Can this stylish and swanky, battery-powered daily driver convince suburbanites to make the leap to an EV? We think so.
Every day it’s getting easier to imagine going electric. Brands are adding more and more models to fit a wider swath of lifestyles and preferences. Enter Genesis Electrified GV70. The third electric in the brand’s lineup is a battery-powered version of the brand’s most successful model—a luxury midsize SUV with an undercurrent of sporty personality.
After spending the better part of a day behind the wheel, here's the top line assessment: The new GV70 makes a persuasive argument for electrification aimed at those in the market for a posh grocery-getter or a commuter to elevate the daily drive.
Power and Performance
Genesis Electrified GV70's 77.4-kWh battery pack powers twin 214-hp electric motors, one for the front wheels and one for the back, making a total of 429hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. But much like the one found on its sibling, GV60, there’s a “boost” button that cranks up the juice to 483 hp for 10 seconds (more on this later).
Genesis estimates economy at 98 MPGe city and 83 MPGe highway. Solid, but the brand hasn’t quite eliminated range anxiety. At 236 miles, it probably won’t win over anyone keen on road trips. That said it should be more than enough for an average work-week’s worth of commutes. Though if you also need to make runs to school, soccer practice or pit stops at Trader Joe’s, a hump day charge might be in order.
Of course, suburbanites with a garage will almost certainly want to install a home charger (AC Level 2 charging requires roughly seven hours to take the battery from 10 to 100 percent). But for those on the go, a 240kW DC charger can take Electrified GV70 from a 10 to 80 percent charge in 18 minutes.
Thoughtfully, Genesis has moved the charging port to the front of the car, so it doesn’t matter which side the cable comes from, making it easier to pull in and juice up either at home or on the go. Plus, as with its other EV offerings, the brand throws in three years of free, 30-minute charging sessions with Electrify America.
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On the Road
Driving in and around Atlanta, Electrified GV70 performed much like its ICE sibling but with a bit more heft and substantially more juice.
There’s little to distinguish it from the ICE-powered version. No unique badging gives it away, just the lack of tail pipes and a more solid version of Genesis’ matrix grille. Otherwise it looks almost identical to its carbon-fueled copy, but it certainly is different. When it launched in 2021, ICE GV70’s twin-turbocharged V6 offered drivers 375hp and a zero to 60mph time of just under five seconds. The electrified version is basically a full second quicker and still manages to move quite nimbly despite a more than 400-lb weight gain. Genesis chalks that up in part to tweaks to the chassis that add 24 percent rigidity compared to the ICE GV70.
Flicking through twists and bends, you barely notice the added mass. Steering is light, accurate and effortless, even at a substantial clip. With ample power at your foot, it's easy to let the GV70 get away from you on any road.
Gobbling up highway miles might be the GV70’s strongest discipline. It’s a smooth, comfortable cruiser that feels incredibly stable at higher speeds. It’s quiet to boot and not just from the lack of engine sounds. The engineers and designers added enhanced sound absorption around the cabin.
To further soften the effects of a long drive, a road preview function electronically adjusts the suspension to better absorb bumps and road texture, while the adaptive cruise control uses machine learning to better approximate your braking style. So, when the car makes adjustments it feels less jarring.
But when it’s time for some speed-induced whiplash, Genesis has added the beguiling bit of gimmickry known as the ‘boost button.’ Want to blow someone’s doors off passing on the interstate? Give it a push as you move to the left lane, hammer the throttle and feel every one of those extra ponies come alive—it’s insanely fun. If you can find a good bit of road on your commute, you can mash that button to your heart’s content. The system lets you power up as much as you like until the battery charge falls below 25 percent.
It’s not a particularly necessary feature, Electrified GV70 is plenty quick even before a boost. But if you do push it heading into a turn, let the wheels straighten out more than you might normally before pushing hard on the throttle until you get a good feel for the car, since the torque is likely to give you a bit of oversteer.
For the most part, the tech loaded into the vehicle is smart and intuitive. The 14.5-inch touchscreen is large but not so big that it’s a nuisance. It’s also easy to use, though most drivers will mostly experience it as a projection of their phones. To that end, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, but don’t work via bluetooth. Phones must be tethered, which is a bit of a disconnect since Electrified GV70 does feature a wireless charger.
A Luxurious Point of Departure
One of my favorite things about Genesis as a brand is that it doesn't option you to death like some others. For Electrified GV70, there are only two trim levels ‘Advanced’ and ‘Prestige.’ The Advanced package pretty much comes with everything you could want… leather seats, panoramic moonroof, and 20-inch wheels.
Upgrade to the Prestige trim level for Napa leather, a digital instrument cluster, a head-up display, active noise control (to eliminate excessive road sounds), and a heated steering wheel and second row seats. Most of those, you could probably live without, but the Prestige option also gives you the better Lexicon sound system, which is a decent argument for parting with some extra cash.
There are color options…sort of. For launch, Electrified GV70 only comes in four shades: silver, black, gray, and matte gray. That’s too bad as Genesis offers some lovely colors on other models. But as this is its first vehicle produced at the new Montgomery, AL, plant, the brand chose to reduce paint options in order to maintain the current level of quality.
Similarly, there are only two options for interior color: obsidian black and glacier white, which is both beautiful and adds an airy quality to an already uncluttered design.
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Internal Beauty
Electrification hasn’t changed much on the inside. It’s still a sumptuous place to spend time. The reductive interior, dominated by the airplane wing dashboard, is clean and crisp and retains its aeronautical inspiration. Refinements as well as fit and finish inside the cabin punch well above its price point, even at the electric premium.
The front seats are plush as well as supportive. On the driver’s side, an automatic posture improvement feature kicks in after a while behind the wheel. It also features a massage function, but the lack of one on the passenger seat might be a deal breaker for couples, or another reason to fight over who gets to drive and who has to ride shotgun.
Cargo and passenger space is down slightly compared to the ICE version. The rear seats lose about six-tenths of an inch of room, making it a touch more cramped, but it's still plenty for your short-legged minions. Storage in the rear is down around four-tenths, which is almost unnoticeable. Of course, your golf clubs or luggage won’t be able to tell at all.
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Not Quite an Electric for the Masses
For the moment, not everyone can get one. Genesis is still only selling EVs, including GV70, in 22 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. But seven of those were added within the last month, so more markets may open up in the near to medium term making Electrified GV70 more accessible, geographically speaking.
Also it certainly won't fit every budget. Starting at nearly $70,000, GV70 is a luxury proposition to be sure, but Genesis says customers will receive the $7,500 tax credit, which cuts the price by more than 10 percent. But for those ready to bypass the pump and make the leap to electric, the GV70 is a brilliant SUV that makes battery power look both fun and utilitarian. Plus, it’s another sign that electric is the new normal.
[From $67,550; genesis.com]
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