LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. There, I said it.
Yes, I am biased on this one. I have loved every Genesis product the brand has brought us, and the GV70 has been my favorite of all. This Electrified GV70 takes it up a notch as it is the most powerful version offered. We sampled the 4-cylinder gas version last spring and cried when it left, and are yet to test the turbocharged V6.
We would be quick to adopt EV life if we were in the market for a vehicle, especially a luxury family vehicle as we have long held that EVs make great luxury vehicles. Pair that with the fact that Genesis makes wonderful luxury vehicles and great EVs, this really is a fantastic car…practically perfect in every way.
Starting with the powertrain, Genesis employs the eGMP platform also used in the GV60, Kia EV6, and Hyundai IONIQ 5 & 6 models. This has been adapted to accept the bodywork from the gas-powered version of the vehicle. The battery pack is 77.4 kWh version found in other long-range models from the Hyundai Motor Group. The dual motors are equally powered on both the front and rear making 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. Genesis employs the same trick from the performance version of the GV60 we tested, using a “BOOST” button to give you 10 seconds 483 total horsepower for darting on the onramp of the highway or causing trouble.
0-60 miles per hour comes in a blistering 3.8 seconds, according to Genesis. My wife, Tucker, and I can affirm that it is in fact very fast. Top speed is limited to 151 miles per hour. This is fun to accelerate, but I am not quite sure who would be testing the upper limits of the speed.
Exterior styling is practically identical to the gas-powered version, with minor changes to the front and rear bumper. The biggest difference is the chromed grille that is closed off as it no longer needs to help cool a gasoline engine under the hood. It’s more bold than the gas versions for sure, but also done in a classy way. Let me know if you think it is too garish against the matte grey paint. The overall look of this thing is as close to a G70 shooting brake as we will get here in The States, which is perhaps why I like it so much. I would say the overall looks of the outside of this far exceeds the Audi SQ5 we tested earlier this year which is similarly priced, and less roomy, powerful, and luxurious.
The only complaints I would have of the outside are the lack of true color options. The GV60 offers plenty of fun colors, but the Electrified GV70 only comes in grayscale. This Makalu Gray Matte would perhaps be my choice, followed by the Vik Black gloss. The only other options are Makalu Gray gloss and Savile Silver gloss. Inside, the options are Black Mono or the Glacier White Two-tone of our tester. If you watched our GV60 video, you know I like color and I LOVED the color options on our tester of that EV, makes me curious why the Electrified GV70 gets such a muted color pallet.
Inside, despite the lack of color options on materials, the ambient lighting can be customized and shows nicely against this Glacier White, making the cabin a calm and tranquil place to be but fit for any mood. The seats are heated and ventilated up front, with driver’s massage. The rear outboard seats are heated and the back passengers get manual sunshades for their side windows. The entire roof is covered in suede, including the roller shade for the deeply tinted glass two-panel sunroof. The design theme is aircraft-inspired with many elements taking the shape of an airplane wing cross-section. The look if clean, simple, but upscale. Again, much more appealing to our eye than the Audi SQ5 we had a couple of weeks ago.
Interior space is ample as well. Thanks to a more traditional SUV shape, the Electrified GV70 has more cargo space than the SQ5, with an Escalade-sized rear storage area of 29 cubic feet with the seats up, or 57 with the reclining rear seats folded flat.
To put it bluntly, this vehicle was practically perfect in every way for our family of three while we had it. Its only shortcoming was its electric range. Thanks to the fact that we receive these vehicles from over 93 miles away, it arrived for testing with a battery in need of a charge and we were on our way to the airport. Had we had it the day prior, we could have easily loaded up in the Electrified GV70 bound for the DFW airport and returned home without a need to charge once. Had we needed some spare electrons, we could charge very quickly thanks to the 800V electrical architecture of the Genesis. It would charge from 10-80% on a DC fast charger in as little as 18 minutes. So, what it lacks in range, it makes up for in quick charging. Plugged in at home to our 240V 48 amp plug supplied to us by Lectron Chargers, we could have a full charge from empty in less than 8 hours.
Yes, it is clear we loved this. The best way to get into one would be through a lease, in my eyes, as Genesis will pass the full $7,500 tax credit on to you in the process, and after 3 years you could upgrade to a new Genesis that would surely have even more range.
2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 AWD Prestige Specs:
77.4 kWh Battery
Dual Electric Motors
429 Horsepower (483 with Boost Mode Activated)
516 lb-ft of Torque
Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive
Est. 3.8 second 0-60 mph Acceleration
151 mph Top Speed
Electronically Controlled Suspension with Road Preview
Front and Rear Disc Brakes with White Painted Brake Calipers
Five Driver-selectable Drive Modes
Eco
Comfort
Sport
Snow
My
Seating for 5
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats
Driver's Seat with Power Cushion Extension, Power Bolster, and Ergo Motion (Massage)
Power Front Passenger Seat with 4-Wav Power Lumbar
Heated Rear Bench Seat with Fold Down Center Backrest
Nappa Leather
Heated Steering Wheel
Leatherette Wrapped Upper Dash
Aluminum Interior Accents
Panoramic Moonroof
12.3-inch 3D Digital Gauge Cluster
14.5-inch Infotainment with Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
16-speaker Lexicon® Premium Audio System with Quantum Logic® Surround.
12-inch Head-Up Display
Tri-zone Automatic Climate Control
LED Headlights
LED Taillights
Customizable Interior Lighting
20-inch Alloy Wheels
265/45 R20 Michelin Primicy Tour Tires
Power Liftgate
Proximity Key with Push Button Start
Up to 29 Cubic Feet of Storage Behind the Rear Seats
Up to 57 Cubic Feet of Total Storage with All Seats Folded
Up to 236 miles of EPA-estimated Electric Range on a Single Charge
DC Fast Charging 10-80% in 18 Minutes
240V 0-100% Charge Time of 7.9 Hours
EPA Fuel Economy 37 kWh/100mi
Starting Price: $65,850
Price As Tested: $75,275