The Genesis GV70 is a great SUV. It has a good blend of luxury and enjoyable driving dynamics. I was so impressed by it when I first drove the car, I named it my 2021 Car of the Year. Two years later, the GV70 Electrified joins the lineup. Is the transition to an electric powertrain good enough to make this my 2023 Car of the Year?
Performance
Motors – Like many other luxury electric vehicles, the 2023 Genesis GV70 Electric is propelled by two motors; one powering the front wheels, the other the back wheels. Each one produces 215 hp (160 kW) and combined, they produce 429 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque (320 kW & (700 Nm). Despite the crossover SUV weighing a hefty 2,310 kg (5,093 lbs), the instant torque of the electric motors gets this SUV moving like a rocket ship. Furthermore, you can push the “Boost” button on the steering wheel which will bump up the power to 483 hp (360 kW). Torque remains the same in this mode. But this Boost mode is only available for 10 seconds. With Boost activated, the GV70 Electrified can accelerate from a stop to 100 km/h in around 4 seconds.
The acceleration is intoxicating but for the other 99% of the time when driving around a bustling city, the accelerator pedal may feel too sharp and responsive to some. It can make for jerky set off from a stop. Thankfully, you can make it a little bit more “lazy” by switching the car to Eco mode. But if you want to leave it in the normal Comfort mode, engaging the regenerative braking will also make the accelerator pedal a little bit easier to manage for smooth set offs. Of course if you push the pedal to the floor, or close to it, you’ll still get full power.
Battery & Charging – Providing the Oomph is a 77.4 kWh battery pack that is in the floor. This enables the 2023 Genesis GV70 Electrified to drive for up to 383 km (238 miles). Though that number may be less than some other luxury crossover SUVs, it’s not by a whole lot. I managed to achieve an energy usage of 18.9 kWh/100km (3.288 miles/kWh) which means that theoretically, I could have driven the car for upwards of 410 km (254 miles) on a single charge. Additionally, the GV70 Electric is capable of very fast DC charging.
From a level 3, 350 kW charger, 10% to 80% can be achieved in as little as 18 minutes. From a more common 50 kW charger, that same charge state will take about an hour and 10 minutes. From a level 2 charger, 10% to 100% can be done in as quickly as 7 and a half hours.
Furthermore, the battery can provide power to accessories. I don’t mean the accessories that are built into the car but rather accessories like a small coffee machine or a toaster. Using the Vehicle-To-Load (V2L) function, the battery pack provides 1.9 kW to a 110-Volt outlet.
Braking – As I mentioned in the performance section, this EV recoups some energy through regen braking. It has 4 different levels which can be adjusted through the steering wheel mounted paddles. Level 0 provides no regen braking while level 4 provides one-pedal driving. Genesis calls this the “i-pedal”. There’s also an Auto regen mode. This uses the built-in navigation system to let the car know where it is and it uses the front sensors to detect any vehicle ahead. If that vehicle is close to you, it will provide more regen braking. If it’s far away or there isn’t any vehicle ahead, it provides very little regen braking. I personally don’t like this mode because it always changes. I just leave it in level 3 or use the i-pedal.
Handling – With the addition of the big battery pack, the electrified Genesis GV70 is significantly heavier than the gasoline-only version. With that being said, the standard adaptive dampers do a great job of resisting body roll through corners while in Sport mode. In the other drive modes, there is noticeable roll through corners. Plus, regardless of which drive mode the car is in, you can feel that extra weight pulling the car to the outside of a corner. Push too hard into the twisties and this heavy SUV will understeer. Additionally, there is torque steer as the car exits a corner. That is, the front wheels slightly tugging to the left or right under hard acceleration thus dictating the car’s direction. It’s not too extreme like the 2000’s hot hatch, but you should be mindful of it. Overall, this version of the GV70 has lost some of the agility of the gasoline-only GV70.
Related Articles
Comfort
Ride Comfort – The Genesis GV70 was always a comfortable crossover SUV and this electric version is no different. The adaptive dampers can not only resist body roll through corners but also absorb bumps in the Comfort & Eco modes very well. The GV70 Electrified also uses the windshield mounted camera to scan the road ahead and if it detects a big bump, it will automatically change the damping of the shocks to better deal with the pothole. The front seats also add to the comfortable ride with plush cushioning.
Interior Space – Like in many other vehicles, the front seats of the 2023 Genesis GV70 Electrified are spacious for almost all adults. At 6’4”, I had no issues with legroom or headroom. The driver’s seat has a few extra adjustments that the passenger seat doesn’t have such as adjustable bolsters and extra thigh support. It also has a massage function with 3 different settings. It’s not the best massage out there but it’s better than nothing and it helps relax your body on long trips.
