Genesis GV70 2024 review: Electrified Performance long-term | Part 1

If you love Hyundai’s electric cars but want something a bit fancier, then the Genesis GV70 Electrified could be the SUV for you.

Think of Genesis as Hyundai’s answer to Lexus, a luxury spin-off from a mainstream brand that undercuts the big shot German establishment.

We’ve lived with the GV70 Performance Electrified for a month and we’ve started to gain an understanding of what the car is like to live with in the cut and thrust of city life.

From weekly shopping runs, daycare drop-off and pick-ups, daily work commutes and soul-sucking house hunting on weekends, we’ve covered it all.

Genesis has made picking the right GV70 Electrified easy. There is only one variant, the fully loaded GV70 Performance priced from $126,475 (before on-road costs).

That’s a lot of money in anyone’s book. There isn't any like for like competitor that provides the same performance in a luxury mid-size EV.

Its more expensive than the similar-sized BMW iX3 ($104,900), but the iX3 lacks the punch and standard kit to match it with the Genesis, but it undercuts larger luxe models such as the Audi Q8 e-tron ($154,600) and the BMW iX ($130,900).

The sticker price shock subdues even more when you look at the vehicle’s bulging standard equipment list and eye-popping performance figures.

It uses two electric motors to deliver 360kW and 700Nm to all four wheels. That’s good enough to propel the big unit to 100km/h from a standstill in 4.8 seconds. That figure drops to 4.2 seconds when using the boost button that unleashes the vehicles maximum outputs for short spurts.

Unfortunately in Sydney, doing the previously mentioned tasks, there is no way to hit those maximums but it's nice to know the GV70 can surprise a few of the old guard petrol cars at the traffic light Grand Prix.

The GV70 has a strong linear acceleration with adequate throttle application, if you mash the pedal all the way to the floor it can throw you back in your seat.

The GV70 EV uses 19.9kWh/100km (Image: Dom Tripolone)

Its all-wheel-drive grip keeps it composed, especially in wet weather, where it always feels controlled and purposeful.

The GV70 is a hefty unit, it weighs 2310kg and it feels it on the road. Its suspension can struggle to control its weight, especially on pockmarked Sydney roads where it wobbles a lot.

That weight counts against it in the bends too. It doesn't like quick changes of direction, which results in significant body roll.

We’ll need to go a long country commute to find out the full extent of its driving capabilities in the coming months.

The GV70 weighs 2310kg (Image: Dom Tripolone)

An ace up the GV70’s sleeve is it’s one of the fastest charging electric cars on the market.

It can pump a claimed 350kW of juice back into its 77.4kWh lithium-ion battery.

Genesis claims that’ll fill the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in 18 minutes.

We were unable to put that claim to the test as the only 350kW charger nearby was out of commission when we attempted to recharge.

Charging port pictured (Image: Dom Tripolone)

Instead we connected the GV70 to a 75kW charger several times in a nearby shopping centre. It held the max rate of charge until it reached 80 per cent and filled the battery from about 20 to 80 per cent in roughly 40 minutes.

It's a seamless process topping up the GV70. You simply park with your nose to the charger and press the charging flap in the front grille to reveal the port, plug in the charger and let the kW flow.

Genesis includes the installation of a 7.2kWh home wallbox charger, which will replenish the car to 100 per cent overnight.

If you plug it into a domestic power point you’ll be waiting more than a day to fully top up the battery.

Boot pictured (Image: Dom Tripolone)

Genesis claims the GV70 Electrified has a driving range of up to 455km and uses 19.9kWh per 100km. In our roughly 500km of driving it used 23.6kWh/100km and its indicated driving range was closer to 380km.

Inside Genesis shows off its luxury chops.

Nappa leather-appointed seats are cosy and comfortable and the front pair’s 18-way power adjustment means there’s a seating position for every shape and size.

Heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel dial up the pampering even further.

Dashboard pictured (Image: Dom Tripolone)

A power tailgate can be opened with the smart key or via a button on the rear windscreen wiper.

It grants access to a generous boot that can swallow the weekly shop and all the bags for a weekend away. There is also a small space under the bonnet.

There is a 14.5-inch multimedia display that has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring and inbuilt sat-nav.

This is paired with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display that projects vital information such as travelling speed and safety warnings onto the windscreen in front of the driver.

Multiple USB charging ports and a wireless charger will make sure all the family’s devices keep running.

A panoramic sunroof gives the cabin a light and airy feeling and it opens at the touch of a button.

So far the GV70 Electrified has impressed me with its cabin and the genuine luxury feel of the vehicle. Its drive experience hasn’t been up to scratch with its luxury competition but a more thorough investigation is needed.

Next month it's time to pack up the family and head up the coast to see how the Genesis handles itself away from the traffic and to find out if EVs make sense when fast chargers are harder to come by.

Acquired: April, 2024

Distance travelled this month: 521km

Odometer: 3898km

Average energy consumption this month: 23.6kWh/100km