Genesis tweaks its best-selling GV70

GENESIS continues to fuel its aspirations Down Under and address a brand sales slip of around 33 per cent YOY from 2023-24 through model upgrades and line-up changes, the latest to its best seller, the GV70 Medium segment SUV.

The MY25 Genesis GV70 is offered in three all-wheel drive grades: Advanced, Signature and Signature Sport, all available as standard with a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and priced from $78,500, $87,500 and $89,500 respectively.

Optionally, the Signature and flagship Signature Sport are available with 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol power and priced accordingly at $98,000 and $100,000. All pricing excludes on-road costs.

The cheaper rear-wheel drive 2.5 petrol model has been axed from the line-up, while the fully electric GV70 E remains pitched at a hefty $125,858 + ORC (with an upgrade scheduled for next year).

The pricing sees the GV70 range increase in price by between $5600 and $16,000.

Competitors to the Genesis GV70 include the Audi Q5 from $88,315, BMW X3 from $84,500 (X4 from $95,700), Lexus NX 350 from $79,343, and the Mercedes-Benz GLC from $103,370.

Introduced back in June 2021, the handsome GV70 accounts for the lion’s share of Genesis sales here, currently running at 668 sales YTD (September).

Mild styling revisions have been made to the bumpers, lights and some body hardware, but the newcomer is essentially a technological upgrade with the GV70 Advanced model gaining plenty of new kit – including the now almost obligatory over-the-air upgrade facility, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and suite of connected services.

Other incoming goodies include a 27.0-inch OLED touchscreen (incorporating multi-media functions), tri-zone climate control, updated instrumentation cluster, and micro lens array headlights.

New 19-inch alloys make an appearance along with crosswind stability, biometric (fingerprint) authentication and a head-up display.

Genesis has devised a raft of new ADAS technologies for the revised GV70 that includes park collision avoid assist, highway driving assist, navigation-based smart cruise control, an in-car camera, and remote smart park assist among an extensive kit list.

The intelligent speed limit assist now features a steering wheel shortcut button.

The mid-spec Signature is fitted with new design 21-inch alloys, higher specification MLA headlights, a B&O audio, an air aroma diffuser, a UV-C sterilisation system and dedicated second-row climate control.

Compared with the range-opener, it brings additional luxury in the form of Nappa leather, ergo-motion front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dedicated second-row climate control.

As already mentioned, the 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 is available from this model upward and ushers in road preview electronic control suspension (or camera controlled adaptive suspension), an electronic limited slip differential, and additional suspension and drive modes.

On top of that, the GV70 Signature Sport adds specific 21-inch alloys with dark finish, new grille and crest, a different bumper with larger air intakes, dual tip exhaust, a D-cut steering wheel, and sports-styled seats.

Mechanically the GV70 remains the same featuring longitudinally mounted engines driving all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder unit is good for 224kW/422Nm and the V6 an impressive 279/530Nm.

Genesis says the car has a “plethora of chassis, suspension and NVH refinements (that) treat 2025 GV70’s occupants to an even more serene driving experience”.

The changes are also said to improve the model’s dynamics, ride and refinement.

“The 2025 GV70’s overall ride and handling package and NVH strategy have been enhanced to further elevate the level of luxury,” said Genesis product planning and development specialist Tim Rodgers.

“The tuning revisions extend to revised springs, dampers and anti-roll bars, increased chassis rigidity, new sound deadening strategies, materials and application techniques, and upgraded steering logic.

“Improved powertrain isolation and sound deadening makes MY25 GV70 noticeably quieter and more refined than its predecessor.

“No single change is responsible on its own, yet the combination of all the many changes dramatically enhances 2025 GV70’s overall refinement on the road.”

A larger range of exterior colours and upholstery choices is now also offered across the variants.

“We are thrilled to introduce the comprehensively refreshed and enhanced 2025 GV70, which gives customers an even more refined, elegant and well-equipped medium luxury SUV,” said Genesis Motors Australia head Justin Douglass.

“We are confident that Genesis’ top-seller can hold its own even against the most accomplished opposition, and we invite all customers to compare it to all rivals for luxury, value, features and performance.”

The luxury offshoot of South Korean giant automaker Hyundai hopes to further stimulate demand with limited edition versions of existing models and in early 2026, will introduce its Magma performance range targeting AMG, M and RS from the three main European protagonists, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi, starting with the all-electric GV60 Magma.

More will no doubt follow, however given the preponderance of ICE powered or mainly ICE powered performance models from the above competitors – and the clearly defined preferences of their customers – Genesis might be barking up the wrong tree by going the BEV performance route…

Time will certainly tell.

2025 Genesis GV70 AWD pricing*:

* Pricing excludes on-road costs.