Genesis GV70 vs Audi Q5

What's the difference?

The updated Genesis GV70 Electrified Signature Performance is packed with features, effortless on the road, and backed by fantastic ownership value. This isn’t just polished luxury, it’s smart luxury, making it a vehicle worth serious consideration. The only caveat? I’d opt for a different interior colour to white if you have kids or pets.

The third-generation Audi Q5 in TDI quattro form is a competent if unremarkable all-rounder that would tick most boxes for private or commercial use. Whether it’s the best buy of the 21 brands and 34 models that compete in Australia’s congested ‘Medium SUVs over $60K’ segment, only a customer can decide after weighing up its many alternatives.

Although slightly smaller than some rivals at 4715mm long and 1630mm tall, the GV70 comfortably fills out its medium SUV stature with a pronounced nose, wide stance, and pillowed, swoopy rear end. The update adds an exclusive reverse G-Matrix pattern in the grille, new 20-inch alloys, and a rear aerodynamic spoiler for a more distinctive presence.

Inside, there are three interior colours to choose from. Our test model’s white leather looks stunning but isn’t the most practical choice for families, pets, or anyone frequently navigating unpaved roads. A rainy day could make you anxious! The quilted leather upholstery shines visually, complemented by the new ‘Milky Way’ ambient lighting panels in the doors.

The electrified platform gives the cabin a flat floor, which improves legroom for middle-seat passengers, though it does mean there’s no space for a spare tyre in the boot.

Other notable updates include intelligent Matrix LED headlights, smart key sensors on all door handles, and new paint options. I particularly like the hidden charging port cover integrated into the grille; a subtle, clever touch. Overall, the GV70 is a handsome SUV.

The Q5 TDI quattro rides on a 2823mm wheelbase and is 4717mm long, 1900mm wide and 1662mm tall with an 11.9-metre turning circle, so it’s a comfortable fit for metropolitan car parks. It has sophisticated five-link suspension, four-wheel disc brakes and electric power-assisted steering.

The third-generation Q5 features fresh styling with its prominent grille treatment the most noticeable feature. Overall, the standard S line exterior has an athletic look, which is optimised by our example’s larger 20-inch wheel option which nicely fills the wheel arches.

The interior has an open and airy feel, enhanced by the contrasting dark grey/pearl beige upholstery and panoramic sunroof options.

There are lots of soft-touch surfaces, exposed stitching and satin chrome highlights, plus (unfortunately) piano black surfaces on the dash and console which shine like mirrors when clean but can quickly turn opaque with unsightly fingerprints during everyday use.

Good design can be seen in the prominent ledge created by the dash inlay at the base of the central touchscreen, as you can comfortably rest the base of your palm on it to steady your index finger when using the touchscreen while driving, which is much easier and less distracting than trying to do this without such support.

The GV70 Electrified Signature Performance feels spacious and comfortable front to back. Up front, the seats are thickly padded and packed with features, making it easy to find a good driving position. The electrically adjustable steering wheel adds to the ease, and the 172mm ground clearance with wide door openings makes getting in and out effortless.

Storage up front is a bit limited. The middle console and glove box handle most of the load, while door drink holders are slim. I do like the dedicated phone tray and sunglasses holder, which add some practicality to everyday use.

The 27-inch multimedia and instrument cluster display is sharp, high-tech and intuitive, while the responsive touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto make connectivity easy. The system includes built-in sat-nav, and you can customise it to fill the full screen while keeping a small speedo widget visible.

Charging is well-covered with two USB-C ports per row, a wireless charging pad, a 12-volt socket and a 250-volt domestic plug in the boot. Small practical touches like extendable sunvisors, manual rear sunblinds, smart key sensors on each door and the ability to move the front passenger seat or operate the boot from the driver’s seat add extra convenience.

In the rear, legroom is good and while I’m comfortable behind my driving position at 168cm, taller passengers may need to shuffle seats to optimise comfort. Seat cushioning is excellent, and the outboard seat heaters are a welcome touch. The bench is wide enough for three adults for short trips, and families will appreciate the two ISOFIX child seat mounts and three top-tether anchor points. Amenities include climate control, rear air vents, sunblinds and charging ports, although storage is limited to a couple of cupholders and map pockets. The pull-down armrest sits a little low for me, but my kid has no concerns.

Boot space measures 503L with all seats in place, the smallest compared with nearest rivals. That said, it easily accommodates my family of three’s groceries and school gear. There’s a small underfloor pocket for the tyre repair kit and home cables, plus a 22L frunk for extra storage. The powered boot lid is a practical convenience I always appreciate.

The Q5 TDI quattro weighs almost two tonnes (1955kg kerb weight) which when deducted from its 2595kg GVM rating leaves 640kg of load capacity, which for either work or play is ample for up to five adults plus luggage of which up to 75kg can be carried on the roof.

