2022 Genesis Electrified GV70 review
PLENTY to talk about with the new Electrified Genesis GV70 medium-size premium SUV that goes for $127,800 plus on-road costs.
Apart from being priced at a substantial premium over the former top-of-the-range GV70 with a big turbo-petrol V6, this new Electrified GV70 Performance, to give the vehicle its correct name, delivers the sort of shove you once would have expected from something with an AMG or an M badge.
The dual motor Electrified GV70 can, in an instant, call up 360kW of power and 700Nm of torque, sufficient to push this 2.3 tonne five-seat family SUV from 0-100km/h in a scant 4.2 seconds.
On top of that, the vehicle has ‘Road Preview Adaptive Electronic Control Suspension’ that preemptively adjusts according to information collected about the road ahead by a camera within the windscreen.
Enhancing the sporty drive feel is variable gear ratio steering and a set of huge brakes with sticky soft compound Michelin tyres on 20-inch rims gripping the road.
Adding to the vehicle’s guile from a driver’s perspective are multiple drive modes and one-pedal driving via the regenerative braking system that will bring the Electrified GV70 to a complete stop without the driver having to touch the left pedal.
But too many of its advanced driver assist features are over-intrusive to the point of being annoying. You can switch off some functions but they default to on after restarting.
If safety is a priority then the Electrified GV70 won’t disappoint because it has the full suite of active, passive, primary and secondary safety systems to keep you and yours out of harm’s way.
Among them are eight airbags, pedestrian-friendly active bonnet, blind-spot monitoring, blind-spot cameras, driver attention detection, leading vehicle departure alert and forward collision alert plus auto emergency braking with car/pedestrian/cyclist detection as well as junction turning/junction crossing function.
The vehicle also prevents the driver from changing lanes into passing or oncoming traffic, has an evasive steering assist function, auto high beam, lane-keep and lane-follow assist, parking sensors with low-speed reverse collision avoidance assist, multi collision brake, rear cross-traffic alert with auto braking, rear occupant warning, safe exit assist, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, surround view monitor, trailer stability control and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
So, it’s safe then and there’s actually more than is listed above.
On to luxury kit and the stylish Electrified GV70 does not disappoint here either, starting with quilted Nappa leather upholstery in various hues on the seats and touch surfaces, interspersed with brushed stainless steel fascias and large digital displays that span the dash in front of the driver and across almost to the front passenger’s space.
A 14-speaker, 1050W Lexicon by Harman premium audio system pumps in mellifluous tones while the air is conditioned by a three-zone automatic climate control with an efficient heat pump system.
Electric adjustment, massage and ventilation is provided to both front seats while the steering wheel and both seat rows are heated, as are the exterior mirrors.
The vehicle scores a panoramic sunroof, electrically adjustable steering wheel, roof rails, full LED lighting and acoustic laminated glass to make the interior even quieter… than a Lexus.
Adding a classy touch is adjustable ambient lighting with back-lit door trims and graphics.
You can plug the car in to power your house via the vehicle-to-load (V2L) facility or utilise the V2L system inside and/or around the vehicle to run appliances – even assist in jump-starting another car.
A comprehensive infotainment system is controlled through the 14.5-inch touchscreen that also contains native sat-nav with augmented reality turn-by-turn directions.
