2026 Genesis GV60 Magma Review: Who HURT Hyundai to Make This Beast?

Price: $74,000-$85,000 (estimated US) | $110,000+ AUD | Launch: 2026 (Korea Q3, Europe Q4, US Q1 2026)

TL;DR Should You Buy the Genesis GV60 Magma?

YES, if you want:

• 650hp electric performance in luxury packaging (478kW with Boost Mode)
• Drift mode with electronic limited-slip differential
• Virtual gear shifts with multiple engine sounds
• Premium Chamude suede interior with orange stitching
• Ioniq 5 N performance with Genesis refinement
• Track capability that still works as a daily grand tourer

MAYBE NOT, if you need:

• The absolute cheapest performance EV (Ioniq 5 N is ~$67K)
• Maximum track aggression over luxury comfort
• Range over 250 miles (final EPA rating TBA)
• Subtle styling (that orange paint is LOUD)

Bottom Line: The Genesis GV60 Magma is the first production vehicle from Genesis’ new Magma performance sub-brand, and it’s basically a luxury-wrapped Ioniq 5 N with 650hp, drift mode, and a price tag to match. If you want AMG/M-level performance in an electric SUV without compromising on luxury, this is it.

Introduction The First Magma Is Here and It’s Absolutely Mental

You’re looking at the first ever production Genesis Magma vehicle. The GV60 Magma. And we’re at Circuit Paul Ricard in France for the global launch of Genesis’ new performance sub-brand, complete with insanely loud orange paint and enough power to embarrass most sports cars.

This is basically a lowered, widened Genesis GV60 on absolute crack. Think of Magma as Genesis’ answer to Mercedes-AMG and BMW M. More power, fine-tuned suspension, bold styling, and track-ready tech wrapped in luxury.

And yes, it shares a lot with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N underneath. Same platform, similar power output, same virtual gear shift tech. But Genesis has refined it, made it more luxurious, and crucially, given it just enough extra power to maintain the luxury brand hierarchy.

Let’s dive into what makes this thing special.

Exterior Design Lowered, Widened, and Loud

Starting at the front, if we ignore the incredibly loud orange paint for a moment, you’ll notice the triple-arrow design at the front, the darkened Genesis logo, and all-black bodywork that looks extremely menacing.

Key Design Changes:

• Lowered by 20mm compared to standard GV60
• Wider track for improved stability
• Redesigned front bumper with three-hole structure exclusive to Magma
• Massive orange brakes 400mm rotors, four-piston monoblock calipers
• 21-inch forged wheels wearing Pirelli P Zero tires (model-specific, 275mm width)
• 360-degree camera built into aero-optimized pods
• Pop-out door handles for improved aerodynamics

Moving to the rear, you’ll see the completely redesigned wheel arches with more aero treatment and that massive signature wing.

The Wing: This isn’t just for show. The wing has “Genesis” spelled out in black and generates legitimate downforce to improve wheel grip and control at speed. The rear diffuser has been redesigned too, optimizing airflow underneath the car.

The Result? This thing looks aggressive without being tacky. It’s lower, wider, meaner, but still unmistakably a Genesis. The orange paint (Magma’s signature color) makes a bold statement you can’t ignore.

Stopping Power: Those 400mm brakes can stop the GV60 Magma from 100km/h to zero in about 30 meters. Insane stopping power for a heavy EV.

Interior Chamude Suede, Orange Everything, and Bucket Seats

Coming inside the GV60 Magma and okay, full disclosure, the review car was dead during my initial walkaround. Either that or I couldn’t figure out how to turn it on. But let’s talk about the changes Genesis made.

Magma-Specific Interior Features:

Steering Wheel: Redesigned specifically for the Magma. They’ve optimized the shape of the steering rim to make it easier to grip while carving corners around a track. It feels substantial, purposeful.

Materials: Orange stitching everywhere. Orange highlights absolutely everywhere. Including an incredibly orange seat belt so the cameras will always know if you’re wearing it. Most surfaces are covered in Chamude (suede-like material) with distinctive quilting and orange/grey stitching throughout.

Seats: Really nice, comfortable bucket seats engineered to perfection. They’re designed to be supportive on track but comfortable for long-distance grand touring. The side bolsters are soft but still very supportive. Perfect under-thigh support and sitting angle so you’re sitting low but still being supported.

It’s very, very comfortable. Genesis is trying to make this a grand tourer something you can drive long distances, but then also take on track and be an absolute menace.

