We like
Looks classy inside and out, silky smooth and quiet, impressive acceleration, vast array of safety features, decent range, little missing from luxury list, impressive complimentary services, did we mention the acceleration?

Room for improvement
Costs a lot, weighs a lot, uses a lot of energy when pushed, some intrusive driver assist features, sneaks up on pedestrians.

Overview

 

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.

Driving impressions

 

The model looks imposing on walk-up with an air of Bentley about its flanks, possibly also inferred by the winged badge.

 

But we reckon Genesis has taken a good hard look at Bentley products and pinched ideas here and there, like the olive green leather upholstery and the stainless steel fascia inside.

 

It is easy to access through wide doors and seats that adjust for easy entry.

 

You push the BEV’s start button and nothing happens even after you select D.

 

Push the accelerator though and away she slinks with only a muted electric car whirr.

 

Despite a lack of obvious sporty car aspirations, the steering is well-weighted and direct, the brakes are strong offering easy modulation with seamless transition from regenerative to friction and the ride is supple and silent.

 

In Normal mode, the Electrified GV70 feels pretty similar to competing premium vehicles except for the complete absence of noise other than from wind around the exterior mirrors.

 

This is the sort of car you could easily use to cruise interstate, as long as you predetermined recharge stops and had the time to wait.

 

Its seats are large and comfy, the controls are easy to understand and use, the audio is sensational and there’s a definite air of exclusivity about being inside this heavily climate-controlled vehicle complete with a sniffer function to blot out bad stuff it detects in the outside air.

 

Then, the red mist descends and you flick the dial to Sport. The instruments turn angry red at the same time as the throttle redoubles its sensitivity and other dynamics features sharpen their reflexes in readiness for ‘the unleashing’.

 

Now you get around 320kW coursing through the four wheels along with around 700Nm of torque. It’s a fast beast that’s for sure and surprisingly tidy in the twisties given its porkiness.

  

But that was just an appetiser as there’s more; 10 seconds of bliss when you press the Boost button at the bottom of the steering wheel.  

 

That accesses ‘full bottle’ with 360kW driving the SUV in a surprisingly unintimidating but super-quick blast.

 

But wow, this thing gets up and boogies when you want it to.

 

You have to love the way it squats in Boost mode as the nose lifts and you sprint forward at a rate of knots. It would certainly entertain the kids.

 

Genesis says the Electrified G70 is capable of a 4.2-second 0-100km/h sprint, which we think is a touch under-call as on our drive we did a hand-held timing run and bested that figure.

 

All that weight ultimately tells against the Electrified GV70 a tad through corners but once again, it’s surprisingly adept at sporty driving with the wick turned up all things considered.

 

Used in such a fashion, the Genesis sucks electricity such that the claimed 445km range is more like 200km.

 

But with the right kind of DC rapid charger in ideal conditions, the 77.4kWh battery can go from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 18 minutes.

 

On top of all the other complimentary services Genesis offers to attract buyers, they  generously offer a free five-year Chargefox recharge subscription or will install a wall-mounted AC charger at your home. 

 

That’s a deal worth thinking about in the current climate but we would run with the Chargefox deal every day. Free fuel!