I compared Tesla rivals from Kia, Hyundai, and Genesis — and found the decision boils down to if you prefer style, luxury, or performance

Tim LevinSep 15, 2023, 19:29 IST

The Kia EV6 GT, Genesis GV60, and Hyundai Ioniq 5 are three cool electric SUVs.Tim Levin/Insider

Hyundai and its Kia and Genesis brands are making some of the best electric cars today.
If you're looking for a stylish, technologically advanced Tesla alternative, those brands are a solid choice.

Anybody who keeps an eye on the auto biz knows that Hyundai and its related brands — Kia and Genesis — are making hands-down some of the most exciting electric vehicles on the US market. If you want an EV brimming with unique style and advanced tech, then one of the Korean company's latest models is a solid choice.

But which to choose?

I drove the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Genesis GV60 — three small SUVs all based on common technology. Here I'll run through the highlights of each to help you spend your money wisely. And I'll let you know which is my personal top pick.

The Ioniq 5 serves up angular, science fiction-inspired styling — and unlike the Tesla Cybertruck, it actually exists.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5.Tim Levin/Insider

I liked its interior the most out of the three.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5.Tim Levin/Insider

Clearly the final look will depend on your customizations and how much you spend, but my tester was modern, uncluttered, and stylish.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5.Tim Levin/Insider

Here's one fun gimmick: It's available with a center console that slides forward and backward. That way you can decided if you want more room by your knees or in the back seat.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD.Tim Levin/Insider

Here's one fun gimmick: It's available with a center console that slides forward and backward. That way you can decided if you want more room by your knees or in the back seat.

The ride was comfortable and quiet, but not too exciting.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5.Tim Levin/Insider

Range is quoted at up to 303 miles, which puts it near the top of the market.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5.Tim Levin/Insider

It starts at $41,450.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD.Tim Levin/Insider

The EV6 has more of a swoopy design. It looks like nothing else on the road.

The 2023 Kia EV6 GT.Tim Levin/Insider

And inside, it's less futuristic and more sporty than the Ioniq 5.

The 2023 Kia EV6 GT.Tim Levin/Insider

One of the coolest parts of the EV6 is this control panel that changes functions with the tap of a button.

The Kia EV6.Kia

The strip of buttons and knobs can control either the A/C or the audio and other settings. Tap a button that looks like the Uno reverse card, and all the labels change.

The 2023 Kia EV6 GT.Tim Levin/Insider

The dual screens and their operating system will be familiar to anyone who's spent time in an Ioniq 5.

The 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line.Tim Levin/Insider

On the road, the Kia comes off significantly more athletic and down to party than the Hyundai.

The 2023 Kia EV6 GT.Tim Levin/Insider

Its sharp steering makes it a joy through corners. The high-performance EV6 GT is particularly thrilling, quoting a zero-to-60-mph sprint of just 3.4 seconds.

The 2023 Kia EV6 GT.Kia

Range tops out at 310 miles, per the EPA.

The 2023 Kia EV6 GT.Tim Levin/Insider

It's ever so slightly more expensive than the Ioniq 5, asking $42,600 for a base model.

The 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line.Tim Levin/Insider

That brings us to the Genesis GV60, the most high-end of the bunch.

The Genesis GV60.Tim Levin/Insider

It has a look all its own. I can't help but see a giant bug when I look at it. But not in a bad way.

The Genesis GV60.Tim Levin/Insider

Its interior is the most traditionally luxurious of the trio.

The Genesis GV60.Tim Levin/Insider

My GV60 Performance test car had plush leather seats equipped with a massage function meant to keep you loose on long drives.

The Genesis GV60.Tim Levin/Insider

It also had shiny accents and contrasting stitching throughout.

The Genesis GV60.Tim Levin/Insider

The funky SUV comes with a glowing glass orb embedded in the center console that spins around to reveal its gear selector.

The Genesis GV60.Tim Levin/Insider

Plus, it offers tech you won't find anywhere else. A face scanner and fingerprint reader can identify approved drivers and let them operate the SUV — all without a key.

The Genesis GV60.Tim Levin/Insider

Plus, it offers tech you won't find anywhere else. A face scanner and fingerprint reader can identify approved drivers and let them operate the SUV — all without a key.

The Performance model I drove provided a "BOOST" button that temporarily increased power output, entertaining handling, smooth suspension, and relaxing levels of quiet.

