I Drove The 641-HP 2027 Genesis GV60 Magma—Here’s Why It Won NWAPA’s Vehicle Of The YearAutoblogCole AttishaFri, September 25, 2026 at 9:00 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleAutoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Well before last week, I had already experienced the 2027 Genesis GV60 Magma doing things that, but a mere decade ago, no one would have believed a small electric crossover could ever do. At both Circuit Paul Ricard and COTA, Genesis sat me in the passenger seat next to some of its most experienced WEC drivers and let them fling the bright orange rockets around with the sort of committed energy that only the anticipation of race day and somebody else's tires can inspire. Both times, I climbed out thinking the same thing: I can't wait to drive this myself, and months later, that very opportunity arrived in Vancouver, Washington, at the annual Drive Revolution event put on by the Northwest Automotive Press Association. No pit walls, pro racing drivers, or infamous corners awaited me this time—just warm September sunshine, city streets, clear highways, and a cloverleaf that I looped around and around for what felt like ages because it was the nearest alternative to a handling course, and because it was just so darn fun.My Genesis-sanctioned speed-date-style test drive lasted about 30 minutes, so this is more of a first impression rather than a full in-depth verdict. Still, that was enough to understand that the Magma's defining quality is not its speed. Plenty of EVs are obscenely quick. What distinguishes this one is how it makes speed feel. With Virtual Gear Shift activated, I heard a high-strung V6, felt its vibrations rattle through my hands, and timed shifts against a 9,000-rpm redline that technically doesn't exist. Within minutes, I stopped consciously perceiving the experience as simulated. I eventually forgot I was driving an EV entirely—and quickly understood why the Magma deserved NWAPA's 2026 Vehicle of the Year award.2027 Genesis GV60 MagmaOfficial U.S. specificationStarting price$69,950Power600 hp; 641 hp in Boost Mode0–60 mph3.4 secondsBattery / EPA range84.0 kWh / 222 milesDC fast charging10–80% in as little as 18 minutesCharging portNative NACS2027 Genesis GV60 MagmaCole AttishaFamiliar Platform, Entirely Different AnimalImmediately before driving the Magma, I was behind the wheel of a Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited. That back-to-back comparison was so useful because the two share the E-GMP architecture, yet, driven minutes apart, they hardly felt related. The relaxed Ioniq leaned noticeably in corners and took on a much more sedate feel in power delivery, handling, and visual presentation. The Magma, however, felt low, tight, and planted, with better steering feedback and far less excess body movement. I have also driven the GV60 Sport, known in the United States as the GV60 Performance. That version feels like a normal GV60, given its serious power and virtual gear shifts, whereas the Magma feels as though Genesis started with a racing driver and rebuilt the GV60 around them. Even the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N takes another approach. The Hyundai has the longer, softer gait of a rapid grand tourer; the Genesis feels firmer, more compact, and more tightly wound. It has not simply borrowed familiar components and put on an orange uniform.Thinking about selling your car? Get an instant cash offer online now. Click here to get started.2027 Genesis GV60 MagmaCole AttishaIts Imaginary V6 Is The Star Of The ShowSprint Mode is Genesis's name for the Magma's most aggressive setting. Activate Virtual Gear Shift, or VGS for short, and the paddles control eight simulated ratios modeled after a dual-clutch transmission. Genesis adjusts motor output, torque, and regenerative braking during shifts, while e-Active Sound Design+ delivers a V6 soundtrack that spins up to a virtual 9,000 rpm. At lower revs, it sounds a bit like the GV80 Coupe's 3.5-liter V6 after someone fitted a more aggressive exhaust. Higher up, it erupts with the metallic rhapsody of an old-school Acura NSX, only with an even higher redline. I could swear I felt the engine vibrating through the steering wheel, despite knowing there was no such engine onboard.AdvertisementAdvertisementPull an upshift, and acceleration pauses briefly before returning with an incredible surge. Downshifts are quick and paired with convincing simulated engine braking. Refuse to shift, and it bounces off the limiter, providing the childish satisfaction of abusing a redline without the risk of witnessing a roflyingly out of the engine bay, up into the stratosphere. The