It’s also rated to tow up to 2000kg of braked trailer but Audi does not publish a maximum legal weight for the car and trailer combined (not unusual in this vehicle segment), so we can’t confirm if it can carry its full in-car load capacity when towing its maximum trailer weight.

The expansive ‘Digital Stage’ multimedia screen spans about two-thirds of the dashboard’s width, above a decent sized glove box and another compartment to the right of the driver’s knee for small items.

Driver and front passenger also have access to a bottle-holder and bin in each door plus there’s a 12V socket, two USB-C ports and a wireless phone-charging pad in the centre console, which also provides two cupholders and a storage box with padded lid that doubles as a comfortable elbow rest.

The rear bench seat offers adequate space for tall adults, given I’m 186cm and when seated behind the driver’s seat set in my position I have about 40mm of knee clearance and about the same dimension in head clearance, even with the optional sunroof.

It’s less comfortable in the centre seat obviously, with feet either side of the transmission tunnel and knees together between the front seat backrests. Shoulder room is tight for three adults, which is tolerable for short trips but a maximum of two would be ideal for longer treks.

Rear passengers get a bottle-holder in each door plus elastic net pockets on both front seat backrests. The rear centre seat backrest also folds forward to reveal two cupholders and the rear of the centre console has adjustable air vents and a pair of USB-C ports, plus third-zone climate control adjustment.

The fully carpeted rear luggage area is equipped with another 12V socket plus tidy bag, first-aid kit and four load-anchorage points. The rear section of the load floor is hinged, which when opened reveals a large underfloor storage compartment.

With the rear seat upright, this luggage area offers more than half a cubic metre of load volume. And with the seat folded flat this expands to almost 1.5 cubic metres, with a large flat floor suitable for carrying everything from a mountain bike to flat-pack furniture.

Our test vehicle is the Q5 TDI quattro which comes standard with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, seven-speed automatic and all-wheel drive for a list price of $87,600.

That’s around the same spend as a Lexus NX 350H F Sport +Ep1 Hybrid AWD ($87,900) or Mazda CX-60 P50E Azami PHEV ($87,050). The NX and CX-60 are also the strongest-selling model ranges in the ‘Medium SUVs above $60K’ market segment where the Q5 competes.

The Q5 TDI quattro’s standard equipment includes 19-inch alloys with 235/60 R18 tyres but no spare (repair kit only), sporty 'S line' appearance package, matrix LED headlights with configurable signatures, LED tail-lights with dynamic indicators, an electric tailgate with gesture control (wave your foot under the rear bumper to open), heated/auto-dimming exterior mirrors and more.

The interior has power-adjustable and heated leather-appointed seating, three-zone climate control, a leather-rimmed steering wheel with paddle-shifters and multifunction controls, colour ambient lighting, matt brushed aluminium inlays, 360-degree camera view, speed sign recognition, eight-speaker audio system, inductive phone charger with adaptive cooling, combined 11.9-inch OLED driver instrument display and 14.5-inch OLED colour multimedia screen with wireless Apple/Android connectivity and more.

Our test vehicle is enhanced with numerous options including Navarra Blue metallic paint ($2000) plus the ‘Premium Package’ comprising head-up display, Bang & Olufsen 3D premium sound system, colour interior ambient lighting with dynamic interaction light, USB interfaces with higher charging capacity and acoustic glazing for the front door windows ($5400).

It’s also equipped with the ‘Style Package’ that bundles 20-inch Audi Sport alloy wheels (wearing 255/45 R20 tyres on our example) with a black exterior package and privacy glass ($4900).

On top of these extras there’s an optional panoramic sunroof with tinted glass and electric tilting/opening/retractable sunshade ($3500) plus 'natural brown walnut trunk' dash inlays ($600) and a pearl beige upholstery package which is a no-cost option (NCO).

So, when you add the combined cost of all these goodies ($16,400) our test vehicle’s list price crosses into six-figure territory at $104,000.

The GV70 Electrified Signature Performance is a fully electric SUV with dual motors, one on each axle, producing a combined 320kW of power and 605Nm of torque. Activate Boost Mode, and those numbers climb to 360kW and 700Nm, giving the GV70 a serious edge when you need it.

Despite its name, this grade isn't pitched as a performance EV but it's definitely no slouch with a 0 -100km/h sprint time of just 4.4 seconds with Boost Mode, or 5.0 seconds in standard mode. That’s quick enough to hold its own against rivals in the luxury electric mid-size SUV segment, while still delivering smooth, linear acceleration that’s effortless in everyday driving.

The turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine meets tough Euro 6 emission standards using AdBlue and produces 150kW of power between 3800-4200rpm, with 400Nm of torque on tap between 1750-3250rpm.

It’s paired with Audi’s latest hybrid diesel-electric technology which can add up to 18kW of power and 230Nm of torque to these figures, while also allowing short periods of pure electric driving for low-speed manoeuvring and parking.

The seven-speed torque converter automatic offers the choice of sequential manual gear-changing using the steering wheel paddle-shifters, along with selectable drive modes to optimise Audi’s iconic ‘quattro’ all-wheel drive technology.

