Genesis Motor GV70 SUV (2021 - ) review

Considering the GV70 is up against quality competition like the Audi Q5, Volvo XC60, BMW X3 and maybe even the Porsche Macan the list price and finance options look pretty generous, while the five-year servicing plan will also help keep a lid on the cost of living with one. Stick to the petrol versions and it should hold its value well, too. Fuel and other running costs are not so attractive, with the petrol version achieving about 30mpg and bearing a hefty CO2 burden with it, making it an especially expensive choice for business users factoring Benefit In Kind into their costs.

Although this is a new brand in Europe with no track record or owner feedback yet its links with Hyundai offer hope it will match the parent company’s strong record for reliability. For 2021 at least, the G70 line-up consists only of proven petrol and diesel powertrains and chassis from across the group, with few reported issues. There’s also a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty and Care Pack, which includes putting you up in a (suitably posh) hotel should you become stranded, and sorting your car’s collection for servicing. You will also be taken care of throughout your ownership by a Genesis Personal Assistant, who isn’t on commission, but is there to help.

The GV70 gives you an elevated view of the road ahead, and an impressive amount of safety features built in from the base model upwards. Cruise control, parking sensors, a reversing camera and systems to warn you about cars in your blind spot, if you’re straying out of your lane and if you’re about to collide with another vehicle, cyclist or pedestrian, are all standard. In a particularly neat feature when you flick the indicator the corresponding dial in the instrument cluster switches to a camera-generated view looking back along the side of the car, which will be extremely handy in cities where there are lots of cyclists at junctions or when filtering into heavy traffic on motorways and dual carriageways.

Genesis specialises in a certain, American-influenced interpretation of luxury with lots of space, creature comforts, soft-touch leather and real sense of comfort. That’s somewhat different from the sharper digital design, sustainable ‘technical’ fabrics and minimalist surface detailing found on equivalent European premium models – which you prefer will very much be down to personal taste but, for good or bad, the Genesis feels different. There are three trim levels to choose from, named Performance Line, Luxury Line and Sport Line. The base trim offers a very relaxing cabin while Sport Line gives you the usual flourishes of red stitching and bright seatbelts, which don’t particularly suit the otherwise laid-back nature of the brand.

The GV70 features a large, glossy touch-screen stretching across the upper part of the dashboard and it’s clear and useful, if not the prettiest or coolest looking display in the business. You can also access it using a large rotary dial if stabbing away at screens isn’t your thing. We also prefer the simple dials behind the steering wheel to the overly complicated optional 3D display. There are three main options packs to choose from if you want to go beyond the standard offering. These have self-explanatory names like Innovation for more tech like a head-up display and Convenience for heated seats and the like. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard and there’s an optional Lexicon stereo upgrade which we very much enjoyed.

Like the larger GV80, the GV70 offers the choice of petrol or diesel engines, with 300 and 207 horsepower respectively. Both offer enough punch for the medium-sized family SUV and are paired with a smooth eight-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive for confidence on slippery roads or in wintry conditions. We prefer the quiet smoothness of the petrol to the marginally gruff diesel, which also makes for a heavier, slightly more wallowy driving experience. Both versions are wrapped in plenty of sound and vibration deadening material, and support their occupants with forgiving suspension. If you’re after a sporty, pin-sharp drive, a GV70 is probably not for you, though for family travel it’s pretty much ideal.