Tech: Magma-specific infotainment with a triple-circle setup showing motor temp, battery temp, speed, and G-Force when in Magma Mode. There’s also a heads-up display projecting key info like speed, regenerative brake levels, and remaining boost time.

Drive Modes: You get Magma-specific drive modes: GT mode and Sprint mode. Genesis has calibrated the throttle, brakes, and everything to match those modes. There’s also a MY mode for custom settings.

The Boost Button: On the steering wheel, there’s a dedicated boost button. Press it and the electric motors open up, giving you maximum power and maximum torque for 15 seconds. You can also activate it automatically in GT mode with a kickdown throttle for overtaking.

Virtual Gear Shifts: Similar to the Ioniq 5 N, but with Magma-specific engine sounds. It plays through external speakers too, so people outside can hear your fake V6. You get gear shift lights on the heads-up display for extra immersion.

Paddle Shifters: Redesigned paddles that feel so good. Like ASMR for your fingers. They’re responsive, tactile, satisfying to use.

Rear Seats Proper Grand Tourer Space

It wouldn’t be a proper grand tourer SUV if it didn’t have comfortable rear seats. Sitting behind my totally normal driving position (okay, it was awkward because the car was off), I have plenty of legroom and heaps of toe room.

Pretty much exactly what you’d expect from an Ioniq 5, Genesis GV60, or Kia EV6 all cars built on this E-GMP platform.

You get the same Chamude suede with checkered pattern very motorsport-inspired. The center armrest folds down with cup holders. There are USB-C chargers with a bit of storage.

And yes, there’s space for your vomit bucket for when your dad’s taking you on track. Again.

NVH Improvements: Genesis has put a lot of work into noise, vibration, and harshness. They’ve added structural adhesive, completely stiffened the chassis, and added noise-insulating glass. The result is a cabin that feels isolated and refined even at high speeds.

Performance 650HP Electric Brutality

Powering the GV60 Magma are two electric motors making 448kW (601hp) combined to all four wheels in normal driving. That’s without Boost Mode.

Activate Boost Mode and you get an absolutely whopping 478kW (650hp) and 790Nm (583 lb-ft) of torque. That’s the headline figure.

Key Performance Specs:

• 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph): 3.4 seconds
• 0-200 km/h (0-124 mph): 10.9 seconds
• Top speed: 164 mph (264 km/h)
• Weight: 4,938 lbs (2,240 kg) only about 100 lbs more than standard GV60

How Does It Compare to Ioniq 5 N? The power figures are virtually identical to the Ioniq 5 N. Genesis has 9 more horsepower in Boost mode and 15 more lb-ft of torque. Marginal differences, but enough to maintain the luxury brand hierarchy.

Battery & Range:

• Battery: 84kWh (800-volt architecture)
• DC Fast Charging: 10-80% in 18 minutes
• Range: TBA (EPA rating not finalized, expect ~250 miles)

The battery and thermal management system has been improved for sustained track performance.

Chassis & Handling Lowered, Stiffened, Track-Ready

Genesis has done serious work to the chassis. This isn’t just a GV60 with more power.

Chassis Upgrades:

• Lowered by 20mm (0.75 inches)
• Wider track for improved stability
• Revised suspension geometry with lower roll center
• Hydro bushings up front and dual-layer bushings in rear crossmember for reduced vibration
• Electronically controlled suspension with model-specific tuning
• 400mm front brake rotors (15.7 inches) with monoblock calipers
• 21-inch forged wheels with 275mm Pirelli P Zero tires (widest in Hyundai Motor Group)

The Result? Genesis claims the GV60 Magma achieves the ideal balance of ride comfort and cornering ability. It’s a grand tourer first, track weapon second.

Track Experience at Paul Ricard Absolutely Mind-Blowing

I got to experience the GV60 Magma on track at Circuit Paul Ricard with a professional driver. And holy hell, this thing is wicked fast.

Launch Mode: The initial launch is brutal. The car just explodes off the line with instant torque. It’s smooth but incredibly violent in the best way.

Braking: Those 400mm brakes are incredible. They stop this heavy EV with confidence. You need that stopping power when you’re hauling 2,240kg at high speed.

Cornering: I’m absolutely shocked by how comfortable this thing is. I couldn’t even hear wind noise. I couldn’t feel the road surface. It felt almost disconnected from the racetrack, but in a good way. It’s smooth, planted, composed.