The GV70 Signature Performance runs on a new 84kWh lithium-ion battery, giving a WLTP driving range of up to 462km which is a solid figure for both city commuters and regional drivers, provided you charge regularly. Genesis includes a couple of charging cables, and the SUV also offers V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) capability, ideal for powering larger devices while stopped.

Charging options are strong. The Type 2 CCS port accepts up to 11kW on AC chargers and up to 350kW on DC fast chargers, allowing a 10 - 80 per cent charge in as little as 19 minutes on a 350kW unit or seven hours and 35 minutes on an 11kW AC charger. Realistically, most DC chargers on the road operate closer to 170kW or below, which still delivers a very usable recharge.

The GV70 also features four levels of regenerative braking, including a one-pedal mode. Staying mostly in this mode over the week, I achieved an energy consumption of 21.0kWh/100km, which is very close to the claimed 20.0kWh/100km and again, is a solid result for a car of this size and outputs.

Audi claims official combined average consumption of 5.9-6.8L/100km and the dash display was claiming 6.5 at the completion of our 364km test, which comprised our usual mix of suburban, city and highway driving with up to five adult occupants and light luggage.

Our own figure, calculated from fuel bowser and tripmeter readings, was 9.1L/100km which is still within the usual 2.3L/100km discrepancy between official and real-world figures. So, based on our test figure, you could expect a realistic driving range of around 700km from its 65-litre diesel tank.

My kid called the GV70 the 'Marshmallow Limo' this week, and it’s an apt description for the ride comfort. The SUV probably delivers the one of the most comfortable rides I’ve experienced, thanks to soft suspension and new hydro bushings in the rear, which smooth out most vibrations. The trade-off is that it feels dampened when cornering and you glide over the road rather than feel it, which I find a little soft, but my husband loves.

The dual motors provide strong, prompt acceleration, and Boost Mode adds an extra kick when you need it. The cluster pulses red while active, which is a fun touch.

Visibility is excellent. The wide windows give a clear view around the car, and none of the pillars obstruct from my driving position. The digital rear-view mirror is particularly handy when carrying passengers or cargo.

Regenerative braking is easy to control via the steering wheel paddles. Mode 3 and the one-pedal function deliver strong regen without being harsh, but you need to adapt your braking technique, otherwise passengers might feel a little queasy.

Despite looking larger than it is, the GV70 is simple to park, thanks to an 11.5m turning circle and a 360-degree camera system, though the multiple view modes can feel overwhelming at first. I also love the remote parking via keyfob, which comes in handy in tight carparks or garages.

There’s a comfortable and spacious driving position as you’d expect, with ample seat and steering wheel adjustments combined with a large left footrest to enhance support.

It exhibits solid build quality and good driving dynamics, from its nicely weighted steering to its supple ride quality that optimises the Q5’s sprung weight to flatten the bumps.

Acceleration from the turbo-diesel engine comes in a smooth surge that benefits from the extra input of the electric hybrid system, which combined can deliver more than 600Nm of torque. However, at times we detected a slight delay in response when accelerating hard from standing starts or low speeds.

The automatic transmission shifts sweetly between its seven ratios and the all-wheel drive transmission delivers reassuring traction.

We also trialled the different drive modes, with ‘Dynamic’ providing the most energetic response, particularly when using the paddles in manual-shift mode. However, we spent most of our test in the ‘Balanced’ default setting, as it provides the best compromise between ride comfort and performance for everyday use.

Comes with a fresh five-star ANCAP rating (tested 2025) and comprehensive passive and active safety features including nine airbags, AEB, active front assist, blind-spot monitoring, exit warning, rear cross-traffic alert, front park assist, speed sign recognition, a 360-degree camera view including kerb view function and more. The rear seat has ISOFIX child seat anchorages for the two outer seating positions and top tethers for all three.

The GV70 Electrified Signature Performance comes with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and an eight-year/160,000km battery warranty, putting it in line with its rivals. What sets it apart are the extras included at no additional cost.

Genesis provides free scheduled servicing for five years or up to 75,000km, along with five years of roadside assistance through Assist Australia, and if you service through Genesis, that cover extends to ten years.

Owners also receive a complimentary five-year subscription to Genesis Connected Services and can choose either a five-year Chargefox subscription or an at-home wall-box charger.

Another practical bonus for regional drivers is that you aren’t limited to Genesis dealerships for servicing. You can use any of the hundreds of Hyundai service centres for scheduled maintenance, which makes ownership far more convenient. Overall, Genesis makes it easy and appealing to own a GV70.

The standard warranty is five years/unlimited km, which is shorter than rivals like Kia's EV5 with seven years. Scheduled servicing is every 12 months/15,000km whichever occurs first. Audi offers an upfront five-year service plan that covers the first five scheduled services up to five years/75,000km for $3520, or an average of $704 per service. This plan includes five years of roadside assistance.