A Week With: 2023 Electrified GV70 AWD Prestige

The advance of electric vehicles has changed the luxury segment, bringing in new competitors such as Tesla, Rivian and Lucid, which have significantly altered customer expectations. 

EVs also have intensified the competition among traditional European luxury brands such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, which have moved to add EVs to their product portfolios.

Overview

Meanwhile, newer entrants into the luxury space, such as Genesis, the top-of-the line brand created by South Korea’s Hyundai, also have added their own electric vehicles such as the Electrified GV70, which has made a big impression with its sleek exterior, impressive technology and eye-catching interior.

With two electric motors, the Electrified GV70 also comes with more than enough power to satisfy fussy drivers, and the kind comfort and convenience features that are expected to please even the most demanding car buyers. The electric ute’s range on single charge, however, is about 240 miles, which Is not exactly best in the rapidly changing segment but is adequate for the everyday needs of typical customers, who probably will have more than one vehicle in their personal fleets.

Exterior

Genesis is a beneficiary of the Hyundai’s sweeping design evolution, which has endowed South Korean brands with eye-catching sheet metal in recent years. The battery-electric GV70 shares the design language and characteristics of Genesis products powered by internal combustion engines. It is built with the broad, muscle-like wheel wells at the rear over the 20-inch wheels that convey a sense of power.  

The Electrified GV70 also has some of the other characteristics of ICE designs employed by the Genesis brand such a long hood and an unmistakable patterned grille that hides the charging port. All and all, though, the exterior of ute has plenty of visual appeal and looks fresh and contemporary.

Interior

The interior of the Electrified GV70 seems to elevate the definition of luxury. The vehicle I drove for a week had leather seating surfaces, aluminum trim, artful stitching, and microfiber headliner, which created a cabin with a distinctly up-market ambience. The careful styling was matched by comfortable seats, and an entertainment system with impressive sound quality. 

Controls through the interior are nicely laid out and included on the leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Electrified GV70’s screens, both in the center stack and under the steering wheel, are vivid and easily read, particularly when the vehicle is being recharged. The SUV also uses rotary controls for shifting into gear or managing the screen in the center stack. The visibility from the driver’s seat is excellent in all directions, while the panoramic sunroof draws natural light into the interior.

Powertrain

The 2023 Electrified GV70 AWD Prestige like the one I drove is equipped two 160 Kilowatt motors, one in the front and one in the rear of the vehicle, and a 77-kilowatt lithium-ion battery. The motors were governed by a single gear transmission and the powertrain produced 420 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. 

The electric powertrain also included an all-wheel-drive system. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gives the Genesis GV70 a combined rating of 91 MPG-e, which includes 98 MPG-e and 83 MPG-e on the highway or 37 kilowatt hours per 100 miles. 

Safety and Technology

The Genesis Electrified GV70 comes with a long list of safety and technology features, including multiple airbags for protection of the driver and passengers in the front and rear seats. It also has forward collision avoidance assistance, lane keeping and blind-spot collision assistance, blind-spot view monitor, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, driver attention warning, surround view monitor, parking distance warning and safe exit assistance. It is also equipped with navigation, satellite and HD radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, Genesis connected services and Bluetooth. 

Driving Impressions

With its extra weight and always-on electronically controlled suspension, the Electrified GV70 delivers the feel and ride quality of a luxury vehicle. It automatically communicates to the driver a re-assuring sense of stability and control that fits neatly with the vehicle’s substantial power.  

One of the drawbacks of driving an electric vehicle is there is not a lot of steering feedback, though the regenerative braking system on this ute does deliver a feeling for the road to the driver. But the power from the electric drivetrain with its quick acceleration and the torque, pushing you back into the seat, makes it a great deal of fun to drive.

2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 AWD Prestige Specifications

Wrap Up

If you are looking for a battery-electric vehicle and are willing to spend nearly $75,000, one of the great things about the Genesis Electrified GV70 is the exterior looks fresher than a Tesla Model Y, which is quickly growing old. 

At the same time, the Electrified GV70 does not scream electric vehicle until you need to park it an EV charger. Charging remains one of the big drawbacks to owning and operating an electric vehicle and the SUV’s 240-mile range is hardly a game changer at this point in the development of EVs. So, if you buy one be prepared to finance a home charging unit.

2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 Prestige— Frequently Asked Questions