Genesis GV70 Electrified review

Driving position 

We all joke about the Genesis looking a bit like a Bentley Bentayga from the outside, and this is somewhat true, but if there was ever a part of a Bentley you wanted in your cars, it’s inside, and the GV70 doesn’t disappoint. 

For starters, the seats are some of the best seats we’ve ever experienced, on a similar level to those of a high-end Mercedes. They hug you in all the right places and are overall very soft and comfortable, plus they have an adjustable leg bolster extension and very soft headrests. 

Because it’s electric, though, the seat doesn’t go quite low enough for our liking, but there’s plenty of adjustment and in the steering wheel too. This is because the batteries sit under the floor – a typical trait of most EVs. 

Rear visibility is decent, though the rear window is rather narrow, but not as poor as the BYD SEAL U we have experienced. 

Tech and features 

A big upgrade over the previous car is the addition of a massive 27-inch OLED infotainment display, which is very crisp and easy to use. 

It also has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity for the first time, which we think all new cars should have. 

Sitting below the wide screen is a touchscreen panel for the heating and cooling settings, with two physical knobs for the temperature and easy-to-use haptic buttons for the main controls. 

Behind this are two cupholders, which could be wider. Then, there’s a wireless phone charger next to a UV light-sterilised armrest storage compartment, so you can have your phone cleaned as you drive – pretty nifty. 

Other tech includes a digital rear-view mirror, which can flick between a proper glass mirror and a screen linked to a rear-facing camera under the lip spoiler.  

The old-school mirror is generally easier to use and gives you a better perspective of how close cars are, but the digital version is a handy backup if you're carrying taller adults in the back due to the narrow rear windscreen. 

Electric motors and power 

In the UK, we’re only getting one power option, but that’s no bad thing because Genesis has sent us the biggest and baddest of them all. 

Thanks to its dual-motor setup, the GV70 Electrified puts out an impressive 500hp and can propel itself from 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds (with boost mode engaged). 

There are also some different drive modes to choose from, including the standard Eco, Comfort and Sport. But you also get a Boost button on the steering wheel (now moved to the side instead of on the bottom), and this gives you an extra spurt of power for overtaking. 

The acceleration itself is really quite punchy and far more than any electric SUV needs, and the boost button helps increase this even more. 

But perhaps the best feature of all is the virtual gear shift function that’s been added, and isn’t too dissimilar to the system found in the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N. 

When enabled, you use the regenerative braking paddles as gear shifters and work your way through the gears, complete with simulated engine braking and an exhaust note, which sounds a lot like a six-cylinder engine. 

Handling and ride comfort 

When it comes to cornering and general ride comfort, the Genesis GV70 is very compliant. Its suspension isn’t too stiff nor is it too soft, meaning it absorbs bumps in the road without feeling too wallowy. 

Though, there’s a reason for this. There’s a tiny sensor behind the rearview mirror that scans the road ahead for any potholes or imperfections and tells the car so it automatically irons out any bumps by adjusting the suspension independently. 

It’s all very clever stuff, but particularly useful on Britain’s rough and ready roads. 

Around town, it’s the same story and the steering lightens up a bit to make it easier to manoeuvre, then it stiffens up on faster A roads. 

Boot space 

When it comes to boot space, the GV70 is quite generous, though it falls just short of its rivals. 

You get a 503-litre boot with a wide area, no loading lip, and it’s deep too, whereas rivals such as the Porsche Macan Electric (540 litres) and Audi Q6 e-tron (526 litres) just beat it. 

If you do need a bit more space, you can fold down the rear seats in a 60:40 split to get a total of 1,678 litres. 

Rear seats 

Space in the rear seats is really impressive, and we found there to be plenty of room for adults over six foot, both for headroom (despite having a panoramic sunroof) and legroom with nifty cut-outs in the backs of the front seats to slot your knees. 

You’ll also find a couple of USB-C ports and a small array of climate controls – both of which are a plus. 

Storage solutions 

Storage and cubbies are pretty impressive, as they should be in a family car. 

You get a very deep central armrest, decent-sized door bins for bottles of water and a well-sized felt-lined glovebox, which helps keep glasses and fragile items protected. 

Safety 

The ‘regular’ petrol-powered GV70 scored a full five-star rating following its most recent Euro NCAP safety test in 2021, and this applies to the electric version too. 

Therefore, we have no worries when it comes to safety, and this is reflected in its onboard features, including blind spot collision avoidance, highway driving assist, crosswind stability control and navigation-based smart cruise control. 

Range and charging times 

There are a couple of battery sizes offered on the GV70 Electrified, but it’s good news for UK buyers because we get the 84kWh battery – the biggest available globally. 

This provides up to 298 miles of range and can rapid charge from 10-80% in just 19 minutes, thanks to its 240kW charging speeds. 

Reliability 

Being fully electric, this Genesis is much more dependable than most combustion-engined vehicles because there are fewer moving parts in an electric motor. 

Being owned by Hyundai, there are minimal cons with regard to reliability. 

Every new Genesis comes with a five-year/unlimited mileage warranty, which is superb in isolation, but lacking when compared to Kia’s seven-year one.