Genesis gives its GV70 SUV an Electrified boost

The Electrified GV70 SUV
(Picture: Handout)

When Genesis launched the GV70 in 2021 there was very little to dislike about it. The upmarket arm of Hyundai had produced a luxurious and good-looking SUV which was easily up to taking on the well-established German competition.

The diesel version was remarkably refined but the petrol unit could sound a little gruff when pushed. But now, Genesis has unveiled its eighth new model in 17 months – the Electrified GV70 SUV. Problem solved.

Externally, little has changed. The huge twin exhausts from the ICE version have gone, and the front grill is solid and neatly hides the charging port. This was a smart move because front or rear charging ports are more convenient than side-mounted units.

The electrified version also gets its own wheel design and a modified rear bumper

Dual motor

Priced at £64,405, Genesis is claiming a range of 283 miles for the new model, which has a 360kW (483bhp) dual motor and a 77.4kWh lithium ion battery and can accelerate from rest to 62mph in 4.2 seconds.

On the road, the first thing that strikes you is the quietness, partly due to a sound-cancelling system, which produces an inverted sound wave. This is very effective and adds an extra sense of refinement to an already very refined car.

The electronically controlled suspension has a Road Preview system, in which a front camera scans the road ahead for problems such as potholes, and optimizes the ride comfort to cope with them.

The comfortable cabin has either standard leather or Nappa leather quilted seats – Genesis is not emulating some other manufacturers who are ditching real leather for the vegan variety.

A 14.4-inch central infotainment dominates the dashboard, but fortunately there is still a strip of seven brushed-aluminium buttons for the most commonly needed functions. These are attractive and pleasant to use.

Modes

As well as the usual Eco, Comfort and Sport driving modes the electrified GV70 gets a boost button on the steering wheel - as with the company’s first EV, the GV60 – which gives you an extra 54hp for a 10-second burst of tear-your-face-off acceleration. Use with care.

Another useful feature is a three-pin plug socket so you can power other electrical devices from the car’s power supply.

Using a 350kW charger at 240kW peak capacity with the ultra fast direct current charging function the battery can be charged from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in just over 18 minutes.

The price hike to £64,405 for the electrified GV70 from the £41,800 and £49,640 for the petrol and diesel versions seems quite steep. But against that, your running costs would be considerably lower.

Assistant

Also, the company is continuing its business pattern of providing a personal assistant to guide buyers through the purchase, delivery and servicing of their vehicle, and there is a five-year care plan which covers all servicing, roadside assistance, map updates and the use of a similar courtesy car, all included in the price of the vehicle, which is fixed for all customers, so there is no haggling.

All in all, a very attractive package for people seeking a change from the usual German models.