test drives

By Tim Saunders

Night driving is an excellent way of putting a car through its paces because the roads are clearer – it does also test a driver’s abilities. I get to do this with the third generation Kia Sportage as I return from GuilFest’25 late at night. The roads are clear and it’s so much more fun than the crawl we endure during the day. But you have to have your wits about you, not just second-guessing other motorists who seem even less competent than usual at this time of night but also anticipating any wildlife making its way onto the roads. You don’t want to kill a deer.

Even in economy mode the 1.6-litre engine is responsive and engaging to drive. It’s the ideal vehicle for Britain’s terrible roads because it soaks up the potholes and tackles speed bumps with ease. Outside my son Henry’s school the road has been dug up – yet again - for gas works and a temporary rubber speed bump has been installed. The Kia’s excellent suspension handles this well, too. At GuilFest we need to park in a massive field and have to drive quite a way across to find our space. Although we bump all over the place, it’s great fun and still feels solid when abused like this.

The sat nav could be better. In common with most it tells you to go on the motorway but I want to go the more picturesque back way from Locks Heath to Guildford so bend it to my will by driving to Wickham on to Alton and finally it gets the message. Guidance leaves a little to be desired, telling me to go left or right on occasions when it should be straight ahead. But we get there without too much aggro. Driving on the back roads we spy fields of wildflowers and a variety of surfaces that allow for travelling at all speeds from 30mph up to the national speed limit.

“It feels too large,” says Caroline, who prefers a smaller vehicle. I know what she means but after a while you get used to it and it does provide very capable family transport while looking smart on the outside.

Inside it’s comfortable, equipped with lots of gadgets and most importantly for me a six-speed manual gearbox, which provides that proper traditional driving experience. There’s an electric handbrake and a push button start.

The back of the rear seats can be adjusted, too, which is a nice touch and the boot is massive, especially when the seats are down. It’s really easy to put the seats down, too. All of this means that I can take lots of rubbish to the tip, which is really helpful.

Facts at a glance

Video

By Tim Saunders

Porsche performance at a fraction of the price. That’s the Genesis GV60 Sport Plus luxury SUV.

Thanks to the Boost button positioned on the steering wheel it is possible to travel from 0 to 60mph in just 3.7 seconds. The same as a Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid. The top-of-the-range Genesis is priced at £66,900 compared to the Porsche, which starts from £154,000.

There are three driving modes and probably the two most important are Eco and Sport for obvious reasons. Interestingly when Sport is engaged the lumbar supports tighten up and embrace the driver. A neat touch that is often found in far more expensive cars.

You can feel the G-force when Boost is pushed; it should come with a health warning – we’re all pushed back in our seats and I can feel my face being reshaped with the pressure. No plastic surgery required here! “Go on press it again Dad,” urges Henry (9). “Go on Dad, go on.”

“We’re in a 40, Henry, I can’t do that, you’d lose my licence,” I reply. He does enjoy himself.

All this adrenalin can make things a bit sweaty and so it is helpful that the front seats are cooled (they’re also heated). The back seats are heated.

Electrically powered vehicles are that bit quicker than traditional petrol or diesel versions meaning that cars like this demand utmost respect and attention from the driver. More so than usual. Great care needs to be taken when reversing and parallel parking because you just need to touch the pedal and the car moves quickly.

Illuminous yellow brake callipers hint at the capabilities of this luxury vehicle while enhancing the strong side profile of the pearlescent jade green test model. That illuminous yellow appears on the seat stitching. I’m not so keen on the GV60’s front or large rear, which I feel lacks character.

This fully electric rear wheel drive and pretty futuristic looking Genesis has a range of around 250 miles per full charge and as with all electric vehicles there are fast chargers that will replenish it in around half an hour but they’re hard to find and don’t always work. But it’s also possible to use a three-pin plug (cables supplied in the boot) but charging will take 24 hours.

It gets a thumbs up from the children who enjoy the space in the back. “Even in the middle there’s room because the floor’s flat, not like in a traditional petrol-engined car,” says Heidi (12).

The interior is full of interest with different fabrics including a bit of suede on the doors and roof lining and leather seats, giving it a unique feel. We all enjoy the panoramic glass roof and the electric blind that covers it splits in two when it retracts. The door handles are circular and the gearbox dial rotates when the car starts or stops and lights up at night, giving it a similar appearance to an eyeball… All very flash; the children like it. The high end music system is by Bang & Olufsen, say no more. Like all modern life, this vehicle is integrated for use with a smartphone but this is one step too far for me. Living life by app goes against my grain.

The personalised number plate: GV60 FAB reminds me of that popular ‘60s TV show, Thunderbirds. That does make me smile.

It seems a pretty efficient vehicle and the range remains encouraging throughout the test, even after using Boost, which is a surprise because I expect it to suddenly plummet. During one trip, a delivery driver on a moped keeps egging us on to go faster in a 30mph zone. When we enter a 50mph zone, I gently push the accelerator and can’t see him any more in my mirrors. That quick acceleration is enjoyable.

Externally, the GV60 is a striking vehicle that stands out from the crowd of electric vehicles. It possesses that special quality that makes pedestrians and motorists do double takes.

The unwelcome death knell of the chainsaw starts up once again in our neighbourhood and we’re very concerned about the hundreds of year old oak in a garden behind our house. I drive round and speak to the tree surgeon by the roadside and the moment I pull up, his eyes fall on the Genesis and he’s ready to speak. Oh the respect. Would this have happened if I was in any other car? I do wonder. It seems that cars are like clothes these days. People instantly weigh you up as a result. In the same way that a Savile Row suit might impart confidence and command respect, so too, it seems, does the GV60.

“It’s the fastest and best car we’ve driven Dad,” concludes Henry.