DRIVE one of the new breed of powerful BEVs and you have to be honest with yourself, and decide whether you're in it for the thrill of speed or the luxury of silent travel.

Focus on speed in the smooth, rounded shape of the Genesis GV60 and you'll see the possible driving range slip away faster than a tenner in a tornado.

Choose, instead, to capitalise on the refined progress with gentle pressure on the right-hand pedal and stretch the milesâ¦at least to around 250-miles, which is just about acceptable to the average motorist.

It's got to be mentioned that for those who succumb to temptation and give it some welly, the results are impressively quick. 62mph comes up in barely 4 seconds - that's Porsche 911 territory and 100mph is eclipsed in single figures. All the while, the GV60 feels unflustered, well-planted and uncannily silent.

Recently refreshed with racier front bumper and cabin tweaks, the GV60 is about the size of an Audi Q4 so it's a family five-seater with decent boot space and a small luggage compartment up front where the engine would be in an ICE car.

The interior is well designed and even better finished in solid, classy materials as befits a car from the prestige arm of the Hyundai group.

There's a distinct Middle East or American flavour to the design and colour schemes chosen for the interior - these are after all important markets for Genesis, which was launched in UK back in 2021, during the Covid outbreak.

Front seats are wide, comfortable and reasonably supportive, the floor front and rear is flat and free from intrusions. And the fascia and switch layout strike the right balance between physical knobs and on-screen controls. Most owners will quickly master it.

Heads-up display, electrically adjustable seats and a smart centre console with storage space below add a sense of style coupled to genuine family practicality. The passenger side cubby is in effect a tray for oddments - very neat.

The Sport Plus version, driven here, packs serious punch from its 77.4kWh battery, and there's even a boost button on the steering wheel which generates combined power of almost 500bhp - the sort of pick-up that pins your back to the seat.

It is four wheel drive and has two electric motors, one for each axle.

With so much clout available it's vital that cornering and handling are a dynamic match. Fortunately, all wheel drive ensures the fat, low profile tyres stay firmly placed on the Tarmac as the power is transmitted. Ride is smooth enough when getting a clip on but at town speeds over pock-marked surfaces it tends to be somewhat joggly.

Inevitably, the car's size and bulk cannot be denied and ultimately the physics factor comes into play and limits adhesion. But all is safe and controlled with a degree of predictability, although road-feel is somewhat restricted.

Range is given at 289 miles, but we generally managed to squeeze in no more than 250 miles, which diminished noticeably at motorway speeds, and more so if the air con was pumping out during the recent heatwave.

With its distinctive looks, punchy acceleration and luxury image, the GV60 is well placed to challenge more established prestige SUVs.

£67,715

77.4kWh electric motor developing 487bhp driving 4 wheels via automatic gearbox

146mph

4.0 sec

289miles

48

0g/km

3%

5yrs/100,000 miles

4.0