The Genesis GV60.Tim Levin/Insider

One knock to the GV60: It's currently only offered in all-wheel-drive versions, so range (estimated at up to 248 miles) lags behind its cousins.

The Genesis GV60 charging.Tim Levin/Insider

It costs around $60,000, while the Performance model adds about $10,000.

The Genesis GV60 charging.Tim Levin/Insider

Some of the best features are available across the lineup.

The 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line.Tim Levin/Insider

For example, all offer some of the quickest charging times on the market, claiming to recharge from 10%-80% in just 18 minutes with a sufficiently powerful connection.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5.Tim Levin/Insider

All offer bidirectional charging capability, meaning you can plug in your computer, microwave, or anything else into the car's battery — either using an adapter for the charge port or an interior outlet.

The 2022 Kia EV6.Tim Levin/Insider

All offer bidirectional charging capability, meaning you can plug in your computer, microwave, or anything else into the car's battery — either using an adapter for the charge port or an interior outlet.

All have flush door handles ...

The Genesis GV60.Tim Levin/Insider

... and a small cargo bin under the hood.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD.Tim Levin/Insider

So ultimately the choice really comes down to personal preferences and budget.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5.Tim Levin

If I had to choose, I'd pick the Ioniq 5 based on its edgy, retro looks and clean, airy interior.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD.Tim Levin/Insider

I tried Wendy's new $3 breakfast and McDonald's famous morning menu, and the winner was clear.

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I compared Tesla rivals from Kia, Hyundai, and Genesis &mdash; and found the decision boils down to if you prefer style, luxury, or performance

The Ioniq 5 serves up angular, science fiction-inspired styling — and unlike the Tesla Cybertruck, it actually exists.

I liked its interior the most out of the three.

Clearly the final look will depend on your customizations and how much you spend, but my tester was modern, uncluttered, and stylish.

Here's one fun gimmick: It's available with a center console that slides forward and backward. That way you can decided if you want more room by your knees or in the back seat.

The ride was comfortable and quiet, but not too exciting.

Range is quoted at up to 303 miles, which puts it near the top of the market.

It starts at $41,450.

The EV6 has more of a swoopy design. It looks like nothing else on the road.

And inside, it's less futuristic and more sporty than the Ioniq 5.

One of the coolest parts of the EV6 is this control panel that changes functions with the tap of a button.

The strip of buttons and knobs can control either the A/C or the audio and other settings. Tap a button that looks like the Uno reverse card, and all the labels change.

The dual screens and their operating system will be familiar to anyone who's spent time in an Ioniq 5.

On the road, the Kia comes off significantly more athletic and down to party than the Hyundai.

Its sharp steering makes it a joy through corners. The high-performance EV6 GT is particularly thrilling, quoting a zero-to-60-mph sprint of just 3.4 seconds.

Range tops out at 310 miles, per the EPA.

It's ever so slightly more expensive than the Ioniq 5, asking $42,600 for a base model.

That brings us to the Genesis GV60, the most high-end of the bunch.

It has a look all its own. I can't help but see a giant bug when I look at it. But not in a bad way.

Its interior is the most traditionally luxurious of the trio.

My GV60 Performance test car had plush leather seats equipped with a massage function meant to keep you loose on long drives.

It also had shiny accents and contrasting stitching throughout.

The funky SUV comes with a glowing glass orb embedded in the center console that spins around to reveal its gear selector.

Plus, it offers tech you won't find anywhere else. A face scanner and fingerprint reader can identify approved drivers and let them operate the SUV — all without a key.

The Performance model I drove provided a "BOOST" button that temporarily increased power output, entertaining handling, smooth suspension, and relaxing levels of quiet.

One knock to the GV60: It's currently only offered in all-wheel-drive versions, so range (estimated at up to 248 miles) lags behind its cousins.

It costs around $60,000, while the Performance model adds about $10,000.

Some of the best features are available across the lineup.

For example, all offer some of the quickest charging times on the market, claiming to recharge from 10%-80% in just 18 minutes with a sufficiently powerful connection.

All offer bidirectional charging capability, meaning you can plug in your computer, microwave, or anything else into the car's battery — either using an adapter for the charge port or an interior outlet.

All have flush door handles ...

... and a small cargo bin under the hood.

So ultimately the choice really comes down to personal preferences and budget.

If I had to choose, I'd pick the Ioniq 5 based on its edgy, retro looks and clean, airy interior.

I compared Tesla rivals from Kia, Hyundai, and Genesis — and found the decision boils down to if you prefer style, luxury, or performance