The Girls team at Evbuyer had the opportunity to explore the Genesis Electric Range of Luxury EVs, including the GV60, GV70, and G80, during a special event organized by “She’s Electric” at Grantley Hall Ripon on November 25th.

By ALEXANDRA SLINGBSY 
25 Nov, 2023

Hi, Alexandra here. Some of the more glamorous members of the EVBuyer team (that’s Jasmine and myself for clarity, sorry, Phil!) were fortunate enough to attend a unique event last weekend. In an arena which remains stubbornly male-centric, a few organisations are emerging with the common aim of demystifying the EV market for women, allowing us to understand this growing sector better and, in the case of this marvellous event hosted by She’s Electric, giving us back some precious ‘me time’ to boot!

Any occasion at Grantley Hall Luxury Hotels Yorkshire | Grantley Hall is bound to make you feel special, but gliding along the glorious driveway in unexpected November sunshine was a great way to start the day. The event was hosted in the spacious Garden Pavilion, which offered easy access to the stars of the show, a stable of brand new to the market EVs from Genesis.

Fascinating talks from automotive journalist Erin Baker, Lizzie Coles from PodPoint Electric Vehicle Charging Solutions | Pod Point (pod-point.com) and EV enthusiasts such as BBC weather presenter Abbie Dewhurst were scheduled throughout the morning, with plenty of opportunity for the attendees to ask questions. All interspersed with free time to wander the sophisticated ambience of Valeria’s Champagne and Cocktail Bar, filled with She’s Electric sustainable boutique partners, who had plenty of wonderful items on sale for people to browse.

For those that don’t know Genesis is the premium car division of Hyundai. As Genesis has announced that they will only be launching pure electric cars from 2025 we were excited to see if they lived up to the hype of being the luxury choice for the discerning EV buyer.

We were scheduled for a test drive at 11 am, so after being warmly welcomed by the Genesis team, we made our way out to the gravelled drive to check out the electric fleet – GV60, Electrified GV70 and Electrified G80. Genesis assigned us the sporty GV60 to drive, a high-performance crossover designed purely as an EV, with no ICE counterpart.

There’s a lot of smart styling to the exterior and as the first car to market with facial recognition and touch start, it’s so simple to access. Charging time is lightning fast, with an increase from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes and the security of a five-year warranty and 5-year scheduled servicing and roadside assistance thrown in gratis too. This particular model has up to 360kW at its disposal, and with boost and drift mode too, speed merchants won’t find it wanting.

The interior didn’t let the side down either, with our demonstrator upholstered in full Nappa leather with quilting, and aluminium trim, available in a choice of patterns and Bang & Olufsen sound system as an optional extra. The Innovation Pack adds a feast of extras, including HAD II, forward collision assist and remote smart parking, which we saw being demonstrated – very cool! I mentioned to our host that sitting in the back the car had a Bentley vibe and he explained that two of the designers are actually ex Bentley, so………

But how does it drive? First let’s talk about the Crystal Sphere. It sounds like a gimmick, but this beautiful sphere sits in the centre of the driver and passenger, gently glowing when the car is stationary.

When the car is ready to drive, it rotates, revealing the rotary gear selector. It is an elegant innovation that adds to the futuristic feel of this vehicle. And the drive? Smooth for both driver and rear passenger, plenty of legroom and with a super adjustable seat and steering wheel, you’re bound to find the right driving position for you.

With the narrow, winding roads of North Yorkshire at our disposal, we were able to give the car a good run, navigating even the icy patches of the road with confidence. When sports mode is activated, the seat subtly changes to grip you, enhancing the sports mode feel.

The price point does feel a little high for this luxury branch of Hyundai, but having said that, there’s such a plethora of innovation on this vehicle and a generous package of aftercare, that it probably does represent good value for money – I don’t really know what to compare it against, as it is very different to the EV offer already out there.

Why not look for yourself and make your own mind up? With Studios already in Battersea, Westfield and Edinburgh, we understand another will be opening in Leeds in the summer of 2024, but you can arrange a test drive most places in the UK, I believe. Genesis Electric | Genesis

Or do what we did and attend an event. Hopefully, She’s Electric will be rolling out more live events next year, expanding women’s understanding of the EV market and creating confidence in this new way of driving that’s here to stay.

If you’re contemplating transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) and require assistance in determining if it’s the right choice for you, the evbuyer team is on hand to help. Feel free to leave your questions on any article, or refer to our impartial guide titled “Switching To An EV? How To Make The Right Choice” for unbiased insights.