New Genesis GV60 Magma 2026 review: more than just a posh Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

Verdict

The Genesis Magma department has taken the excellent Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and given it a posh makeover. All the wonderfully engaging driving dynamics are still in play, with a plusher cabin and more premium badge than its sister car. As a result, the GV60 Magma could well pose a problem for performance EVs from Germany. 

Admittedly, the colour takes some getting used to. The orange of the new Genesis GV60 Magma not only evokes the glowing lava that inspired the car’s name, but it could be seen as a warning – after all, we’re talking about high voltage here. 

Where the standard, single-motor GV60 has to make do with a meagre 226bhp, and the dual-motor Performance version boasts 483bhp, the Magma has 601bhp available – and in overdrive for 15 seconds, even 641bhp. If those numbers sound familiar, it’s because Genesis has taken the set-up found in the ballistic Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and Ioniq 6 N models from parent company Hyundai.

As with those N cars, the Magma’s electric motors unleash their power eruptively – raw, powerful and full of energy. It accelerates from 0 to 62mph in just over three seconds and the 164mph maximum is very high for an EV, where the power often tails off at speed.

While Genesis might be the premium arm of Hyundai, its Magma division is all about thrills, showcased by the GV60 Magma’s development at the legendary Nürburgring. Not only does it adopt its power from Hyundai’s N division, but it also makes use of its impressive software and chassis hardware to deliver some customisable wizardry. 

With the Magma (and its Hyundai siblings), the Koreans have finally managed to inject a bit of genuine emotion into the electric car. Yes, there are more options to tailor the driving experience than on a PlayStation, and, if desired, even a sound system reminiscent of a spaceship. 

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But there’s also the somewhat authentic burble of a petrol engine and a simulated dual-clutch transmission with torque interruption and a rev limiter that can bring a smile to even the most diehard petrolheads. There are also half a dozen driving modes that can turn you into a drift king, or help a Nürburgring novice to set a blistering lap time. You can even adjust the battery cooling configuration, if you want to do a fast qualifying lap followed by an endurance race. 

All this digital stuff sounds terribly silly in theory, but in practice it’s surprisingly effective. There may be more powerful and faster electric cars, but hardly any are as passionate as the Genesis. The noise isn’t the same as the Ioniq 5 N’s four-cylinder sound inspiration, instead there’s a blend between a V6 and an eighties techno-pop tune. It fits perfectly, mostly because it doesn't try to be too serious. Compared with the Ioniq 5 N, which uses a Bose sound system, the GV60 Magma comes with a bespoke Bang & Olufsen stereo instead. 

As in the Ioniq 5 N, you sit a bit higher up in the Genesis compared to the Ioniq 6 N, but it is notably different inside. Genesis, as a premium brand, brings a touch more finesse to the dark cabin, using more refined materials and giving the firm seats a slightly more plush feel than the Hyundai. You’ll find the same 27-inch display as the standard GV60, and an identical crystal-orb gear selector housed in the centre console that rotates when you turn the car on. 

The suspension, for all its precision, isn’t quite so uncompromising either, showing a hint of consideration for the occupants. Tyrone Johnson, Genesis’ vehicle development director, previously told us that compared to the track-orientated Ioniq 5 N, the Magma was more “at home driving on [the German autobahn] in a very spirited, high-speed manner.” To further bolster this, the GV60 also gets uprated double-glazing for a quieter cruise. Yes, the GV60 packs a punch like an iron fist, but Genesis has wrapped it in a velvet glove before it hits you in the gut.

There is a premium for this added finesse, however. While the Ioniq 5 N and Ioniq 6 N both start at £65,800, the GV60 Magma is priced over £10,000 more. The Genesis offers no extra excitement behind the wheel than its sister cars, but the added dose of refinement could well turn the heads of electric AMG buyers – especially when you consider the new AMG GT costs more than twice as much as the Magma.

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