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Genesis may be fairly new to the UK market, but it’s already showing its towcar-creating credentials, says James Batchelor
Genesis might be a relative newcomer to the UK, but it has built up a strong reputation for its quality-feeling cars. And it produces a good towcar, too, judging by how well the GV60 (in earlier Sport Plus guise) performed at the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Towcar of the Year Awards last year. With a strong set of scores, I thought it was about time we gave the GV60 a more in-depth test.
Comfort – 87%
Genesis, the premium off-shoot of Hyundai, takes on the established European brands with a mixture of high style, quality and technology.
The GV60 arrived in 2022 and took the excellent, state-of-the-art 800V EV platform of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, and added a coupé-like SUV body and a super-plush interior. The car came in for a mid-life update in 2025, with Genesis replacing its original 77.4kWh battery with a larger 84kWh (80kWh usable) one, giving a healthy boost in range. (This Pure model’s claimed range has jumped by 27 miles.)
The Pure car I’m testing here is the entry-level model, but no Genesis feels basic. It’s very well equipped, with heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a display stretching across the dashboard, and premium materials throughout.
The large display – a new feature thanks to the facelift – is worth focusing on for a moment. The ultra-crisp OLED screen measures 27in, the graphics are superb and the menus are easy to navigate, thanks in no small part to the shortcut buttons on the fascia. While many carmakers have shunned physical buttons in their cars, Hyundai/Genesis sticks with them, and the GV60 is all the better for that.
There’s a new D-shaped steering wheel, wireless phone charging and a digital rear-view mirror. I’m normally not a fan of the latter, however a digital display is needed here as it gives a clearer view out the back – the car has a split rear window which hampers visibility, but the camera feed provides an uninterrupted view.
The original GV60’s party-piece remains – the ‘Crystal Sphere’ that, when the car is switched off, looks just like a crystal ball. Once the car is switched on it spins round to reveal the rotating gear selector dial. Unusual, but I think it’s a nice, quirky touch – it made me smile whenever I got into the car.
There’s plenty of passenger space up front, and while the GV60 is slightly shorter than its Hyundai and Kia sisters, room in the back is adequate. You’d think that the sloping roofline would eat into headroom, but thanks to a low, flat floor, that’s not the case.
At 432 litres the boot isn’t enormous and is comfortably beaten by many rivals, but the space itself is still square and very usable, plus there’s a low load lip. Meanwhile, 60/40 split-folding rear seats increase the area to more than 1,500 litres. As for towbars, Genesis only offers a detachable one – you have to attach it and detach it yourself. The towbar itself is £749 – that’s before fitting and doesn’t include the electrical connector kit.
Driving – 88%
The updated GV60 comes in three different flavours – Pure, Sport and Performance – with only the Pure being rear-wheel drive; the others have dual electric motors to give four-wheel drive. The Sport packs 314bhp while the Performance is boosted to 429bhp (483bhp for short bursts).
Unless you really need four-wheel drive, the 225bhp output of the Pure will be more than potent enough. Performance is best described as brisk rather than breathtaking, with 0-62mph taking 7.8 seconds. But the instant torque afforded by the rear-mounted electric motor means overtaking is effortless and motorway slip roads are handled with ease.
The GV60 may have a luxurious look and feel, but it’s also a surprisingly entertaining car to drive. The steering is accurate, and the car feels pretty agile – it resists body roll very well. And yet despite the stiff body control the ride remains smooth all of the time. One of the greatest qualities of the GV60 is its refinement – at cruising speeds it’s whisper quiet, with little more than a faint rustle from the mirrors.
The 800V electrical architecture allows ultra-rapid DC charging at up to 350kW, meaning a 10% to 80% recharge can take around 18 minutes. For caravanners travelling long distances, particularly across Europe where high-power chargers are becoming increasingly common, that’s a significant advantage.
Towing – 88%
All versions of the GV60 can tow up to 1,600kg, which means it can cover the requirements of many members, should they wish to switch their SUV to an electric one. And hitching the Genesis up to a caravan makes you realise how fantastic EVs are at towing.
The immediate availability of maximum torque makes any form of acceleration – whether needed for a gap in the traffic or that steep hill in Cornwall – remarkably straightforward. There’s no clutch to balance or turbocharger to wait for — simply press the accelerator and the GV60 pulls away cleanly and confidently.
Equally impressive is its stability. The car’s hefty kerbweight and the positioning of the battery low down in the centre means there’s a real planted feel when hitched up. Crosswinds and overtaking lorries have barely any effect, while the quick lane changes that judges performed under controlled conditions during Towcar 2026 were composed.
The whole car feels very agile and ride quality is barely affected by the extra weight of the caravan, while the multi-stage regenerative brakes bring the outfit to a halt very smoothly.
The only negatives are poor over-the-shoulder visibility due to the chunky C-pillars (but the digital rear view camera helps enormously in this regard) and the elephant in the room of any EV – range. When driving solo I was getting a real-world range of around 300 miles, but when hooked up that fell by around 100 miles in warm weather. Fortunately, the GV60’s rapid charging capability means you won’t be hanging around for long when charging but, as always, drivers would be wise to plan routes carefully to ensure charging areas can accommodate a towing outfit.
Gallery
Verdict – 88%
This is a really appealing electric SUV. It’s superbly refined, beautifully made and very relaxing to drive. It feels in its element when towing and, coupled with its fast-charging capabilities, could make many consider switching to electric power.
