Only black, silver, grey, and matte grey are available for the 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70. The colours of the rainbow were used, with no white.
It’s true that the Electrified GV70 isn’t the electric Genesis designed for those who want to customize their cars with bright colours like red, yellow, and blue. For those folks, there’s the Pokémon-inspired GV60. Instead, Hyundai’s luxury division has taken the cool and fantastically quiet compact SUV and made it even better by packaging it in a style that rarely speaks of an e-driving condition. However, the fizzy version’s Mauna Red and Cardiff Green are two colours I’m still craving.
Like the previous two Genesis electric vehicles, this one is only available in 15 states right now: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The Electrified GV70’s range isn’t as impressive as it could be, and it has a few technical flaws that keep it from being an ideal daily driver. However, these are only minor problems.
Specifications of the electrified 2023 Genesis GV70
- The Prestige version we tested starts at $66,975 ($73,775).
- A 77.4 kWh lithium-ion battery powers the four-wheel drive and single-speed gearbox.
- Power: 429 (483 in boost mode)
- Torque: 516 lb-ft
- Seating capacity: 5
- Curb weight: 5,038 pounds
- Towing capacity: 3,500 pounds
- Cargo Volume: 28.7 cubic feet behind the second row | 56.5 cubic feet behind the first row
- EPA range: 236 miles
- EPA fuel economy: 98 mpg city | 83 Highway | 91 combined
- Quick Look: All of the GV70’s already great features are arguably better without gas—except for the midrange.
- Score: 8.5/10
What Is Basic
Unbeknownst to you, the GV70 is the smaller of Genesis’ two SUVs. It sits below the three-row GV80 and is around the same size as vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz GLC, BMW X3, and Lexus NX. This confusingly named Electrified GV70 model is built on the same chassis as the gas-powered one, which, according to Genesis, was initially intended to accommodate both ICE and electric powertrains without any compromises. In actuality, the body of the electric GV70 is 24% stiffer than the gas version.
Speaking of powertrains, the GV60 Performance’s dual-motor configuration, which produces 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, is what we have here. It can reach 483 horsepower for up to 10 seconds when the Boost Mode button on the steering wheel is pressed.
The entire system is powered by a 77.2-kWh battery with a stated range of 236 miles and a 240-kW charging capacity. According to Genesis, DC, fast charging can charge the car’s battery from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes, and AC Level 2 charging can charge the battery from 10% to 100% in roughly seven hours.
Every customer at Electrify America stations gets a free 30-minute charge every three years, but as many have discovered, what you actually pull in those half-hour sessions can vary greatly. Being an electric vehicle (EV) made by Hyundai, this one has a built-in vehicle-to-load (V2L) system that enables you to power and charge devices like laptops both inside and outside the vehicle.
Because of these little design changes, casual onlookers probably won’t be able to distinguish an electrified GV70 from its gas-powered counterpart. The charge port is integrated inside the closed-off grille, which is finished in a brushed metallic tone. The standard 20-inch gunmetal grey wheels may resemble those from the GV60, but they are actually a new design. A new rear bumper naturally doesn’t have any exhaust tips sticking out underneath it.
Anyone who has ever been inside the current GV70 will recognize everything inside. The numerous hard buttons and knobs, as well as the 14.5-inch touchscreen, are large and simple to use. The company’s 3D digital gauge cluster, which works similarly to a Nintendo 3DS in that it tracks your gaze to display clocks and needles that seem to float, has also been carried over.
An exquisite “glacier white” interior colour option with “fog-scratched” metal trim is new for the Electrified and is actually quite lovely. Genesis has kept much of the inside dimensions of the gas GV70 despite the EV packing. Behind the first and second rows, the cargo space is reduced by 0.4 and 0.2 cubic feet, respectively, while the second-row legroom is decreased by 0.6 inches.
Driving
The Electrified GV70 is exactly what I expected from a premium electric crossover from the everyday-driving experts at Hyundai Group. It is aggressively comfortable and confident in the city and on winding roads. It is smooth, quiet, and comfy on the interstate. A purposely low-effort car to drive in pretty much all regards, the E-GV70’s inputs are intuitive, friendly, and rather light. The steering wheel moves with an almost creamy softness that isn’t too light to feel flimsy but is still precise.
