Genesis Motor GV70 SUV (2021 - ) review

A comparison between prices for the petrol or diesel GV70 and this Electrified version is a lesson in how much more expensive electric cars are to buy, like for like. Setting that aside, against pure-electric equivalents from Audi, Mercedes and BMW it looks better value, given it’s cheaper, more powerful than all but the E-Tron S and is the best of all of them for range. The Benefit In Kind advantages of going pure electric also opens Genesis up to company buyers who may have been put off by the lack of so much as a hybrid option in the GV70 range until now. The signature all-inclusive care package is meanwhile aimed at premium car buyers with the cash but not the time to spend shopping around for their next car. From the start of the process an assigned personal assistant can manage the whole buying journey from your home, coming to you to discuss the specification, arranging a test drive from your door, sorting out the purchase, getting the car delivered and then following up with ongoing aftersales support. Beyond that Genesis has also partnered with Shell to simplify both home charger installation and open up a broad selection of public networks when you’re out and about.

Genesis is a new face in the UK but is more established in other markets, where it seemingly has a good reputation for reliability. This, the backing of its Hyundai parent company and the need to prove itself against established premium brands mean it should be going the extra mile to keep customers happy if any issues crop up. If anything does go wrong, or it’s simply time for a service, your Genesis personal assistant can arrange for your Electrified GV70 to be swapped at home for a courtesy car while it’s sorted out, this all part of an extensive five-year care plan included with the purchase and transferrable to the next buyer if you sell within that period.

If you equate a feeling of substance with safety the Electrified GV70 certainly has the reassuring sense of solidity SUV buyers seem to appreciate. This is backed up with the kind of driver aids you’d expect of a premium vehicle, including automatic cruise control that can bring you to a safe halt in stop-start traffic, a sophisticated automatic braking system that intervenes if you haven’t spotted a cyclist, pedestrian or vehicle turning across you at a junction, and more besides. The somewhat costly Innovation Pack expands on this, including a more sophisticated emergency braking system, nifty projection of blind spot camera images into the instrument display and an upgraded Highway Driving Assist system for increased electronic support. Don’t kid yourself this means full self-driving – while it’s generally pretty clever we had to intervene to stop it firing us across a junction when it accelerated the car into what it thought was a gap in the traffic but was in fact a red light.

In previous Genesis reviews we’ve commented on the somewhat old-school interpretation of luxury and reliance on old-school materials like leather to contrive an upmarket feel. While this still has a place more premium brands realise consumers like the idea of more sustainable materials, like fabrics and carpets made from recycled plastics. You get some of that on the headlining material and nearly a third of the seat covering on the standard interior is now wool, so things are moving in the right direction. But there’s no escaping the fact the GV70 lags some European rivals in its interior vibe. Functionally it’s excellent, though, and we especially enjoyed the energising seat massage as we purred along in electrified silence, also appreciating the excellent ride quality and refinement. Genesis uses a clever system that ‘reads’ the road surface ahead and adjusts the suspension in readiness for potholes, speed bumps or other unsettling obstacles and it feels effective enough that we quickly reverted to the comfort setting after testing out the stiffer Sport mode. The wider tyres on the optional 20-inch wheels were a little harsher at town speeds and generated more roar on the motorway – the answer to that would be sticking with the regular 19-inch ones or, perhaps, upgrading the stereo to the fancier system with active noise-cancelling technology like that used in headphones. Sadly, our test car didn’t have it but we’d be keen to try it out. In practical terms the GV70 is, in the usual style, comfortable for four and a bit of a squeeze for five. The boot is a decent size as well, though perhaps a bit too nicely trimmed to consider filling it with smelly dogs or muddy walking boots.

Genesis aims to keep the buying process as simple as possible, meaning one trim level with plenty of standard equipment, supplemented by a range of self-explanatory upgrade packs you can choose from as required. Part-leather upholstery is standard and both front seats have power adjustment, though you need the Convenience Pack if you want your bum warmed on cold days and the Comfort Seat Pack for the aforementioned massage function. The digital instrument display and large central screen are standard, the latter including nav and CarPlay/Android Auto support for your phone, though this is plug-in rather than wireless. It’s also a bit of a stretch to operate the screen by touch, the turn and push dial on the centre console welcome but easy to confuse with the rotary gear selector just behind it, meaning you may end up trundling in neutral rather when you simply meant to zoom in on the map display. Meanwhile, the touch-sensitive surfaces operating the heating and ventilation look neat but are also a bit small and fiddly to operate without taking your eyes off the road. Fancier Nappa leather, heated rear seats and a panoramic sunroof are other options, but the pattern is clear and if you want your Electrified GV70 to feel properly luxurious you need to dig a little deeper in your wallet than the starting price might suggest.

If the petrol and diesel versions of the GV70 somewhat under-delivered on performance the Electrified version goes the other way, with an impressive 435 horsepower on tap and ability to raise that to 490 horsepower with a press of the steering wheel mounted Boost Button. Floor it in this mode and your passengers will gasp, giggle or scream according to how strong their stomachs are but, driven more sedately, the Electrified GV70 feels generally smooth, refined and very relaxing in that electrified way. Keen EV drivers will appreciate the many and various ways to manage the regeneration of power into the battery when slowing down, while those happy to let the car do its thing can simply enjoy the smoothness of the automatic i-Pedal setting. The official range of 283 miles looks decent compared with most rivals and, in our experience, electric cars from the Kia, Hyundai and Genesis stable deliver better efficiency than most. Our figures on the trip computer after a couple of hours on a mix of roads including town, country and motorway would seem to back that up as well. We’ll be surprised if any GV70 owners ever test it but, with motors on both axles and four-wheel drive of sorts, SUV expectations are fulfilled by the addition of E-Terrain modes for use in mud, snow or sand.