfort, right? But it's decent, especially for what this car is. I'm not floating on a cloud on these seats, but I'm all right. I feel supported, and that is what's important.
One really cool thing about these seats is that they are both heated and cooled. I love that. The one thing that I'm not crazy about in this car is the storage space. The Model Y has so much storage in the front, and I love it. Here, the center console isn't very deep. You have your cupholders here. Fine. And you have a bunch of space down here where you could theoretically put things, like your purse. But it's going to roll all the way around everywhere. And that, to me, makes me nervous when I'm driving. I don't like that part.
Down here below the screen, you have a bunch of different buttons, and I appreciate physically touching a button, right? So you've got your radio, your media. You can turn your air and heat on here. The one thing that is not so great is you can't control the fan. So for fan speed and where the air is actually coming from, that's all touchscreen. I wish those were also physical buttons. But, hey, you can have everything your way.
So another physical button that you actually have here is for the volume. I personally wish it was like a knob. But you do have a roller in your center console, and that's nice. Sitting in this GV60, it's actually pretty nice. It's comfortable. The seat back here is at a nice little recline. So if I wanted to just-- I'm sorry. I'm awake. I'm still here. It's nice, though. I could totally see myself going to sleep here on a nice road trip. Love it.
Also, the flat ground here makes it feel more expansive. It gives a look of I can stretch out. I'm 5' 4", but someone who's about average height, a little bit taller than me, would actually get in and feel comfortable because there is that space there.
Another thing that is really nice when it comes to the ride quality back here-- the air vents. They're personalized. You know, usually in a back seat, they put the air vents as like an afterthought in the center console, and it just blows everywhere, and it barely touches you? Here, not a thing. You get your personalized air right here. I love that.
All right, we've also got some cup holders here on both sides. There's some space to put your little snacks. So yeah, it's not crazy spacious, but there is the thoughtfulness that is here for someone who's riding in the back.
And the last thing that I just cannot not talk about because I live in California and the sun is, like, always on you, even if you try and hide from it. Look at this, a nice little shade. Sun. Shade. I mean, you really can't lose when you're riding in this backseat.
On the other hand, we're a little disappointed with the Y. It provides good comfort in some areas and disappoints in others. The seats are well padded and provide ample support. But when the sun is out and beaming through the Y's expansive glass roof, it's uncomfortably hot.
Here in the Genesis, there's a cover for the roof. Who would have thought? The Genesis may have the posher cabin, but the Tesla has the edge when it comes to cargo space. The GV60 has only 24 cubic feet of storage space that's expandable to nearly 55 with the rear seats folded. By comparison, the Model Y has over 30 cubic feet, expanding to 72. Plus, it has a usable 4-foot frunk-- frunk, frunk-- compared to the shallow charge cord cubby in the Genesis.
All right, so right off the bat, this is the performance trim of the GV60 that I'm driving. So it is going to be pretty quick. In our Edmunds testing, it did 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds. That's really quick.
OK, you've heard me say "luxury" several times in this video referring to this car, and it's the exact same when it comes to the ride quality. Everything is really smooth. The handling is smooth. Steering is smooth-- braking, acceleration. It's just a great, playful car, and it's nice to be in. You can still throw it around a turn or two and have a good time.
So my rear visibility is a bit interesting. There's the window back here, but it's broken up by that center section where the trunk is. So for like two seconds, it just throws me off and is a little distracting. I'm not really a fan of that.
Speaking of visibility, one of the things I do like is the blind spot camera that once you turn on your signal, a camera will pop up in the dash. I like that.
Now, I do hear a little road noise from the tires. Is it enough to detract the overall luxury that I feel from the car? No, but it's definitely noticeable, so don't expect a Mercedes S Class type of ride. Overall, this Genesis is just a more comfortable and luxurious experience.
Truth is, both of these EVs have impressed us in a variety of different ways, one that's pioneered the way for electric cars and the other that's come along the path and found its own groove. But alas, I have to pick a winner. The Model Y has been one of our favorite EVs, and it's fought its way on the track with several drag races and provides amazing storage for our mini road trips. But is that enough to beat out this Genesis? Unfortunately not.
For these two, it's the newcomer that has proven to have the innovation, luxury, and build quality that we like to see. In our ratings, it received an 8.4, 0.3 better than the Model Y. The technology, power, and next level cabin luxury really sealed it for us.
While the GV60 is our winner, we do think both of these are good options when it comes to buying an EV that has great range, good speed, and practicality for your family. All right, I'm going go on unlock this with my face.
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