Genesis GV70 Electrified Review

Is comfort and style enough to cover the lack of range for the newly updated Genesis GV70 Electrified?

Introduction

Even though Genesis has been in the UK since mid-2021, many seem to be far less aware of the brand than we expected. For those who came here because they saw a handsome vehicle but didn’t know what yet another winged badge was, Genesis is to Hyundai what Lexus is to Toyota. A luxury brand gunning for a slice of what the big three German marques have carved out over the past thirty years.

As of January 2025, Genesis UK announced that it was going fully electric. It was one of the very few manufacturers in the UK to go down the full EV path so early, it was certainly a brave choice. The GV70 when it first launched came with a choice of either a 2.2 litre diesel, or a 2.5 litre turbo petrol. Both models came with an excellent 8 speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive. They were direct rivals to the BMW X3, Mercedes GLC, Audi Q5, Alfa Stelvio and Volvo XC60.

Quite a list of strong contenders, but the Genesis was an excellent alternative and bettered many with its fantastic interior and luxurious ride. The GV70 then got an electric powertrain to fight the likes of the BMW iX3, Mercedes EQE SUV, Audi Q6 e-Tron and the ever-present Tesla Model Y. This is a somewhat less respected group of vehicles, and the GV70 surpassed any of the German offerings for interior quality, comfort, and efficiency. Unfortunately, the UK still suffers from badge snobbery, and the Genesis simply didn’t make the dent in the market the model deserved.

Driving

In mid-2025 the GV70 Electrified received a mid-life update. Externally the differences were mild. It got a lightly redesigned front grille, headlights, and wheels. The interior gets an all new 27-inch OLED display, but more on that later. One of the biggest changes is the battery. It is now 84-kWh, compared to the 77-kWh battery in the pre-facelift. The fast-charging capability has been improved to a peak of 350 kilowatts, meaning 10 to 80% happens in a genuine motorway stop time of just 19 minutes.

While that is deeply impressive, good luck finding a charger that will reliably develop that in the UK. The increased battery size also has given the GV70 an increased range. Its WLTP figure of 298 miles is a 22-mile increase over the old model, but unfortunately still falls well short of many of its rivals. The Audi Q6 e-Tron, Mercedes EQE SUV and Tesla Model Y all offer ranges well over 300 miles, while the new BMW iX3 offers over 400 miles. During our week with the GV70 we were averaging 3.5 miles/kWh. That means a real-world range of around 280 miles. Spend lots of time powering up and down the motorway and expect the efficiency and range to drop dramatically.

While the battery has increased in size, the power output is no different. The GV70 still gets an impressive 483 bhp. The 0-62 mph time of 4.2 seconds is certainly nothing to be sniffed at. It is important to note that while the headline power and acceleration figures are both very impressive, they are only achievable when the Boost button has been pressed. In regular driving you get 429 bhp.

Still an enormous amount of power for what is a non-hot rodded family friendly SUV. The Boost button certainly creates some theatre, but we would be surprised if it was regularly used, unless scaring supercars away from the traffic lights is a regular occurrence. Another feature added during the update is the simulated six-speed gearbox. The same type of system as found on the newly updated Kia EV6 GT and the wonderful Ioniq 5 N.

It doesn’t suit the Genesis’s luxury angle, but there is no denying how impressive the system is. The engine sound that’s pumped through the speakers is obviously fake, but the gear shift action is spectacular. The small dip in power felt between gear shifts is near identical to a DCT, and when changing from second to first, the jolt is so real that even the most veteran car obsessive would be fooled. It is a gimmick yes, but a very impressive and fun one. The rest of the driving experience is one focused far more on luxury than any sort of sportiness. The GV70 now gets the same ‘Road Preview’ scanning technology that was found on its larger brother, the GV 80.

It uses a camera on the front of the vehicle to scan the road ahead for potholes or speed bumps and adjusts the adaptive dampers accordingly. The system handles the bumps and pothole ridden UK roads superbly. Only in Sport mode does it sometimes feel a little firm. Our test vehicle came with the larger 20-inch wheels, but the Pure trim has 19s as standard with large sidewalls for even more comfort. Yet more tech has been added to increase the calming sensation of being a passenger in the GV70. Double glazed windows and active noise cancelling both come as standard.

Only when you open the window can you really tell quite what a difference these two additions make to the serenity of the cabin. The steering is nicely weighted and gives a good sense of communication. There is more body movement than either a BMW iX3 or Audi Q6 e-Tron, but it never feels overly soft or wallowy. It is a lovely balance between comfort and control.

Interior

Step inside and the first thing you notice is the updated infotainment screen. Previously there were two screens, one for the driver and one for the multimedia system. Now you get a single 27-inch OLED touchscreen that combines the two. It looks sensational and is easily one of the best looking and fastest systems on the market. What really tips it over to being class leading is twofold. The first is the rotary controller mounted on the transmission tunnel. It has a lovely click to it and makes using the already intuitive system even easier to use whilst on the move. Yes, the ridiculous decision to put the gear selector an inch away, and to make it the same shape is insane.

If you were to own the vehicle you would get used to it but we nearly, several times, put the vehicle into neutral while driving. The second is the separate panel for the climate control. It is a lovely combination of physical controls and a separate small touch screen. The icons are large and the haptic feedback is strong.

The driving position is spot on with vast amounts of adjustment. The seats are as comfortable as any we have sat in and the heating elements are some of the most powerful we’ve tested. While our test vehicle came with the £1070 Comfort Seat pack, it adds a massage seat function and enhanced lateral support. An option we would highly recommend ticking.

We also had this on the pre-facelift version and for long journeys it certainly improved the already elevated level of comfort on offer. The materials are all high quality, even further down the cabin. It’s hard to find anything that doesn’t feel plush or luxurious. Room in the front is good, but thanks to the huge front seats, space in the rear is a little compromised. Anyone over six-foot may struggle for knee room if the driver is of equal height. The central seat is raised and wouldn’t be comfortable for anything other than short journeys.

The outer seats however are just as comfortable as those in the front. The boot is a sizable 503-litres. While that is slightly smaller than many of its rivals, it is a useful size for longer trips and has a good opening. Importantly there is a useful 22-litre frunk to keep the charging cables in.

Conclusion

The GV70 Electrified is a seriously impressive vehicle for such a young luxury manufacturer. The design language is strong and independent enough to stand out in the crowd while the interior rivals the best in the business for tech, outright quality, and design. It is devastatingly quick in a straight line, handles admirably and rides beautifully.

The range is the only true drawback, but unless you plan on regularly doing 200-mile plus journeys on the motorway, not really an EV’s forte, it is sufficient for around town and has more than enough range for the average family.

Author: Tom Edwards