Finally the wraps are off the Genesis GV60 Magma, which was launched alongside the Genesis GV60 Advanced on a drive program in Canberra last month.

Make no mistake, the GV60 Magma is a whole new ball game, the name drawing on Genesis Magma Racing — the motorsport team which had its first start in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, 2026, with the GMR-001 Hypercar.

Sure, it shares its underpinnings with the Ioniq 5 N and Ioniq 6 N from sister brand Hyundai, though the Ioniq 6 N is 0.2 seconds faster in launch control (fair enough, it’s also lighter) — and $15,000 cheaper than the $130,000, plus on-road costs, Magma.

Oh, matte paint is $4000 extra — but just get the signature Magma Orange if you want to stand out.

What’s it like?

Striking, with 21-inch lightweight forged alloy wheels wrapped in low-profile 275/35 Pirelli P Zero tyres — and a distinctive rear spoiler with winglet design that I’m not a huge fan of — but, to be fair, is part of the aero characteristics.

It’s pure luxe inside, with 10-way electric quilted bucket seats, faux suede trim and sport metal pedals.

Because it’s a fundamentally different car to the GV60 Advanced, the five-star ANCAP safety rating doesn’t carry over (so it’s unrated), but it has more tech and both get, among other things, a 27-inch OLED display, Digital Key 2 that lets you do all sorts of cool things from your smartphone or smartwatch, satellite navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, plus a surround-view monitor.

Notably, only the Magma gets an interior vehicle-to-load plug that lets you charge appliances, a 12-inch head-up display, a digital interface that transforms the instrument cluster into a classic three-circle dial layout displaying driving data like motor and battery temperatures, speed and G-force — plus a phenomenal 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

The drive

Flawless on wriggly, winding roads.

Maybe this is the most reassuring steering and handling I’ve experienced on test — and it comes down to a combination of factors, including the suspension set-up (which does make for a firmer ride), electronic limited slip differential that controls torque between left and right wheels and a higher steering gear ratio for quick response time.

It’s 98km from the Hyatt, Canberra, to Margaret Whitlam Pavilion, at the National Arboretum, in Yarralumla, where we have lunch — passing through Woden Valley, Banks and Tidbinbilla before looping around Bullen Nature Reserve.

There’s more than enough power here: combined output is 448kW/740Nm (478kW/790Nm with “boost mode”) and there are three drive modes: Sprint, GT, and MY, which lets you apply custom settings for the e-LSD, electronic stability control and other performance parameters.

Maybe it has its place on the track, but not surrounded by forest, though you can adjust the volume of the sound track and leave it off in the cabin and on outside — and vice-versa.

Otherwise, it’s super quiet in the cabin with “active noise control-road”, laminated acoustic glass and reinforced door sealing.

Like in the GV60 Advanced, acceleration and braking are immaculately calibrated, so there’s no jerkiness driving — even in i-Pedal — and the ADAS is non-intrusive, apart from intermittent lane beeps on winding roads.

Energy use over five hours of intensive driving is 29.9kWh/100km, so higher than the 21.5kWh/100km claimed, but this car has been pushed by eager beaver motoring writers, so no surprises here.

The lowdown

+ All-wheel drive

+ Battery: 84kWh lithium-ion

+ Claimed range: 425km WLTP

+ Total outputs: 448kW/740Nm (478kW/790Nm with boost)

+ Energy use: 26.4kWh/100km

+ 0-100km/h: 3.6 seconds (in boost mode)

+ Maximum speed: 185km/h

+ Drag coefficient: 0.31 Cd

+ Tare mass: 2270kg

+ Braked towing capacity: 2400kg

Warranty and servicing

The GV60 comes with a five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty, which includes non-competitive, recreational driving on racetracks, five years of complimentary scheduled servicing as part of Genesis To You, which means the car is picked up and dropped off at your location so long as it’s within 50km of the nearest authorised service outlet, and complimentary roadside assistance.