A 400-mile roundtrip to Manchester was a great way to explore the Electrified Genesis GV70. Not only would it offer up several hours behind the wheel, but it also served to highlight how the UK’s charging infrastructure has improved since this car was launched in 2022. The headline with this car is a claimed range of 287 miles. By 2026 standards, that’s minuscule, with others now claiming 500 miles and beyond from a single charge. With easier access to charging with 800V capability and the ability to charge at 240kW on public chargers (10-80% in 20mins), do you really need any more than that?
As expected, the electric vehicle (EV) space has moved at great pace. It was always going to take manufacturers a little while to figure out how best to manufacture them. There have been a few examples of first mover disadvantage, with the latest models offering enhanced range and settling into their EV skin more comfortably. Since October 2022 when the Genesis Electrified GV70 was launched, new arrivals have hit the market from established giants such as Audi, Mercedes and, most notably, BMW with their Neue Klasse cars spearheaded by the impressive iX3.
The model tested here is the Genesis Electrified GV70 Luxury. Put simply, Genesis has thrown in all the toys with Nappa leather, heated, air-conditioned and massage seats and a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. If it’s luxury you’re after, then the Genesis still feels a step ahead of its European rivals.
The battery has been boosted mid-life to an 84kWh unit. I achieved 2.7 miles per kWh which equates to a range of around 227 miles. Now, obviously a return journey to Manchester means a lot of motorway mileage, but bigger range is easily available elsewhere now. Still, I was able to top up the battery at a friend’s house and slotted in a 10-minute recharge on the return leg. Do you really need a 500-mile range? That’s for you to decide.
Here, we’ll look at the Electrified GV70’s vitals, assess how it drives and what it’s like to live with, and compare it to, among other cars, the latest BMW iX3.
Genesis Electrified GV70 key facts and figures
| Battery | 84.0 kWh |
| Range | 287 miles as quoted, 227 as tested |
| Power | 483 bhp |
| Torque | 700 Nm |
| Drivetrain | Dual-motor, all-wheel drive |
| 0-60 mph | 4.4 seconds |
| 0-100 mph | c.10 seconds |
| Top speed | 146 mph |
| Length | 4.72 m |
| Width | 1.91 m |
| Seats | 5 |
| Boot space | 503 ltr, 1678 ltr with rear seats folded down |
| Price | From £65,915 as standard; £74,100 in luxury trim; as tested £79,295 |
| Test economy | 2.7 miles per kW |
| Charge time | 10-80% in 20mins on 240kw public DC charger |
What’s the Genesis Electrified GV70 like to live with?
First impressions are always important and the Genesis Electrified GV70 certainly impresses. It has presence without being overbearing, slotting firmly into the mid-sized SUV category. It rides quite high, which makes ingress and egress easy, then when you step in you immediately find the cabin a spacious, pleasant environment to be in.
The sweeping 27” OLED screen which crosses from infotainment to driver dials is crystal clear and easy to navigate. Taking a leaf from BMW’s iDrive system, you can prod at the screen or use the rotary knob in the centre console to control it.
You feel like you’re a decent distance from your passenger, which lends a relaxed feel to proceedings. Slink into the Nappa leather seats, turn on the massage function and you’ll have few qualms about undertaking a long journey.
At this point the Bang & Olufsen sound system comes into its own. With active road noise cancelling, the Electrified GV70 is a quiet place to be, even on the motorway. This helps to elevate the sound system further.
It’s a cliché, but once I’d arrived in Manchester, I’d have been quite happy doing the return leg immediately. The ergonomic seats eliminate back ache, the ventilation means no sweaty back and the adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist help to take the sting out of monotonous motorway miles.
Other neat technological features include a 360-degree camera, park assist and a blind spot mirror that pops up on the dash when you indicate. With a manageable size, there were no issues navigating tight multi-storey car parks. 4.72m long and 1.91m wide aren’t gargantuan by modern standards. Throw in a 503ltr boot and you’ll get the family and their luggage around without much fuss.
What’s the Genesis Electrified GV70 like to drive?
We’ve already established that it’s quiet and comfortable on the move. Where it surprises most is in its performance. There’s plenty of power whatever drive mode you’re in, but there’s a little boost button on the steering wheel that’s hard to ignore. Tap it and you get the full force of the battery for 10 seconds, perfect for overtakes and making gaps.
