The Genesis GV70 is a very good luxury SUV at a reasonable price point. With its 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, it’s been well received by both the press and public. But the really cool part is Genesis’ ability to remove the gasoline powerplant altogether and replace it with a fully electric setup. This versatility in the platform shows the engineering involved in the design. They knew it would be used for gasoline and electric drive.
The other beautiful thing is the Electrified GV70 feels like its gasoline counterpart – a normal SUV, not a science experiment. For those in the older demographic, that is important. In other words, your boomer grandfather could drive the gas-powered GV70, then jump into the electrified model and note that there isn’t much change. The shift paddles function as a regeneration button instead of a gear changer. I found the regen paddles more useful, since I rarely find myself manually shifting gears in a luxury vehicle.
The icing on the cake is the whisper-quiet powertrain that kicks you in the hindquarters when you press the Boost button. In fact, the Boost button theater is where it’s at! The gauge cluster turns angry red, and the seat bolsters start to squeeze your thighs to prepare you for the 10-second rush of torque!
Torque on Tap
The Genesis Electrified GV70 comes with all-wheel drive. One cool technology on board is the Disconnector Actuator System, which can automatically connect or disconnect the motor and drive shaft for various driving conditions. Depending on the vehicle speed and driving mode, it enables seamless switching between 2WD and AWD. This reduces unnecessary power loss while increasing efficiency. Genesis quotes the power output of the motorized powertrain at 160 kW and 258 lb-ft of torque for the front and rear, delivering a total maximum output of 360 kW (in Boost mode) and 516 lb-ft of torque. Genesis claims 0-60 at 4.5 seconds with no drama unless you press the Boost button. It just wafts up to highway speed on a cloud of torque, just like most electric vehicles. However, with the additional sound deadening and quality materials, it more closely tries to mimic the upcoming Rolls-Royce Spectre rather than the Tesla Model Y. Although there has been controversy over the sustainability of EVs, Genesis brass wants consumers to know they are taking the manufacturing process with the Earth in mind.
Jay Chang, global head of the Genesis brand, says, “Our global vision to create a sustainable future through electrification is a natural extension of our original commitment that dates back to the launch of Genesis in 2015: the commitment to creating a positive impact in our customers’ lives.”
Charge Port in the Right Place
I drive a plug-in hybrid vehicle. One side of the car has the fill for the gasoline engine and the other side has the receptacle for the charging port. On a fully electric car, why even put the receptacle on the body work at all and instead have clean body lines? That’s what Genesis has done with the Electrified GV70, and we appreciate the extra effort. The parts department probably had a perfectly good fuel filler door lying around that could have been repurposed as a charging port door. Instead, the cool crest-shaped grill incorporates a hidden EV charging port. Since most folks pull into their parking spot head on, this eliminates clutter on the sides of the vehicle if you have it plugged in but want to grab something from the interior. About the only people who may be bothered are those who back into their parking space.
Glacier White
My tester flaunted a beautiful Glacier White interior. It may not be the best for kids or coffee spills, but the quality is evident. I really liked the eco-friendly materials and golden piping on the seats. The 3D instrument cluster looks as though the gauge needles are floating in front of the dials, even though the background is an animated image.
As you move down the road, the cabin is eerily silent, with ANC-R (Active Noise Control-Road) to help keep things library-quiet. This technology uses the Lexicon audio system to significantly reduce the level of noise. It measures and analyzes road noises using four sensors and eight microphones, while simultaneously creating sounds at opposite phases.
While I was enjoying the quiet, it was time to check out the Lexicon premium audio system. It features 16 speakers and a claims 1,050 watts of power output. With all that battery reserve on tap for the electric motors, it was puzzling why the Lexicon ran out of steam so quickly. Amplifiers today are quite efficient, so a few more watts would be welcome. The system sounds good at moderate volume levels but starts to break up and distort when you really crank it. A 10-inch subwoofer is hidden in the center console, but it lacks the oomph of a traditional subwoofer enclosure in the trunk backed up with aftermarket amp horsepower. The imaging and sound staging were good. An aftermarket mobile electronics specialist can help take the Lexicon to the next level.
Coming in at $75K, the Genesis Electrified GV70 isn’t inexpensive, but it features every amenity you would expect. Think of the it as a luxurious alternative to the Tesla Model Y.