The G-forces around corners are freaky. This thing rotates beautifully, fights for grip over curbs, and uses the full width of the track.

Boost Mode: When the driver activated Boost Mode down the back straight, we got the full 478kW (650hp) pushing us forward. Endless torque. Relentless acceleration.

Virtual Gear Shifts: I hadn’t even thought about the fact that this is an EV. The virtual gear shifts are so convincing. They add driver engagement without feeling gimmicky. You can hear the downshifts, feel the shifts through the chassis.

Drift Mode: The car can rotate on command with Drift Mode, which disengages the front motor and relies on the rear electronic limited-slip differential. It’s playful, controllable, and genuinely fun.

Agility: I’m absolutely floored with how quick this thing is. It’s agile for its size. The chassis is stiff, the suspension is well-tuned, and the power delivery is instant.

My hands were clammy after the hotlap. That’s how intense it was.

How It Compares to Ioniq 5 N

Let’s address the elephant in the room. The Genesis GV60 Magma shares a lot with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Same platform, similar power, same tech features.

Genesis GV60 Magma vs Hyundai Ioniq 5 N:

Key Differences:

Genesis GV60 Magma:

• More luxurious interior with Chamude suede
• Slightly more power (9hp, 15 lb-ft)
• Grand tourer focus with track capability
• Premium positioning
• Quieter cabin with better NVH
• Higher price ($7K-$17K more)

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N:

• More aggressive track-focused setup
• Slightly quicker 0-60 (3.2 vs 3.4 sec)
• Better value ($67K vs $74K+)
• Less luxurious interior
• Hyundai badge vs Genesis

The Verdict: If you want maximum performance for the money, buy the Ioniq 5 N. If you want that same performance wrapped in luxury with a premium badge, buy the GV60 Magma. Both are excellent. It’s a question of priorities.

Pricing How Much Will It Cost?

Genesis hasn’t announced official pricing yet, but we can make educated guesses based on the lineup.

Estimated US Pricing:

• Base GV60 Magma: $74,000-$75,000
• Fully-loaded GV60 Magma: $82,000-$85,000

For Context:

• Genesis GV60 Performance: $71,875
• Hyundai Ioniq 5 N: $67,475
• Hyundai Ioniq 6 N: $70,000+ (rumored)

Australian Pricing: Given the GV60 Performance is already $110,000 AUD before on-road costs, expect the Magma to be in the ballpark of $140,000-$150,000 AUD with performance and luxury upgrades.

Is It Worth It? If you want AMG/M-level performance in an electric SUV with genuine luxury, yes. If you’re purely chasing value, the Ioniq 5 N is the smarter buy.

Genesis GV60 Magma Full Specs

Launch Timeline When Can You Buy It?

Korea: Q3 2025 (first market)
Europe: Q4 2025
United States: Q1 2026
Australia: Q1-Q2 2026

The GV60 Magma will launch first in Korea, followed by Europe and North America.

Final Verdict Is It Worth It?

The Genesis GV60 Magma is a super quick look at what happens when you take Ioniq 5 N performance and wrap it in Genesis luxury.

What’s Good:

• 650hp electric brutality with Boost Mode
• Grand tourer comfort with track capability
• Chamude suede interior with premium materials
• Drift mode and virtual gear shifts
• Better NVH than Ioniq 5 N
• Genesis badge and luxury positioning

What’s Not:

• $7K-$17K more expensive than Ioniq 5 N
• Marginally slower 0-60 (3.4 vs 3.2 sec)
• Range likely lower than standard GV60
• Orange paint is very, very loud

Who Should Buy It:

• Buyers who want Ioniq 5 N performance with luxury
• Grand tourer enthusiasts who occasionally track
• Genesis loyalists who want a performance model
• Anyone tired of German AMG/M dominance

Who Should Skip It:

• Value-focused performance buyers (get Ioniq 5 N)
• Maximum track aggression seekers (Ioniq 5 N is sharper)
• Anyone who needs 300+ miles of range

My Rating: 9/10

The Genesis GV60 Magma is the first Magma production vehicle, and it’s a hell of a debut. It’s fast, luxurious, track-capable, and genuinely exciting to drive. If you want electric performance without compromising on luxury, this is it.

Common Questions About the Genesis GV60 Magma

What do you think of the Genesis GV60 Magma? Are you shocked, surprised, or disappointed that it’s similar to the Ioniq 5 N? Let me know in the comments below.