Evaluation: EV faceoff: Genesis GV60 versus Volvo C40

If you need a small, premium electrical SUV that doesn’t appear like a field, you don’t need to stretch your pockets to a Tesla Mannequin Y. A number of less-expensive merchandise have just lately entered this curved-roof nook of the luxury-crossover EV phase, together with these two subcompacts.

The brand new-this-year Genesis GV60 brings a unique form that leaves you questioning precisely what class it occupies (Genesis calls it a coupe SUV). The Volvo C40 Recharge is actually an XC40 with a fastback silhouette; not like its boxier sibling, nevertheless, the C40 comes solely as a full electrical.

The Volvo begins at $59,950 for the Core trim, however you could possibly get that as much as $69,995 (Plus package deal) or $74,600 (Final). The dearer fashions add luxurious, comfort and security options, however no extra efficiency than the usual 300 kilowatts.

The Volvo is a greater efficiency worth than the “base” Genesis GV60 Superior, which brings solely 234 kilowatts at its $71,150 urged value. Nonetheless, for those who spring $79,000 for the Efficiency mannequin examined right here, you get 320 kilowatts routinely, with an obtainable “overboost” to 360 for as much as 10 seconds.

Complicating the value comparisons, Genesis pricing is all-inclusive, whereas freight, pre-delivery inspection (PDI) and different charges need to be added to the Volvo. Then again, solely the Volvo qualifies for the federal $5,000 iZev rebate as a result of it has a urged base value of lower than the $60,000 most.

Seems

The Genesis appears longer and decrease than the Volvo as a result of, nicely, it’s. That stated, solely you may determine whether or not you like the voluptuousness of the Genesis, with its cab-forward proportions and clamshell hood, or the chunky, pugnacious Tonka-toy form of the Volvo.

Inside

A low-profile dashboard on the GV60 is topped by a superwide free-standing glass panel housing two 12.3-inch screens – a digital gauge cluster in entrance of the motive force, and an infotainment display to the appropriate. There’s loads of precise knobs and switches however their vibrant metallic end renders them difficult to learn. A floating centre console above the flat ground is dwelling to a twist/toggle/faucet display interface, plus a “fortune-teller’s” crystal ball that gives temper lighting when the automobile is off, and rotates to develop into the rotary drive selector once you’re able to go.

All this imaginativeness leaves the C40′s cockpit trying decidedly conventional by comparability. Its gauge cluster can be a display, however inhabits a standard place on the dashboard. The vertical infotainment display (powered by Google Android) resides individually on the centre stack. A toggle-style shift deal with sits atop a standard centre console that creates a barrier between the entrance foot wells. Getting comfy isn’t troublesome, however the total impact is intimate (claustrophobes beware), in distinction with the GV60′s “open area” theme.

Quite a few normal Genesis comfort-and-convenience options, together with energy passenger seat, heated steering wheel and heated rear seats, want the costly Final pack on the C40. And no C40 at any value has Genesis occasion methods like face-recognition unlocking, and fingerprint-reading keyless begin.

For passengers, the C40 is about as roomy as you’d count on in its measurement class whereas the GV60 is a space-efficiency overachiever. Most notably, it incorporates about 75 millimetres extra total legroom than its smaller-on-the-outside rival.

Efficiency

Their vary figures are unremarkable, however the GV60′s 378-kilometre declare (Efficiency mannequin) edges the Volvo’s 364 (battery capacities are nearly equivalent at 77.4 and 78 kilowatt hours, respectively). Each can recharge in about eight hours at 11 kilowatts on a Stage 2 charger. On an acceptable DC quick charger, the 800-volt Genesis can go from 10 to 80 per cent in 16 minutes; the 400-volt Volvo is proscribed to 149 kilowatts and takes 31 minutes (figures from ev-database.org).

That’s one sort of velocity. The opposite is the GV60 Efficiency mannequin’s ripping four-second run to 100 kilometres an hour, which beats the Volvo’s claimed 4.7 seconds (as nicely it ought to, for a $20,000 increased value). That stated, we’d count on the Volvo to be faster than the bottom GV60.

The Volvo is entertaining in a frisky-puppy manner, with full of life, taut steering and rapid acceleration off the road (not like in some EVs, you don’t really feel the facility is being modulated at launch to stop wheel-spin). With little in the best way of adjustable this and robotically variable that, its dynamics really feel actual and constant. What you are feeling is what you get – together with, it have to be stated, a considerably stressed trip high quality.

In distinction, the GV60 Efficiency (the one model we’ve pushed) gives a number of methods to regulate the drive expertise, governing efficiency, suspension, steering, brakes and traction. It even has a Drift mode. That stated, we had been stunned to search out that with out even attempting to float, the Genesis feels as if the tail finish may let go when pushed arduous? if it weren’t reined in by stability management. Much more stunning, that trait was extra evident within the default Consolation mode. Switching to Sport mode settled it down with out sacrificing a lot of its superior trip high quality.

For all its adjustability, the GV60 Efficiency left us lamenting the times when the most effective automobiles had only one chassis configuration, accomplished proper.

Know-how

The GV60′s increased base value displays its even richer degree of normal options. Most notably, the Volvo wants the $14,650 Final pack to get adaptive cruise and different driver-assistance options which are normal on the bottom GV60. And solely the Genesis has a head-up show.

Cargo

The GV60′s cargo volumes (680 litres seats up, 1,550 seats down) comfortably exceed phase norms, and the C40′s (413 and 1,205) fall brief. The Volvo, nevertheless, is extra user-friendly; it has a pass-through hatch for gadgets like skis, its seat backs fold flatter, and there’s an obtainable foldable load ground/divider. And whereas every has a entrance truck (frunk), the Volvo’s is large enough to take the charging cable.

The decision

Each autos are in tight provide, however for my tastes, I’d attempt to discover a base C40. Its $60,000-ish value will get you a quick, fun-to-drive EV in a comparatively conservative, typical wrapping – an electrical wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing. Your priorities, nevertheless, would possibly differ. At give-or-take $70,000, for instance, the mid-level Volvo Plus pack is quicker than the “base” GV60 Superior, however the Genesis delivers more room, consolation and options, with love-it-or-loathe-it aesthetics. Transferring as much as about $75,000, the Volvo Final pack closes the hole on options, however for an additional $4,000, the GV60 Efficiency goes forward on efficiency.

Tech specs

Genesis GV60 Efficiency

Base value/as examined: $71,150/$79,000

Powertrain: Twin electrical motors, whole 320 kilowatts (430 horsepower) with “overboost” to 360

Transmission/drive: One-speed/all-wheel drive

Vitality consumption (Litres of gasoline equal per 100 kilometres): 2.4 metropolis/2.9 freeway

Alternate options: Audi This autumn e-tron, Kia EV6, Mercedes EQB, Volvo XC40, Volvo C40

Volvo C40 Recharge

Base value/as examined: $59,950/$74,600

Powertrain: Twin electrical motors, 300 kilowatts (402 horsepower)

Transmission/drive: One-speed/all-wheel drive

Vitality consumption (Litres of gasoline equal per 100 kilometres): 2.5 metropolis/2.9 freeway

Alternate options: Audi This autumn e-tron, Genesis GV60, Kia EV6, Mercedes EQB

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