Genesis GV70
MODEL TESTED: Electrified GV70 Sport PRICE: £64,405 POWERTRAIN: 2x e-motor, 77.4kWh battery, 483bhp
WHILE we’ve been lukewarm on a lot of Genesis’s petrol and diesel-engined products, the electric vehicles from the Korean premium brand have consistently impressed. The Electrified GV70 is the latest, and it has a premium price to match the brand’s premium pretensions.
The boundaries within the upmarket electric SUV class are somewhat blurred, but despite the GV70’s slightly more compact size compared with the Audi, there is an overlap in price – especially with options added. It starts from £64,405 in Sport form, and our test car was loaded with options to inflate that figure to £78,895.
Tech highlights
THE Electrified GV70 shares its M3 platform with Genesis’s sister brands Hyundai and Kia, plus combustion-powered versions of the GV70, along with many other larger Hyundai Group models. Inserted into this multi-use platform is a 77.4kWh battery – the only capacity available – which powers a pair of motors. There’s one for each axle, giving the Electrified GV70 four-wheel drive.
This powertrain is good for an impressive 483bhp and 700Nm once the Boost mode is activated, providing a 0-62mph time of just 4. 2 seconds (4.8 seconds without Boost). To go with all that power, there’s a clever suspension system featuring road-scanning technology that prepares the adaptive dampers as necessary, depending on the state of the asphalt ahead.
A lot of tech, two motors and a big battery in an SUV do result in quite a weighty car, with the Electrified GV70 tipping the scales at 2.3 tonnes.
SAFETY: Euro NCAP tested the GV70 in 2.5-litre petrol form in 2021, but hasn’t assessed the Electrified version. The former achieved a maximum five-star rating.
On road
DESPITE its impressive straight-line performance, the Electrified GV70 has a clear focus on comfort rather than handling, but it struggles to nail either.
AROUND TOWN: Multiple regenerative braking modes (accessible via steering wheel-mounted paddles) that slow the car to varying degrees when you lift off the throttle, plus a full one-pedal mode, make the Electrified GV70 easy to drive in built-up areas. The smooth and quiet nature of its electric powertrain further helps ensure the Genesis is a relaxing SUV in such environments.
On the other hand, the ride isn’t quite as composed as we’d like. The damping is soft but also lacking in control, making the car feel unsettled when travelling over speed bumps.
A & B-ROADS: The GV70’s suspension issues are magnified on twisty roads. Imperfections in the surface, such as potholes and undulations, result in the body bobbing up and down, and rather than the firmer suspension modes adding control and settling the car down, they instead merely increase the frequency of movements. Regardless of setting, there’s plenty of roll and a tendency to understeer, while the steering offers little feedback.
MOTORWAY: The GV70 feels most comfortable at high speeds. Here, the suspension’s softness makes long journeys relaxing, with wind and road noise kept low, if not quite as hushed as in the Audi. Getting up to speed is certainly fun. The Genesis surges forward enthusiastically – and with even more vigour in Boost mode, which also sharpens the throttle response. However, the GV70 feels odd when lifting off, with the retardation ramping up slowly rather than more aggressively, as with some other EVs.
“Suspension’s softness makes long journeys relaxing, with wind and road noise kept low”
Ownership
GENESIS is seeking to set itself apart from rivals with a strong aftersales offering. A key part of this is a five-year care plan to cover all servicing, which is included as standard along with a five-year warranty and five years of roadside assistance. The company also provides free collection and delivery, and a courtesy car for any servicing or warranty work that needs to be completed in the first five years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first.
The Electrified GV70 provides a plush-feeling, classy space that contrasts significantly with the Audi cabin’s more aggressive nature. Its material quality is mostly befitting for a premium product, and we’ve no complaints about the build quality. We’re less keen on the silver-effect plastic trim, which looks and feels a little cheap and dated.
It’s a good job the reversing camera is clear, because rear visibility is poor, with the unusual design of the GV70’s rear quarters featuring extra pillars with narrow pieces of glass between.
On test, the Genesis achieved 2.5mi/kWh. While the cold-weather test conditions weren’t particularly flattering for either car, the fact that the GV70 was more efficient, recording 0. 2mi/kWh more than the Audi, is impressive – especially because of its potential for stronger straight-line performance. However, this advantage isn’t enough to overcome its smaller battery, so its 194-mile real-world range is 50 miles short of the Audi’s.
STORAGE: While you won’t find any comically large cubbies in the Electrified GV70 in the way you often do with ground-up-built EVs, interior storage is good enough. The front door bins are quite wide and deep, while a moderately sized stowage area under the central armrest is complemented by a lidded compartment with a phone charging pad. The glovebox is a good size, and there are two cup-holders integrated into the armrest.