GENESIS ELECTRIFIED GV70 SPORT
In a nutshell… Quality, comfort and plenty of power
Tested by David Motton Price £65,105 Kerbweight 2310kg 85% match Above max tow Towball limit 180kg
DRIVERS SEEM TO love or hate electric cars, and caravanners in particular are polarised by them. Some say the challenges of recharging mid-journey make electric cars a non-starter for regular towing.
Then there’s a small but vocal minority who have already made the switch and staunchly defend their choice.
For now, I’m between the two camps. I really enjoy driving electric cars, and the best are extremely stable when towing. But I can’t help thinking recharging with a caravan will be a hassle.
Now I’m about to find out.
Electric SUV
You’re looking at the new addition to our long-term fleet: the Genesis Electrified
GV70. For a few months, we’ll be living – and towing – with this electric SUV.
If you’re unfamiliar with Genesis, it is the luxury division of the Hyundai Motor Company. It’s a relative newcomer to the UK, but its electric cars are well regarded.
The Electrified GV70 is the company’s SUV to rival the likes of the BMW ix3 and the Tesla Model Y. It’s priced from £65,105, which makes it several thousand pounds more expensive than the Tesla Model Y, and just a smidge more than a BMW ix3. On the face of it, that looks like punchy pricing from a new brand, but the Genesis is well equipped and very, very powerful. It uses a pair of electric motors, one for each axle. Together, they produce 490hp and 516lb ft of torque. For full power, the driver needs to press the ‘boost’ button on the steering wheel, which frees up the full complement of electric horses for 10 seconds.
This is a bit of a gimmick, and the acceleration is so violent, it feels rather as though you’ve left some internal organs behind. Such performance seems overkill in everyday driving, and certainly while you’re towing. Mind you, it does suggest the Genesis will have power to spare when pulling any suitably matched caravan.
The batteries weigh almost half a tonne on their own, contributing to a kerbweight of 2310kg. This means that the 85% match figure is above the 1800kg towing limit, which is a high maximum for an electric car. The Tesla Model Y Long Range is approved for towing 1600kg.
As I write this, the car has only been with us for four days, so these are just first impressions, and I haven’t towed a caravan yet. But so far, I’m thoroughly impressed. The GV70’S performance is exceptional, but it’s the quiet and comfort which have made the biggest impression.
Easy to drive
For such a rapid car, it’s remarkably easy to drive smoothly. There’s a choice of Eco, Comfort and Sport modes. In Eco and Comfort, the throttle response is gradual and easy to judge, so you waft along in near silence. There’s no engine noise, and road and wind noise stay in the background.
The cabin lives up to the price tag, with excellent build and high-quality materials. The driver’s seat is supremely comfortable, and as this car has been specified with the comfort seat pack, it will massage you as you drive along. It changes shape to offer more support when you switch to Sport – which can take you by surprise.
The range could be better, though. An official distance of 283 miles is some way off the Model Y Long Range’s 331 miles.
So far, so good, but of course, the next challenge is towing. By the end of this long-term test, I’ll have chosen a side when it comes to electric tow cars.