“The Electrified GV70 is another in a raft of impressive EVs from Genesis, with a luxurious interior and strong range figures”
- Range, charging & running costs
- Electric motor, drive & performance
- Interior & comfort
- Practicality & boot space
- Reliability & safety
Pros
- Superb performance
- Opulent interior
- Low-cost charging
Cons
- Not the sportiest SUV
- No single-motor variant
- Expensive
If you ask the average person if they know what ‘Genesis’ is, they’re likely to respond with one of two answers: a rock band, fronted by Phil Collins, or a chapter from a certain famous book. However, there’s another Genesis that fewer people have heard of, yet it happens to be making some of the most compelling premium EVs on the market right now.
The Genesis Electrified GV70 is the third new EV to come out of Hyundai’s premium brand and shares much of what we love about the standard petrol-powered GV70, such as its luxurious interior and smooth driving experience. While its name may not roll off the tongue quite as well as German rivals, the Electrified GV70 is a unique alternative to the likes of the Mercedes EQC and Audi Q4 e-tron.
Under the metal, the Electrified GV70 is equipped with a dual-electric motor setup, providing all-wheel-drive grip and a not insignificant 483bhp. The two motors take power from a large 77.4kWh battery, providing a range of up to 283 miles on a single charge. Unfortunately, unlike the competition, there aren’t any other options available at launch.
There is only one trim level to choose from too: ‘Sport’. This comes fully loaded with kit such as LED headlights, a 14.5-inch touchscreen, an eight-inch digital instrument cluster, front and rear parking sensors with a reversing camera, lane keep assist and full leather upholstery for the cabin.
Speaking of the GV70’s interior, this is perhaps the car’s strongest point; everything you touch feels exceptionally high-quality, while the overall design is more interesting than, say, a BMW iX3. Thanks to a big boot and a handy storage cubby under the bonnet, the Electrified GV70 is practical, too.
Out on the road, the Electrified GV70 is quick to assert itself as a comfortable cruiser, rather than a performance SUV. While not quite as comfortable as the equivalent Audi, the Genesis wafts down the road nicely and the silence of the electric motor adds to the serenity. When you put your foot down, the car feels incredibly quick thanks to its powerful electric motors, however, be careful not to enter a corner too quickly as the near-two-and-a-half tonne Genesis suffers from quite a bit of body lean.
If, like most SUV owners, you intend to use your car for the school run and/or motorway mile munching, the Genesis Electrified GV70 is a great zero-emissions option if you want to stand out from the rest of the German crowd. It’s just a shame a less-expensive single-motor variant isn’t available at launch, as this could potentially offer better range and value-for-money. Regardless, just make sure to compare insurance quotes, as the two-tonne Korean SUV will undoubtedly be expensive to insure.
Range, charging & running costs
Though expensive to buy, the Electrified GV70 provides a strong range and the opportunity for reduced charging costs
Starting at around £65,000, the Genesis Electrified GV70 is slightly more expensive than the equivalent BMW iX3. Its range might not be class-leading, but the Electrified GV70’s 283 miles should be enough for the majority of buyers.
Like the smaller Genesis GV60, the Electrified GV70 comes as standard with 240kW charging, which is significantly faster than the 135kW maximum speed of the Audi Q4 e-tron. Plugging in at a compatible public charger, the Electrified GV70 can be topped-up from 10-80% charge in under 20 minutes. If you’re doing so at home, expect charging to take a lot longer; a 0-100% charge will take around ten hours using a home wallbox, and close to a whole day when using a standard three-pin plug.
However, what makes the Genesis stand out in this regard is the brand’s latest deal with the IONITY charging network; this gives buyers of new Genesis GV70 models discounts at any of IONITY’s growing network of chargers in the UK – similar to how Tesla owners benefit from lower charging costs when using Superchargers. Albeit this will only be valid for the next five years, but given most people buy their new car on a three-year lease or finance deal, this isn’t a huge issue.
