Genesis joins the luxury electric SUV segment with the GV70

Genesis has unveiled the next car in its electric line-up. The GV70 is a large, luxury SUV which will sit above the GV60 and should provide a left-field alternative to the numerous other high-spec electric SUVs from other, more established manufacturers.

Hyundai’s luxury brand chose the Auto Guangzhou motor show in China as the venue for the global unveiling of the GV70. It’ll no doubt be a popular car in that market, but it’s also on its way to Europe in 2022 – supporting the brand’s entry into the market – and will go on sale in North America, too. It’ll find itself going up against the BMW iX3, Volvo XC40 Recharge and Audi Q4 e-tron, among others, but could it tempt people away?

Powertrain and performance

The Genesis GV70 will come exclusively with a twin-motor, all-wheel drive setup. There will be 214.5bhp and 258lb-ft of torque on each axle, and in boost mode the car will be able to deploy 483bhp and 516lb-ft for a 0-62mph time of just 4.5 seconds. This puts it right up there among the powerhouses in the segment – trumping all of the aforementioned EVs.

Whilst it’s not specified explicitly in the materials we’ve seen so far, we’re certain that the GV70 is based on the E-GMP platform thanks to the 400/800 volt electronic architecture. This enables 350kW charging, replenishing the (as yet undisclosed size) battery from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes. This tally’s with the IONIQ 5’s 72.6kWh battery, though, so it’s a safe bet to assume the GV70 has the same capacity. Vehicle to load (V2L) is also standard.

Range is up to 310 miles based on the Chinese test cycle, but closer to 250 miles on the Korean EV certification cycle. We don’t know what this will translate to for the European WLTP test, but somewhere between the two is about right – again, trumping most of the competition. Efficiency is enhanced by one motor being automatically disconnected when it isn’t required via a ‘disconnector actuator system’.

Whilst it’s unlikely that the GV70 will see much off-road action, it has a new e-Terrain mode to ensure it isn’t flummoxed by loose surfaces.

Design and technology

Genesis has designed the GV70 for aerodynamics and function, though it is instantly recognisable – if you’re familiar with the brand. Up front is the brand’s signature crest grille which has an ‘inverted G-matrix pattern’ and incorporates the charging port. Two line quad headlamps also denote the brand’s ‘face’ and are reflected at the rear of the car

The side profile, with a colour coded C-pillar, is reminiscent of the brand’s forthcoming G70 Shooting Brake, whist the rear is unfussy to look at.

Inside, Genesis calls the space a ‘driver-focussed design’ which presents ‘an intuitive and dynamic driving experience’. The design concept is called ‘Beauty of White Space’, which essentially means the car is supposed to be like a blank sheet upon which owners can ‘create their own story’. It’s very fluffy, but the interior will no doubt be up there in terms of quality with its German, British and Scandinavian rivals, especially with the liberal use of sustainable interior materials.

One-pedal driving with a smart regenerative braking system that uses the navigation, road conditions and a driver’s habits to maximise energy recuperation is fitted. Genesis has also fitted a system which monitors the driving noise in the cabin and creates inverted sound waves to cancel them out, enhancing peace and quiet while on the move. A system like DS’s Active Scan suspension helps smooth things even further by pre-loading the suspension based on data from a front camera and navigat