Although not yet sold in Ireland, the Genesis GV70 was, for some time, the company's most competitive and most compelling model elsewhere in Europe. A bona fide alternative to the Porsche Macan and BMW X3, it has cemented its place among the most popular models in the range. But then the all-electric GV60 came along and changed the game. Equally competent, more modern to look at and cheaper to run, the GV60 became the Genesis of choice and looked to be the model that would lead the brand into the Irish market. Now, however, the Korean company has added electric power to the GV70 line-up, too, in a bid to ensure it remains as attractive as possible to buyers. Should Irish motorists be lobbying for it to be sold here through official channels?
In the metal
Telling the Electrified GV70 apart from its internal combustion-powered siblings is not as easy as you might imagine. The bodywork is more or less identical, with the same basic shape, the same two-part headlights and the same rear end. The most obvious difference is the crest-shaped grille at the front, which is now less of a grille and more of a panel, giving the GV70 better aerodynamic performance.
That also allowed Genesis to hide the car's front-mounted charging port, which lives behind a secret panel in the grille, making it almost invisible from a distance and difficult to spot at all unless you're on the lookout for it. Of all the ways we've seen manufacturers try to hide charging ports, this is one of the most successful.
But if you struggle to tell the difference between the battery- and petrol-powered GV70s from the outside, you'll have even more trouble once you step inside. The basic design is unchanged, and although there are a few electric car-specific buttons dotted around, the Electrified GV70 is no different to its fossil-fuelled stablemates.
Not that you'll find us complaining, because in any guise, the GV70's interior is one of its most appealing aspects. The airy, modern, luxurious design of the standard car has been carried over, complete with the high-tech touchscreen infotainment system, digital instrument cluster and the extra multi-use control panel.
The tech is great, with a combination of sharp displays and sensible use of physical controls - including the rotary dials for the climate control and the BMW iDrive-style rotary control for the infotainment screen - as well as logical menus. It isn't necessarily ground-breaking stuff, but it's incredibly well executed.
What's most impressive, however, is the quality on show, with stunning materials that have been perfectly assembled. As standard, the Electrified GV70 comes with upholstery made partly from recycled materials, but customers can choose the plush Nappa leather option if they prefer. Either way, the rest of the cabin is adorned with quality plastics and metalwork, as well as soft dashboard materials and well-engineered switchgear. Everything feels luxurious - more so than it might in some of the more established premium brands' offerings. We're talking Audi levels of quality.
The Electrified GV70's cabin doesn't just feel well built, though; it's also very spacious, with acres of space for those in the front and ample capacity for rear-seat passengers. Squeezing three across the rear bench might not be much fun, but there's plenty of space for four adults in total, with plenty of rear headroom and sufficient legroom.
There's a big boot, too, albeit not as large as that of the petrol-powered GV70. The battery and motor have robbed the luggage bay of a few litres, but that loss is somewhat absorbed by the fact it's all below the false floor, so most of the time you won't notice it's gone. Particularly as the Electrified GV70 still has more than 500 litres of boot space with the rear seats upright - more than you'll find in a Mercedes-Benz EQC, but marginally less than you get from an Audi Q4 e-tron or a BMW iX3. Even so, it's more than enough for most owners, and it's supplemented by a 25-litre 'frunk' under the bonnet.
Driving it
The reduction in boot space is down to the twin-motor electric powertrain Genesis has fitted to the Electrified GV70. That combines two 180kW electric motors that spin to around 19,000rpm, and they're powered by a 77.4kWh battery pack. The result is a 490hp, all-wheel-drive SUV that can cover more than 450km on a single charge - at least on the official WLTP test.
In the real world, that figure drops to around 400km if you drive with a modicum of restraint and sense, but if you can find a rapid charger, you needn't worry too much about that, because with charging speeds of up to 240kW, the GV70 can charge its battery from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes, adding more than 300km of range in the process. Of course, you need to find a charger that can deliver power that rapidly, but it's still good going.
Freed from the shackles of a lengthy wait at the chargers, you can enjoy the plentiful performance the GV70 has to offer. With 490hp and 700Nm of torque, the car can accelerate from 0-100km/h in a little over four seconds, and thanks to the high-revving motors, its top speed is 235km/h. That isn't especially relevant over here, but it'll play well with German customers.
The upshot is that the Electrified GV70 is quick. Very quick. It's much faster than its petrol-powered sibling and the delivery is more instantaneous. To access the full 490hp you actually have to press the Boost button on the steering wheel, which gives you 10 seconds of unhinged performance. And there's no limit to how often you can use that. You could, if you so wished, keep pressing it every 10 seconds, and Genesis has provided a handy countdown to help you do it.
While the Electrified GV70 might be more powerful than the fossil-fuelled versions, it has much the same road manners, and that's incredibly good news indeed. The petrol-powered GV70 is among the best cars to drive in its class, with a mature ride and surprising agility, and the electric model carries on in the same vein.
The ride is often compromised in electric vehicles thanks to the heavy battery pack, but the Electrified GV70 is still quite supple. It can't isolate you from all the bumps, but it does a solid job of sanding down any sharp edges and turning jagged edges into soft undulations. It isn't perfect, but it's very good - particularly at speed. It's also incredibly refined, with little road noise and near-silent electric motors.
That's partly down to the optional noise cancelling technology fitted to our test car as part of the premium audio system. It emits a kind of counter-frequency to tune out most of the tyre roar. It's so successful we could hear more road noise from the cars around us than from our own. Apparently, Genesis has tuned it that way as a safety feature, allowing outside noises such as sirens and cyclists' bells to be heard more clearly.
Although the comfort and refinement make the Electrified GV70 a solid cruiser, it can still put a bit of sport in the sport utility vehicle. Not only is it rapid in a straight line, but it's also great in corners, with limited body lean and plentiful grip from the four Michelin Pilot Sport tyres. It's let down by slightly numb steering, but otherwise it's good fun on a winding back road.
What you get for your money
The Genesis brand is not yet offering cars in Ireland, but customers can import vehicles from the UK, which is one of just three European markets where Genesis has an official presence. Over there, the Electrified GV70 gets plenty of standard equipment. With just one version on offer, all GV70s come with tech including navigation, climate control and a reversing camera, as well as electric-car-centric features such as vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging that allows owners to power items such as laptops or even refrigerators via a domestic socket in the boot. For extra equipment, including more upmarket upholstery or extra tech, customers can choose from a range of option packs.
Summary
Switching the GV70 to electric power has done nothing to dull its appeal. Extra performance and refinement are always welcome, and the reduction in practicality is pretty minimal. Everything else feels much as it did before, which is no bad thing. That said, a little more range would be nice to have, but as the Electrified GV70 is going on sale alongside existing petrol-powered versions, customers will have the option to choose a powertrain that suits their mileage. Whether a GV70 - electric or otherwise - can beat the likes of the X3 is up for debate, but the fact we can debate the matter is a statement in itself. If Genesis continues to build cars of this quality, it could soon be a front runner in the premium sector. And its introduction to the Irish market can't come soon enough.
