Genesis Electrified GV70 first drive | a welcome addition

The introduction of new Genesis models has been unrelenting in the past 18 months, as the Hyundai-owned luxury carmaker went from zero to six vehicles and established a new and unique sales and aftersales mechanism in the UK.

While the first few Genesis cars were not the most fleet-friendly, its recent slew of electric models has accelerated the brand’s credentials among corporate buyers and its latest offering might well be the most compelling to date.

The new Electrified GV70 marries the electric powertrain from the GV60 with the body of the GV70 premium SUV that was introduced last year.

It is designed to appeal to customers who want to ‘go electric’ but aren’t ready for a non-conventional ‘bespoke’ EV. The strategy aligns with other premium players – Audi e-tron, BMW iX3 and Mercedes-Benz EQC – which stick to a proven pattern.

While we’re talking of rivals, it’s worth pointing out that the Genesis is cheaper than the Audi and Mercedes – with a starting price of £64,530 – and considerably more powerful than all three.

The twin-motor arrangement in the Electrified GV70 outputs 490PS and enables a 0-62mph acceleration time of just 4.2 seconds. In truth, the immense power output is a little unnecessary in an otherwise refined and comfort-focused vehicle.

To make the car a little safer in day-to-day use, the full power output can only be accessed in 10-second bursts by pressing the ‘boost’ button on the steering wheel.

Still, it provides drivers with the ultimate company car bragging rights and may act as a further draw for those that are unsure about making the switch to a fully electric car.

What really matters, of course, is range. Genesis claims 283 miles is possible from the car’s 77.4kWh battery. Based on our experience, around 230 miles is more realistic, as our test car returned 3.1mi/kWh during our drive.

The integration of an 800V electrical architecture allows ultra rapid charging at 240kW, enabling the Electrified GV70’s battery to be replenished from 10% to 80% in a little more than 18 minutes.

As a luxury-focused model, the GV70’s interior is finished to high level of quality. There’s comfy leather seats, a large 14.5-inch central infotainment screen and enough accessible buttons and switches to make living with the car simple.

We were impressed with high levels of refinement the car provides, including at motorway speeds where road and wind noise are largely absent. The ride errs on the firm side, which is probably to keep the weight of the battery in check, but it’s not a particularly sporty set-up and the overall driving experience is a relaxing one.

The boot is large, offering more than 500 litres of space, with only the Audi E-Tron offering more in this segment. As a car initially developed for petrol and diesel engines, the Electrified GV70 lacks the additional luggage space that some EVs offer under the boot floor. There is a small space under the bonnet for storing the charging cables, however.

Genesis engineers have, overall, done a decent job of making the electric ‘bits’ fit, with no real impact on space compared with a regular GV70.

With competitive pricing, range and performance, the Genesis Electrified GV70 is a welcome addition to the segment. The car itself doesn’t move the game on in any particular area, but it’s just as good as the competition and comes with the VIP-style ‘Genesis Difference’, which includes a free maintenance, breakdown cover and a personal assistant service, together with a five-year discounted public charging package.