The brake pedal is firm and sensitive, and the stoppers with which it is coupled have no trouble demonstrating their durability in a scenario that could be considered somewhat urgent. As is standard for electric vehicles, the steering wheel’s paddles allow you to manage regenerative braking, enabling one-pedal driving if you’re into that.
But even with the 500’s horsepower and torque ratings, this isn’t the fastest EV on the market. Even if you press hard on the accelerator pedal, the Electrified Genesis crossover will go briskly, hitting passengers’ heads with the seats and leaving most other cars in its wake. While the aforementioned Boost mode makes hard launches more immediate, I quickly forgot them after one Boost-assisted shot on an incline due to the button placement at the bottom of the steering wheel. There would have been two red NOS buttons in exactly the same place where your thumb rests, but less in line with the position of the car, it would have been a lot funnier.
Despite its speedy antics, the GV70 is still a fun and simple device to use. Everything is where you’d expect it to be, all buttons and knobs operate with a smooth, wet-quiet smoothness, and plenty of the technology is clever and useful. The seats are supportive and comfortable. Genesis seems to care more than any other automaker about making their electric vehicles (EVs) easy to understand and get into for people who aren’t tech-savvy. Its electric vehicles look like regular cars, but they are powered by batteries.
The flat scroll wheel and 3D gauges are great, but they’re noticeably less noticeable than the competition’s 2D sets. If I had to decide, though, I’d love a more traditional volume knob. Surprisingly, both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto aren’t wireless. They still need a USB connection, just like the gas-powered GV70. This is a baffling omission of a futuristic luxury electric car from the country that gave us Samsung.
Genesis Electrified GV70 specs, options, and competition
The Genesis Electrified GV70 costs $66,975 if you live in one of the 15 states where Genesis sells electric vehicles. If you live in another state, you could technically buy one out of state and register it in your own state, but that would be very expensive and difficult to do. Standard features include a dual-motor all-wheel drive system, a panoramic sunroof, heated and cooled seats, and a full suite of the company’s semi-autonomous driving technologies, including the reassuring-feeling Highway Driving Assist II, and an electronically controlled suspension that anticipates bumps. Using a front-facing camera, the V2L functions the device, and tri-zone climate control.
The test car, however, is the $73,775 Prestige trim, which includes a head-up display, a fully digital 12.3-inch 3D gauge cluster, heated second-row seats, leather-trimmed dashboard and doors, and a leatherette headliner. Suede, Active Noise Control, a 15-speaker Lexicon audio system that sounds great, and Nappa leather seats.
There aren’t many real direct competitors to the GV70 electric car; While BMW makes the electric iX3, it is not available in the United States. The Tesla Model Y, which is more affordable and has more range but isn’t nearly as luxurious, and the upcoming Mercedes EQE SUV, which is officially one class larger and more expensive but also has more range, than other competitors. The Ford Mustang Mach-E is an option for Those willing to part with the luxury brand. Although the car costs much less and can be driven in a sportier manner, the GV70’s cabin is just as luxurious as the cheaper Bentley.
value and conclusion
Judging solely on performance and presence, the $67,000 starting electric GV70 seems reasonably priced compared to what else is available. However, the 236-mile range is less than ideal, as we discovered with the GV60 that uses the same engine. At least for the time being, Genesis decided to equip this car with only 20-inch wheels, despite the fact that smaller 19- or even 18-inch wheels would certainly have alleviated the situation. And I understand it stylistically. Twenties are not so young, but I don’t want them to get any smaller.
The 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 is a quietly gorgeous car, and by “silent” I don’t mean simply no engine. If you can live with range-related issues, that is. It maintains its identity as a quiet electric car. It’s not particularly funky. There aren’t many “Electrified” stickers on it, and Genesis didn’t even try to give its logos any kind of eco-friendly blue glow.
It’s just an electric GV70. Genesis, like many other automakers, wants to have an all-electric car lineup by 2030, which means very soon, every GV70 will be an electric model. He may then decide to drop her own name. At the moment, the Electrified GV70 is just an improved version of an already excellent, completely silent and smooth car.
