All-New Genesis Electrified GV70
Luxury marque Genesis has already ushered in several electric cars, including the excellent GV60 small SUV. By Tim Barnes-Clay.
But, whereas the GV60 was built as an electric vehicle, the model we’re looking at here – the Electrified GV70 – is based on a car that previously had a combustion engine.
While the GV60 was launched to rave reviews, Genesis has had limited success in taking petrol and diesel cars and turning them into all-electric versions.
The automaker will be hoping the opulent Electrified GV70, a size up from the GV60, does the trick.
If you like your trims and powertrain choices kept simple, then the GV70 already has you covered – there’s a choice of one of each. Sport grade is the only variant, featuring 19-inch alloys, a 14.5-inch Navi Screen with DAB Radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an eight-inch digital instrument cluster. You also get dual front LED headlights, electric door mirrors, a leather steering wheel and seat upholstery, electric front seat adjustment with memory function and adjustable lumbar support for the driver, smart cruise control, a smart key and dual-zone climate control.
A 77.4kWh battery provides power to all four wheels via two 180kW motors, producing a hefty 490PS.
That equipment list and horsepower figure are certainly enough to amaze. And, in the latter’s case, it outperforms most of its premium brand rivals, such as the BMW iX3 and the ageing Jaguar I-Pace. However, Genesis does offer some pricey optional extras. Genesis’ base price for the Electrified GV70 is £63,600, although our test car, fitted with various options, costs £78,090.
Different metallic, pearl, and matte paint schemes are offered for the GV70, some of which cost north of £1,000. Twenty-inch rims are available, too, while you’ll be handing over more than £2,000 extra for Nappa leather with quilting.
The main options, though, are the bolt-on packs – in particular, the Innovation Pack, which totals over £3,500 and includes a 12.3-inch 3D digital instrument display, a head-up display and advanced Highway Driving Assist. Heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and three-zone climate control are among the add-ons in the Convenience Pack. Meanwhile, the Comfort Seat Pack includes ventilated seats and adds a massage function to the front seats.
A Lexicon Premium Audio System is available for around £1,000. There is also a Sunroof Pack, a fingerprint reader and a Vehicle-to-Load Package, which enables you to utilise the car’s battery to power household items.
Like the rest of the Genesis range, the Electrified GV70 is a real head-turner. And it wears the large, Bentley-inspired radiator grille at the front, while the lower grille is shaped with diagonal edges, giving the car a sporty stance. The headlights are positioned on the corners as two horizontal strips.
Around the side, it’s athletic looking, with a prominent spoiler overhanging the rear windscreen, almost like the peak of a baseball cap. In contrast, chunky side skirts and tapered windows add to the character. At the back, the car has a minimalist design, again featuring dual-horizontal strips on each side for the taillights.
You will also find a generous amount of storage space inside the cabin, with a substantial centre console cubby, big door pockets, a glove compartment, and cup holders. It looks the part, too – nobody will sit in this cabin without being seriously impressed.
Overall, it’s not bad to drive for a luxury SUV, with precise steering and reasonably responsive handling complementing the enormous power output nicely.
Its thunderous power appears at odds with the calm tranquillity of the driving experience, with soundproofing – including laminated windows and an acoustic windscreen – helping minimise tyre and wind noise.
While the upgraded Lexicon sound system isn’t cheap, it includes noise cancellation, which plays anti-noise through the speaker, further reducing the volume of your surroundings.
Official range figures are claimed at 283 miles, although this reduces to 276 miles if you opt for 20-inch alloys over the standard 19-inches.
That compares with 285 miles in the BMW iX3, 292 miles in the increasingly dated Jaguar I-Pace and 331 miles in the Tesla Model Y Long Range.
Genesis is still very young as a marque, so it’s difficult to say how reliable it will be. But the Electrified GV70 comes with a notable five-year, 100,000-mile warranty for peace of mind.
Five-year servicing plans are also available, and if you sign up for these, Genesis will collect the car from your door and drop it back once it’s ready.
Buying a Genesis also gets you access to a Personal Assistant – an after-sales point of contact at Genesis who can respond to your every need.
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