The Genesis GV60 Shows Just How Far Electric Cars Have Come

When the Nissan Leaf launched in 2010, it was revolutionary. It was one of the first mass-produced plug-in electric cars, and it defined the category for years—but to sit behind its wheel was to court compromise at every turn. At the time, the pitfalls of piloting a zero-emission vehicle included: scarce infrastructure, long charging times (eight hours from a 200-volt source), limited range (about 100 miles), pokey performance (zero to 60 in 10.8 seconds), and a bulbous (if oddly lovable?) profile.

To step inside a state-of-the-art EV more than a decade later is to feel the promise of electric cars signed, sealed, and delivered, with few tradeoffs left to spoil the fun. A week ago, I did exactly that as I put the 2023 Genesis GV60 through its paces in Austin, Texas. (The company covered meals, travel, and accommodations, and set me loose in a Performance AWD model.)

Performance

While tracing the curves of the Colorado River through winding Hill Country roads, the GV60 sat firmly planted through corners and accelerated with ease. It never felt wanting for power—but that didn’t stop me from mashing the bright-yellow "Boost" button, which unlocks a 10-second, 483 horsepower burst, and a zero to 60 time of four seconds flat. Fast and furious, indeed.