Genesis GV70 Electrified review: This large electric SUV prioritises comfort over driver thrills

Telegraph

09-07-2025

After a promising first few years, Genesis sales slipped by 11 per cent in 2024 to only 1,210 – a sum that will hardly concern established premium brands.
However, as one member of its staff put it to me, 'The Koreans just don't give up'. Genesis knows its greatest battle is brand recognition, which is why it is entering the World Endurance Championship in 2026 including the Le Mans 24 Hours, where reliability is under scrutiny like nowhere else.
What's more, there is a tacit admission, perhaps, that phasing out combustion-engined models has not been the sales winner it had hoped. Where once Genesis was keen to shout it would be an EV-only brand from 2030, it now says it intends to introduce hybrid models to complement its electric range, although when they arrive is unconfirmed – 'beyond 2026' was the closest we could get.
Jonny Miller, the company's head of sales, says Genesis will remain 'focused on hospitality' – in other words, telling the world about its warranty and aftersales offer. Which, to be fair, has always been one of the key reasons to choose a Genesis over an Audi, BMW or Mercedes-Benz.
Pros
Luxurious interior
Smooth ride (mostly)
Lots of equipment and power for your money
Cons
Remote steering
Suspension can feel a bit wallowy at speed
Range and efficiency aren't brilliant
Getting personal
With a Genesis there's the same five-year warranty you'll get on a Hyundai. You also give five years's free servicing, with collection and delivery at no charge, as well as a Genesis personal assistant – a sort-of sales representative-plus to facilitate your purchase of a new Genesis, deliver the car when it's ready and help to arrange servicing and repairs thereafter.
All this would be for nought if the cars were rubbish. And while earlier models felt a bit overwrought, the GV60 – an all-electric model – and the electrified version of the GV70 are both good enough to be considered alongside pukka premium rivals.
To keep them fresh, Genesis is rolling out a series of upgrades to its entire range throughout this year. In the GV70's case, that means some nip and tuck to the outside – although you'll be hard-pushed to tell the new model apart from the old.
Inside job
It's the interior where the majority of the redesign has taken place; the twin displays have been melded into one large one that runs along the top of the dash, incorporating the touchscreen and the virtual instrument binnacle.
The headline news is that you can now stream content from a host of providers on the screen while the car's in park, so you can catch up on your favourite box set while charging.
Under the skin, battery capacity is up from 77kWh to 84kWh (these are gross figures; Genesis doesn't offer a usable battery figure, but it seems likely to be about 80kWh).
There's a 298-mile official range (so 210-240 in the real world), which isn't great, probably because neither is this car's energy efficiency – 3.2mpkWh is fairly lacklustre these days. But if you can find a charger that'll match the 240kW maximum DC charging speed, you can top up from 10 to 80 per cent in only 19 minutes.
Easier and plusher
Also new is the virtual gear shift, lifted from the high-performance Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, so you can get a simulation of gear ratios that are changed by flicking the paddles (usually used for adjusting the level of regeneration braking).
Generally speaking, the revised interior is an improvement – the huge new screen doesn't look too out of place against the original ovoid design motif, while a separate panel for the climate controls remains. You can also control the screen via a capstan in the centre console, which makes life easier than trying to prod the touchscreen.
There's loads of room in the back seats and the boot is a good size (542 litres – more than a BMW iX3 or an Audi Q6 e-tron). What's more, pretty much everything you touch feels plush and leather-swathed, except for the slightly plasticky door handles. It's all screwed together beautifully, too.
On the road
Does it drive like a premium SUV, though? Yes and no. There's a slightly ponderous quality to the suspension that means it feels slow to react over longer undulations. The large wheels occasionally clump their way through sharper ridges, too.
Yet this is all in extremis – most of the time, the GV70 feels very comfortable, like a big, slightly dopey luxury SUV, with a vaguely American air to the way it proceeds.
And it's incredibly quick. Floor the accelerator pedal and the GV70 hunkers down and fires you forward. Stiffen it up by selecting sport mode and it copes surprisingly well, too, with body control tightened, albeit not perfectly.
There's a huge amount of grip, too, although the relative lack of feel through the steering means it won't challenge a BMW iX3 for involvement.
The Telegraph verdict
Not many buyers will mind. There's definitely a place for a large, friendly SUV that prioritises comfort over driver thrills. Think of this as a Korean Volvo rather than a Korean BMW and you'll be closer to the mark.
Is it enough to turn around Genesis's fortunes? Probably not in isolation. Then again, this is a competitively priced car that provides a surprising amount for your money. And when you consider the unparalleled after-care package, it's enough to mean a GV70 is still worth considering – even if you haven't heard of it before.
The facts
On test: Genesis Electrified GV70 Pure
Body style: five-door SUV
On sale: now
How much? £65,915 on the road (range from £65,915)
How fast? 146mph, 0-62mph in 4.4sec
How economical? 3.2mpkWh (WLTP Combined)
Electric powertrain: 2x AC permanent magnet synchronous motor with 84kWh (gross) battery, 240kW on-board charger, Type 2/CCS charging socket
Electric range: 298 miles (WLTP Combined)
Maximum power/torque: 483bhp/516lb ft
CO2 emissions: 0g/km (tailpipe), 23g/km (well-to-wheel)
VED: £10 first year, £620 next five years, then £195
Warranty: five years / 100,000 miles
Spare wheel as standard: no (not available)
The rivals
BMW iX3 M Sport
278bhp, 285 miles, £65,160 on the road
The iX3 struggles on until a new version arrives next year; its range is similarly poor by comparison with the GV70 and its charging speeds can't match up either, but it's slightly more efficient. Doesn't feel quite as plush inside, with less equipment, but it's also the driver's choice if you value feel and involvement.
Audi Q6 e-tron Sport quattro
383bhp, 380 miles, £70,240 on the road
On range the Q6 knocks the GV70 into a cocked hat but it is expensive and doesn't provide anywhere near as much power – or, in this entry-level form, as much equipment. But overall it's a highly capable EV, quiet, comfortable and beautifully built. But is it worth the extra?