The boost button, however, almost feels incongruous in the Electrified GV70, so refined is the overall experience. It’s like your butler throwing a right hook; you’re not really expecting it. I’d read the spec sheet, knew the power output, but still it took me by surprise. It’s certainly a nice to have rather than a necessity. The car feels at its best settling into a cruise rather than being shocked with 483bhp and 700Nm of torque.
So quick is it, however, that the quoted 4.4sec 0-60mph time feels somewhat understated. Scurrying away from the lights or making gaps on the motorway, the Electrified GV70 will show most road users a clean pair of heels.
Press boost, pin the brake pedal, then the throttle, release the brake and suddenly you’re where the horizon was but a moment ago. It’s very impressive, an unexpected flex of performance muscle. Even at motorway speed there’s a real zip to the throttle response with boost mode activated. Often EVs run out of puff in such a scenario, but not a bit of it here.
Take it down your favourite B-road and you’re soon reminded that the Electrified GV70 is a mid-sized family SUV. You can certainly cover ground quickly, but circumspection is essential in the corners.
The regen braking can be dialled up and down via the paddles behind the steering wheel. I like this feature, since you can play little games where you try to stop without using the brake pedal.
Electrified Genesis GV70 vs BMW iX3: which is the one to have?
The Electrified Genesis GV70 wins on luxury touches, but the iX3 is a BMW, which is very important to a lot of people. Badge snobbery is very much a thing in the UK. The iX3, too, shows how the game has moved on since the Electrified GV70’s inception. Whilst Genesis has increased battery capacity to 84kWh, the Beemer has a 108.7kWh unit. This means that it will comfortably travel an extra 150 miles between charges.
Now, I think range has become something of a red herring since the UK’s charging infrastructure has improved and, besides, how often do you do 200 miles without stopping? But that’s a considerable difference between the two. The industry is only moving in one direction, too, with other cars like the Porsche Macan Electric and Audi A6 e-tron featuring bigger batteries.
The other slight hangover from the first wave of EVs that exists in the Electrified GV70 is that stonking 0-60 time. The iX3 isn’t slow, hitting the mark in 4.9secs, but the first EV movers were keen to add value and a USP with outrageous power. So, the Electrified GV70 wins hands down if performance is what you need.
BMW has taken its time and refined its EV offerings. Genesis has, too, with the deeply impressive GV60. So, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that the Electrified GV70 is somewhat antiquated, such has been the pace of change. The iX3 offers more range, a platform built from the ground up for electric power and a cheaper entry price. The iX3 50 we tested, top of the line like the Electrified GV70 Luxury tested here, with an array of optional extras, came in at £71,462. Be less liberal with the configurator and you could easily keep it below £70,000. That’s a significant difference which makes the iX3 hard to ignore. You can even get into a Porsche Macan Electric for less than the Electrified GV70, even whilst ticking a few boxes on Porsche’s notorious list of add-ons.
Conclusion
The Electrified GV70 is a difficult car to dislike. From its understated aesthetics to wonderfully appointed interior, it impresses at every turn.
It was conceived at a time, however, when manufacturers were hedging their bets to a certain extent. They had ICE powered cars that they tested the water with by retrofitting batteries to. Remove the emissions and entice company car owners. Manufacturers have simply become much better at making EVs since then. They’ve worked out how to incorporate them into a line up without making them feel like a compromise. Genesis’ own GV60 is a good example of this.
Despite all that, the Electrified GV70 doesn’t feel out of place. It shows its age in some respects, not least in terms of range, but crucially it still feels like a good car. Genesis didn’t go overboard with the space age touches of some of its competitors at the time, but focussed on producing a good car. Which it did.
I guess the last question left to answer is who the Electrified GV70 is for. EVs have also become a bit cheaper since it launched, which doesn’t help. For a relatively new entrant to the UK market, selling a high-end EV at a price point around £8,000 above the latest and greatest EV offering from a brand like BMW is a very tough ask. In a land of badge snobbery, being more expensive than BMW, Mercedes, Audi and even Porsche, it could even be an impossible one.
I don’t wish, however, to detract from the strengths of this car. Taken in isolation, there is so much to like. It’s comfortable and quiet, quick and spacious. The tech integration is deeply impressive and it’s a wonderfully calming space to occupy. It’s a car I really liked and slotted into family life so easily. That’s the point of it and Genesis has nailed that aspect.
If you’re looking for a comfortable, luxurious family EV, it’s well worth a look against the competition. There’s often a deal to be done if you want one.