Genesis Electrified GV70 review
The fully electric Genesis GV70 SUV quickly asserts itself as one of the best cars in its class
Pros
- Incredibly refined
- Advanced tech
- Powerful
Cons
- No cheaper entry-level models
- Uninteresting to drive
- Expensive consumables
| Car type | Range | Wallbox charging time | Rapid charge time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 283 miles | 7hrs 20mins (10-100%, 11kW) | 18mins (10-80%, 350kW) |
If you haven’t been paying attention, you might’ve missed the Genesis brand’s 2021 UK launch. The maker is the posh option in the Hyundai group, and has already revealed a whole range of premium cars in a very short space of time. This Genesis Electrified GV70 even completes a trio of fully electric models available.
Unlike the smaller Genesis GV60, which is electric-only, the GV70 SUV is also available with thirsty petrol and diesel engines. The zero-emission version is marked out by a glam faired-in grille, 20-inch alloy wheels in an exclusive design, and a cleaner rear bumper since there’s no need for exhaust pipes. The name helps the Electrified GV70 stand out as well, even if it is a bit of a mouthful.
Genesis knows that it probably won’t sell as many cars as its German rivals – not yet, at least – but the Electrified GV70 is well worth a look if you’re considering premium mid-size electric SUVs like the BMW iX3, Audi e-tron and Mercedes EQC. It’s certainly as good as its rivals, if not better, in terms of interior feel and technology, while its customer service promise exceeds what we’re used to.
In what the brand calls the ‘Genesis Difference’, you get your very own personal assistant who guides you through the ordering process, before later booking in servicing and a courtesy car for you. When it’s time for a service, your car will be collected from your home and dropped off afterwards, for free. The GV70 also comes with a five-year/50,000-mile Care Plan consisting of breakdown assistance and servicing, plus a five-year warranty with unlimited mileage.
An additional perk, which might be especially appealing amid rising electricity prices, is a result of Genesis’ partnerships with Shell Recharge and IONITY. Buyers get a five-year subscription to the IONITY network and preferential 24p/kWh rates (it’s 69p/kWh usually), which is actually cheaper than the average home tariff (as of October 2022).
As is often the case, you’ll need to pay a high-ish price to access these perks. The Electrified GV70 starts from over £64,000, which is a bit more than what you might pay for many of its rivals. It also wears bespoke Michelin tyres, so punctures may turn out to be expensive and irritating.
Prices are a little on the high side because there’s no entry-level model for the time being. As it stands, all versions come with a 77.4kWh battery and a dual-motor powertrain. A 283-mile range is competitive and, importantly, we found it was easy to get close to that figure in normal driving.
In Boost mode, power stands at 483bhp and 700Nm of torque, and that’s enough for a 0-62mph time of just 4.2 seconds. But like in a Rolls-Royce or a Bentley, having more power than you need only adds to the luxury experience.
The Genesis Electrified GV70 makes no apologies for favouring comfort over sportiness, and it’s a very cosseting car to cover lots of miles in. Every version features adaptive suspension with cameras that scan the road ahead for imperfections – the suspension then adjusts to mitigate any jolts – and for the most part it works very well. On faster roads it’s remarkably comfortable, although particularly bad country lanes and urban roads can cause a little bit of sway.
The GV70 is undoubtedly fast, but the way its motors have been tuned stops it feeling like a boy racer trapped in a luxury suit. You don’t get the feeling that you’re getting all the power straight away, but press the accelerator harder and the GV70 surges forward with urgency.
With four-wheel drive from the two electric motors, it’s not surprising that the GV70 offers plenty of grip. The steering is well weighted too, although the lack of feedback once again asserts the fact that this isn’t a sports SUV.
Our test car featured the Innovation Pack for around £3,500. Among items such as a head-up display, remote parking assist and blind-spot monitoring, it adds active noise cancelling. It’s hard to tell if this is responsible for removing any motor whine – we’d need to drive one without the pack equipped to see – but the GV70 is very hushed.
Technology is a strong point for the Genesis Electrified GV70, both in terms of charging and infotainment. The brake regeneration on offer ranges from none at all to an automated setting that decides how strong the regenerative braking needs to be at a given situation. Handily, you can quickly access the strongest setting from a stalk, which would prove useful if you don’t want to be flicking between modes all the time.
Infotainment functions are accessed through a large 14.5-inch touchscreen, which offers the latest smartphone connectivity and a host of live functions. Equipment levels are generous, so overall the GV70 does stack up as a premium car.
That continues when you consider the rear-seat and boot space. Head and legroom is plentiful and the boot is a good size, at 503 litres, even if that’s 39 litres short of the petrol and diesel models. You do get a 25-litre storage area under the bonnet that’s perfect for charging cables. The boot is bigger than what you get in the Audi Q5 hybrid and only seven litres shy of the BMW iX3.
As it is, the Genesis Electrified GV70 is a pretty strong premium SUV with some unique plus points. However, we’re holding out for single-motor versions, which might offer more range and will be better value-for-money for buyers who don’t need four-wheel drive.
