Genesis' first high-performance electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) "GV60 Magma" is a milestone that presents the brand's direction for the next 10 years. It aims to differentiate itself from other high-performance electric vehicles through "luxury high performance" that delivers both excellent performance and refined ride comfort. I recently test-drove the GV60 Magma, which promises not only fun on the track but also a comfortable trip to the track, in parts of Gyeonggi Province.
A striking orange known as "magma color" grabs attention from afar. The coupe-style body measures 4,635 mm long, 1,940 mm wide, and 1,560 mm high. Compared with the standard GV60, it is 50 mm wider and 20 mm lower, emphasizing dynamic yet stable driving performance.
Below Genesis' signature two-line headlamps is a wide air intake that spans the entire front end, and small wings (canard wings) on the front bumper help reduce lift, the upward force at high speed. A tail wing (rear spoiler) that stabilizes the rear while driving and the protruding side skirts also underscore that this is a high-performance vehicle.
The first impression when pressing the accelerator was "heavy." The actual curb weight is 2,250 kg, heavier than the standard GV60 (2,020–2,190 kg).
That does not mean it was slow. On the track, with sprint mode engaged, the speedometer hit 200 kph in an instant without keeping the accelerator down for long.
The GV60 Magma's front and rear electric motors deliver a combined maximum output of 609 horsepower and up to 740 Nm of torque, which determines instantaneous acceleration. If you floor the accelerator to trigger boost mode, which operates for up to 15 seconds, output rises to 650 horsepower.
At a straight-line test course inside the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (TS) Automobile Safety Research Institute in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, I pushed the Magma as hard as possible. Using launch control for a hard start, it can go from a standstill to 200 kph in 10.9 seconds. Even after hard braking for rapid deceleration, it came to a stable stop without a pronounced forward pitch.
Of course, it is not overwhelmingly ahead of other brands' high-performance EVs. Genesis noted, however, that by strengthening motor cooling and refining it for ultra-high-speed rotation, it secured performance that does not fade on track runs.
The GV60's appeal lies in its "sound." Activate the "virtual gearshift system (VGS) & active sound" and, as you drive, you hear a thrilling engine note that changes with pedal pressure. It is not just sound; you even feel vibrations through the body, enough to make you forget it is an EV.
This also helps at high speeds. Listening to the engine note makes acceleration, deceleration, shifting, and steering more intuitive.
At the same time, unnecessary external noise intrusion is minimized. Additional sound-absorbing and insulating materials are applied throughout the body, and the characteristic noise of the electric motor has been smoothed to reduce gear whine. Even at high speeds, conversations inside the cabin were clear, and wind noise from outside was not loud.
Bucket seats made of suede-like Shamood that hug the body are also a key element in reducing fatigue. In addition to six basic adjustments—fore-aft, up-down, and seatback angle—the lumbar and thigh sections can be adjusted in 10 directions. The seat slab (the area where the hips and thighs rest) firmly supports the legs to prevent the body from rolling.
However, the short driving range and low efficiency are disappointing. The combined driving range, calculated by adding city and highway driving on a single charge, is 346 km, and combined efficiency is 3.7 kWh per km. That day, I set off with 94% battery, and after about 50 km of road driving plus roughly a minute of testing inside the Automobile Safety Research Institute, about 60% remained. The GV60 Magma, sold in a single trim, is priced at 96.57 million won based on a 3.5% special consumption tax.