Hyundai’s luxury brand is mere days away from a multi-markets expansion. This, as the former EVs-only strategy is scrapped, replaced by a more sensible approach, that being the addition of hybrid and range extender powertrains.
Sihyeok (‘Sean’) Lee, an eight-year veteran of Genesis, takes over as Global Head on 1 January, replacing Min Kyu (‘Mike’) Song. And it’s set to be a big year for the division with all manner of novelties due either to be revealed or in showrooms.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Hybrids and EREVs coming, but first…
Confirmed highlights include the roll-out of Magma; the GV90 full-size SUV; HEV and EREV/REEV powertrains for existing models; and the entry to new markets, including France, Italy, Spain and The Netherlands.
Genesis remains especially strong in the USA and South Korea, with China, three European markets, Australia and other equally regions/countries each playing a small if worthwhile supporting role.
While discontinuing certain EVs in America has come as no surprise, the existing single electric-native model is still going strong elsewhere. It will also be one of three EVs to be launched in those four new EU markets one week after Christmas.
…the sole native-electric model is updated
It’s all too easy to forget what a novel and innovate electric vehicle the GV60 remains, four years on from its debut. You don’t see too many of them on UK roads; well, you don’t see many Genesis models in general but Hyundai is determined that this will steadily change.
What will really help in some countries is the addition of Magma vehicles, the GV60 being the launch model. Revealed in November, this is the first proper added-performance Genesis. Think of it as equivalent to Hyundai N whereas the also-announced Magma Special is like N Line, i.e. sports looks but without the big power boost and specially adapted chassis dynamics.
It’s too early for me to have sampled the GV60 Magma but what we do know already is how it will look when production starts in 2026, as well as the raw numbers. In addition to lowered suspension and wider tracks, there are bespoke bumpers, 21-inch wheels, gloss black wheel-arches and a rather large rear wing.
Dual motors and 610-650 PS
Also new are Drift Mode, VGS (Virtual Gear Shift) and HPBC (High-Performance Battery Control). The last of these means artificial shift sounds and faked high revs, while outputs are 448 kW and 740 Nm, but up to 478 kW with 790 Nm when in Boost Mode (15 seconds). Compared to the standard GV60, there is a second motor, this being positioned up front.
There will be more to say about the first Magma vehicle very soon but right now, the focus in the British and new EU markets is on the revised electrified line-up. I’ll have more to say about the G80 in January, along with some news of forthcoming additional variants yet for now, let’s look at the updated GV60.
You do have to stand and gaze for a few seconds before noticing what’s different. Where there had been a triangular motif above the front registration plate, this is now replaced by a rectangle with curved corners. Bumpers are also new, as are the headlights and (21-inch) wheels while instead there is a bigger dash display. None of the many lovely real physical dials and switches has vanished either.
Greatly improved heating system
Every time I got into the GV60, the first thing to do would be press position 1 or 2 for the steering wheel heating then 1, 2 or 3 for the seat, followed by holding a steering wheel button to deactivate steering wheel wrestling. Simple. The lovely crystal-look plastic ball then revolves to reveal P-R-N and D. Press your desired direction and the car move away. All very tactile and delightful.
If the many terrific things which already existed haven’t been messed with, then even better is discovering that what I recall as being a pretty ordinary HVAC system in previous Genesis EVs is now greatly improved.
Thanks to a heat pump, the GV60’s cabin warms up in a flash, and the air conditioning clears all condensation just as rapidly. Many electric cars can be chilly in winter, some after half an hour or more of heating set to full tilt. So you lose loads of range and for nothing. Not the case here though.
Bigger battery = 300+ real world miles
Hyundai has made another big change, that being an 84 kWh (gross) battery. Replacing the former 77.4 kWh pack, claimed maximum range lengthens to 348 miles, which is an official 27 more than before. Naturally, selecting Sport as one of the four drive modes drops that but in Economy, even in winter around 310-320 seems realistic.
You may choose from RWD or 4WD and outputs from the rear motor are 168 kW (229 PS) and 350 Nm. The Pure trim level car I tried means two-wheel drive but opting for either Sport of Performance grades means both axles are driven thanks to a second motor. Power jumps to 329 kW (447 PS) and 360 kW (490 PS) respectively.
For a vehicle which is only about the same size as a Sportage, the GV60 packs a lot of space for both people and gear. There’s even a series of compartments below the boot floor, though cables are stored not there but in a special case which is plonked on the luggage bay’s carpet. Even so, luggage capacity is 432 litres, expanding to 1,550 mm. And while most owners will hardly ever bother lifting the bonnet, there’s a further 20 litres there.
Electric-native platform
Now that what remains the only E-GMP Genesis is in mid-life, it should by rights be falling behind rivals. In point of fact, HMG’s electric architecture is still a better design than some of the German premium marques’ platforms. Battery positioning does not encroach on places where passengers need space, overall weight isn’t excessive and the driving dynamics will continue to surprise anyone new to the brand. The steering could perhaps be slightly sharper but it’s still nicely direct.
What else might be revealed in 2026?
The arrival of the Magma in 2026 should give the GV60 another boost, no pun intended, after the facelift helped to lift worldwide sales in 2025. Then comes the GV90 (codename: JG1, build at Ulsan plant 6), insiders claiming that this big SUV will be revealed in June.
There may perhaps even be the announcement of a small production run for two high-priced cars based on the X Coupe and X Convertible concepts in Q3; plus a second Magma GT prototype; another facelift, Magmas, and 2.5-litre hybrid drive for the GV80 and Coupe; followed by a GV70 EREV right at year’s end. None of this is official information but it does show just how determined HMG is to broaden Genesis’ appeal and models line-up.
Summary
When the stated intention to make Genesis electric-only was reversed in 2024, some wondered if that meant the GV60 would perhaps fade away. Not at all. It’s one of the best vehicles in the premium E-SUV class, with the potential to change the minds of many EV-sceptics. Such people just need to open their minds, and think of the brand as being where Lexus was in the UK and greater Europe a couple of decades ago.
The Genesis GV60 is priced from GBP54,115 OTR.