Electric motor, drive & performance
Apart from rapid acceleration, the GV70 has little to offer in terms of driver engagement
Unlike most premium SUVs that attempt to offer both a sporting and comfortable driving experience, the Electrified GV70 ignores sportiness altogether to focus on the latter. It’s easy to spot the car’s near-two-and-a-half tonne weight in corners as the GV70 suffers from quite a lot of body lean. Plus, the steering, while precise, offers very little in terms of feedback from the road. A BMW iX3 or a Kia EV6 GT are better options if you’re looking for a sporty electric crossover.
The Electrified GV70 isn’t without merit, however; the dual-electric motor setup’s 483bhp output is impressive. Thanks to its muscular powertrain, the Genesis will get from 0-62mph in just 4.2 seconds – faster than a Porsche 718 Cayman GTS sports car!
Interior & comfort
The Electrified GV70 has a classy and high-quality interior, befitting of a luxury EV
While the majority of smaller premium brands struggle to match their German rivals in terms of interior quality and comfort, this has thus far not been the case for Genesis. The Electrified GV70 utilises a special suspension system which can scan the road ahead for bumps and soften the springs to create less of a jolt in the cabin. This works superbly on motorways and open roads, but isn’t quite as effective around town – it’s still by no means uncomfortable.
The car we test drove was fitted with the Innovation Pack, which includes active road noise cancelling. This works in the same way as a pair of posh headphones; the speakers play a sound that is the opposite wavelength to whatever ambient noise is present, in order to cancel it out. This alongside the silence of the electric motor means the Electrified GV70’s cabin is one of the most serene out there.
All the materials feel impeccable in quality and the overall design of the cabin is distinctive, while also remaining classy. The standard-fit 14.3-inch infotainment system looks great and can be operated as a touchscreen. Overall, the system is quick to respond and full of features, however, it isn’t quite as flashy, nor as intuitive as Mercedes’ latest MBUX setup.
There is only one trim available – the Sport – which comes as standard with LED headlights, 19-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, an eight-inch digital instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control, heated and ventilated electric front seats, a wireless phone charger, front and rear parking sensors with a rear-view camera, plus a powered bootlid.
Of course, buyers can also specify larger wheels and metallic paint for an additional cost. The aforementioned Innovation Pack will set you back around £3,500, while a sliding panoramic sunroof costs around £1,500.
Practicality & boot space
The Electrified GV70 is only marginally less-practical than its petrol-powered counterpart
Electric cars that are conversions of their petrol and diesel-powered counterparts tend to be much less practical than their made-for-purpose siblings. However, thanks to some clever engineering, the Genesis Electrified GV70 offers only marginally less space than the regular car.
On the inside, the GV70 is already spacious, with the car’s boxy silhouette offering decent headroom in the rear. However, thanks to the Electrified GV70’s lack of a transmission tunnel, there isn’t a hump in the rear floor, meaning sitting three abreast should be more comfortable.
The Electrified GV70’s boot measures 502 litres in capacity – 39 litres less than the regular GV70. It’s worth keeping in mind though, that this is significantly larger than the 466 litres offered by the Nissan Ariya. There’s also a further 25 litres of storage under the bonnet, negating the electric Genesis’ impact on practicality somewhat.
Reliability & safety
Genesis is somewhat of an unknown quantity for reliability, but the GV70 should be very safe
Genesis is a relatively new brand – the marque’s first model, the G70 executive car, went on sale in the UK in 2021 – so there is very little data available in terms of reliability. Thankfully, Genesis’ parent brand, Hyundai, has a strong record in our Driver Power customer satisfaction surveys, placing 11th out of 29 manufacturers for 2022. While around 21% of customers found fault with their car within the first year of ownership, this is still less than other premium brands such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
While the Electrified GV70 likely won’t be tested by Euro NCAP on an individual basis, the regular GV70 managed to achieve a full five-star safety rating from the independent testing scheme. Standard safety kit is strong and includes autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring and a reversing camera.
Keyword: Genesis Electrified GV70 SUV review