illusion becomes especially persuasive in corners. I first felt the Magma manipulate its apparent weight transfer while riding with Genesis's racing drivers at Paul Ricard and COTA. On that Washington cloverleaf, albeit far less glamorous, I could finally experiment on my own. A mid-corner shift changes how power loads the chassis, while regeneration makes a downshift behave like real engine braking—the entire car participates in the fiction, not just the speakers. Switch VGS off, though, and the Magma becomes an extremely quick but far more conventional EV. That ultimately affords it a useful multi-dimensionality: silent and effortless when you want a Genesis, wonderfully theatrical when you want the Magma.2027 Genesis GV60 MagmaCole AttishaThe Chassis Helps Sell The IllusionThe first time I pressed the accelerator with all 641 hp available, my eyes widened, and I involuntarily shouted "Whoa!" to an empty cabin. Genesis claims 0–60 mph in 3.4 seconds, and nothing about that figure feels optimistic. More importantly, the acceleration was absurd without feeling unruly. Power reaches the road cleanly, the chassis feels rear-biased and playful, and the steering offers the weight and communication that are missing from many fast EVs. The body control may be even more impressive: the GV60 didn't roll or feel lofty through repeated bends, nor did its mass ever overwhelm its tires. Braking felt natural, while the regenerative component gives VGS downshifts purpose beyond making noise. Yet the Magma never forgets the "Genesis of it all." Its ride is firm in Sprint Mode but softens meaningfully in its comfort-oriented configuration, and road and tire noise remain properly subdued. Genesis hasn't confused discomfort with excitement.Shopping for a new car? Click here to get a great deal on your next vehicle. Powered by Carvana, no haggle pricing, 100% online.2027 Genesis GV60 MagmaCole Attisha2027 Genesis GV60 MagmaCole Attisha2027 Genesis GV60 MagmaCole AttishaAdvertisementAdvertisementLuxury Wearing Very Expensive SportswearVisually, subtlety was nowhere to be found. Magma Orange paint soaks up sunlight, tiny front canards hang down off the front bumper like fangs, a devil-tail-like wing elevates the rear, and its stocky stance gives the GV60 tremendous road presence. It's shouty enough to make discretion impossible, but nothing looks accidental or like an afterthought. Inside, orange plaid-like accents and beautifully finished materials reminded me of high-end golf attire: chic, expensive, and carefully coordinated, yet flexible enough to perform. The bucket seats are comfortable and supportive, every important touchpoint feels substantial, and nothing ever creaked or rattled. Simulated drama works far better when the physical car surrounding it feels this convincing.2027 Genesis GV60 MagmaCole AttishaWhy It Won The Whole ThingNWAPA's 17 journalists evaluated 20 vehicles over two days. Curiously, the Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ Electric won the BEV category while the Magma placed second, yet Genesis claimed the overall award. My ballot contained a similar contradiction: I ranked the Lexus ES 350e first among the EVs for its superior value, but voted for the Magma as overall Vehicle of the Year. The Mercedes offered excellent range, but its creaky, screen-heavy cabin and awkward styling weren't quite enough to win me over.The Magma's 222-mile EPA estimate is its biggest compromise, as many newer EVs exceed 300 miles. A native NACS port and 18-minute 10-to-80% charging make that easier to accept, while most commuters with home charging should find the range sufficient. At $69,950 (or $72,145 as tested, including optional Magma Orange Paint—$650—and Inland Freight & Handling—$1,545), the Genesis prioritizes involvement and character over numbers alone. Nothing else at Drive Revolution combined its talents so completely. It felt more exhilarating than the 777-hp supercharged V8-powered Ram TRX, as involving in its own synthetic fashion as the manual Acura Integra A-Spec and Mazda MX-5 RF, and better assembled than nearly anything else present. Its high-revving V6 doesn't actually exist, and its eight-speed transmission is entirely fake. The excitement, however, is completely real—and that, especially in a modern, high-tech EV, is an incredibly difficult thing to manufacture. The GV60 Magma hasn't just done it; it's nailed it.2027 Genesis GV60 MagmaCole AttishaAutoblog aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Sep 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the Reviews section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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