Behind my tall driving position, my knees are touching the back of the front seat. The space is not too bad but it would’ve been better if the back of the front seat wasn’t made out of hard plastic that my knees dig into everytime the car slows down. Headroom is adequate for my above average height and the 2nd row seats can recline a bit. But if you want more legroom in those 2nd row seats and there’s nobody in the front passenger seat, you can move it forward for more leg space.
Behind the seats, you’ll find 813 L (28.7 cu-ft) of cargo space. With the 2nd row seats folded, the cargo capacity increases to 1,601 L (56.5 cu-ft) which is roughly the same as in the Mercedes-Benz GLC. Under the floor, there are a few small compartments for small items and under the hood, you’ll find another small storage space. At 22 Liters (0.77 cu-ft), it’s roughly big enough to fit the supplied charging cable.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – One of the biggest benefits to an electric powertrain is the lack of engine noises & vibrations. For luxury cars, the transition to an EV powertrain is all the better. Manufacturers go to great lengths to isolate engine NVH but that’s not necessary in a battery electric vehicle. One thing that engineers do have to account for is road noise. Thankfully, the GV70’s cabin is well isolated from tire noise, both in a city and on highways. It is really quiet.
However, if you want to add some noise while driving, you can. The GV70 Electrified allows you to play one of three sounds when accelerating and decelerating. There’s Futuristic, S-Engine and E-Motor. Futuristic makes the car sound like the Enterprise, S-Engine makes it sound like a muffled turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, and E-motor is like having a dentist’s drill in your head at all times. Which one do you think I liked the least?
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2023 Genesis GV70 Electrified is not a cheap crossover SUV. In Canada, it starts at $84,000 CAD which is about $6,500 CAD more expensive than the top spec trim of the GV70 3.5L TT. In the United States, it’s available in two trim levels with the Advanced costing $66,425 USD and the Prestige costing $73,225 USD. In Canada, we only have the one trim to choose from.
Gadgets – At least for the higher price, the 2023 Genesis GV70 Electrified is equipped with everything in the Genesis options catalog. Quilted Nappa leather upholstery, heated & ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, surround view cameras, massage driver’s seat, wireless phone charger, microfiber suede headliner, head-up display, 3-zone automatic climate control, ambient lighting system, Lexicon premium audio system, 3D digital driver display and much more.
The infotainment system is displayed on a 14.5” touchscreen that can also be controlled by the rotary knob on the center console. The system is exactly the same as you’d find in other Genesis vehicles with the addition of the EV pane. There you can see EV related information such as battery charge, nearest charging stations, and charging schedule among others. This system is capable of displaying Apple CarPlay & Android Auto but neither are wireless. You still have to use a physical cable.
Interior Design – As a company, Genesis has not existed for very long. But in that time, they have managed to produce one of the nicest interiors among luxury vehicles. The quilted leather is soft to the touch, there are real portions of aluminum (or carbon fiber depending on the trim), and nearly all of the materials exude a premium feel. The only let down are the basic looking and feeling buttons on the steering wheel. But I’m glad they’re simple to use individual buttons instead of capacitive touch like how they are in the Mercedes GLC. Additionally, I’m not the biggest fan of the touchscreen for the climate but at least it does provide a vibration every time it’s touched and there are dedicated dials for the temperature up or down.
Exterior Design – The electrified GV70 is nearly identical to the standard GV70. Apart from the faux grille which hides the charge port and the lack of exhaust pipes, it’s hard to differentiate this car from the standard gas version. I think it’s a good looking car and my favorite design cue is the integrated 3rd brake light into the spoiler.
Safety – There is nothing that this car is missing when it comes to driver & safety aids. Everything from automatic emergency braking to blind spot sensors to rear cross traffic emergency braking and everything in between. This car has it all. This car also received a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, making it one of the safest EVs on the roads.
Warranty – Unlike the German rivals, the 2023 Genesis GV70 Electrified is covered by a 5 year / 100,000 km new vehicle and powertrain warranty in Canada. In the United States, new vehicle warranty is the same at 5 years / 60,000 miles but the powertrain warranty is 10 years / 100,000 miles. Better yet, Genesis vehicles come with a valet service. So when it’s time to take the car for a service, Genesis will pick it up for you and provide a vehicle for you until your car has had its service done. For more information on Canadian warranty, click here. For information on USA warranty, click here.
Conclusion – I’ve always said in the past that electrification is a huge benefit for luxury vehicles. It’s no exception with this one. It’s quieter, smoother, and faster than the gasoline-only version. When it comes to luxury, it’s a car that deserves to be right up there with Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and so on. But on the flip side, the added weight of the batteries hinders this car’s cornering agility which the standard GV70 has. However, are the added benefits of a quieter interior and faster straight line speed enough to make this my 2023 Car of the Year? Check back on December 31st, 2023 to find out.
Thank you to Genesis Canada for providing the vehicle. www.Genesis.com
2023 Genesis GV70 Electrified Gallery
