2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 Review: EV Luxury From Mild to Wild
The verdict: A vehicle that combines sport, luxury, comfort and efficiency sounds like a unicorn, right? Well, the all-new 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 does all of that (minus the rainbows and glitter), and its price is a little bit magical, too.
Versus the competition: The Electrified GV70 is among the nicest-driving EVs on the market, with few of the quirks that plague some of its rivals. It has the classiest interior of the bunch when it comes to design and materials, as well as slick, no-nonsense controls that are easy to use — not a given nowadays.
The Electrified GV70 competes in the growing luxury electric SUV space against models like the Audi Q8 e-Tron, BMW iX and Tesla Model Y (see their specs compared). It sits alongside the gas-powered GV70 in Genesis’ lineup, and it’s the brand’s second all-electric SUV after the smaller GV60. It looks a lot like the gas-powered GV70 (which is a very good thing), with a couple of subtle differences. For one, the Electrified GV70’s grille wears what Genesis calls a “G-Matrix” design, which is solid instead of open because there’s no internal-combustion engine to cool. The grille also cleverly hides the SUV’s charge port, which can be found behind an integrated cover (see the Electrified GV70 and GV70 compared).
Related: 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 Up Close: Hiding in Plain Sight
Boost Is a Blast
The Electrified GV70 is a joy to drive in many ways; this SUV is not a one-trick pony. From a stop, power is nearly instant and smooth. Around town, the Electrified GV70 feels nimble in corners, with an overall sporty quality that’s similar to the gas-powered model. Although EV components make it 529 pounds heavier than the V-6-powered GV70, that extra weight isn’t apparent in its handling. Overall, it’s entertaining and engaging to drive.
At higher speeds, the Electrified GV70 is a sedate highway cruiser, with smooth, ample power and calm road manners. The ride is on the firm side, but it remains comfortable. A touch of a button, however, takes things from mild to wild.
Pressing the Boost Mode button on the Electrified GV70’s steering wheel unlocks an additional 54 horsepower for 10 seconds, increasing total output to 483 hp. On paper, this enables the SUV to go from 0-62 mph in just 4.5 seconds, according to Genesis. In real life, it translates to thrilling, pin-you-in-your-seat fun that I couldn’t get enough of. Just do your passengers a favor and warn them before you press it; I first tested it out while pulling away from a toll booth, and my passengers were not ready (namely my husband, who was trying to take a sip of iced tea).
Power comes from two 160-kilowatt electric motors paired with a 77.4-kilowatt-hour battery pack. The motors are mounted in the front and rear, giving the Electrified GV70 all-wheel drive, but the SUV has a system that automatically determines when only two wheels are needed and disconnects one motor to conserve energy and boost driving range.
On a full charge, that driving range is 236 miles, which is on the low side in its class. The 2024 Q8 e-Tron, 2023 iX and 2023 Model Y all come in higher, with standard driving ranges of 285, 324 and 279 miles, respectively.
I did, however, find the Electrified GV70’s range estimate to be conservative: When I traveled 72 miles, for example, I used only 67 miles of range. Driving range can be influenced by several variables, including drive mode, air-conditioning use and braking setting. I chose to drive both legs of that 72-mile trip in Eco mode in order to maximize range, and while this dulled acceleration a bit, it was still plenty strong. I also used the air conditioning and engaged an i-Pedal setting that maximizes the regenerative braking system and activates one-pedal operation. This maximizes range while also adding convenience in around-town driving.
Unlike some other EVs, I found the Electrified GV70’s regenerative braking system to feel natural and predictable, but I didn’t love its controls. The system’s strength can be dialed up or down via steering-wheel paddles, which is also how you engage the one-pedal driving setting. I’d prefer a simpler setup, such as a console button, to engage and disengage it.
While its range is on the lower end in its class, the Electrified GV70 has an edge when it comes to fast-charging times. Genesis says it takes approximately 18 minutes to charge the battery from 10% to 80% when using a DC fast charger that’s delivering more than 250 kW of power. Audi, meanwhile, says the Q8 e-Tron’s battery can fast-charge from 10% to 80% in as little as 31 minutes, though the resulting driving range would be greater than the Electrified GV70’s. Genesis has partnered with Electrify America to provide Electrified GV70 owners with three years of complimentary 30-minute DC fast-charging sessions.
The Electrified GV70’s onboard charger can accept up to 10 kW of power from a Level 2 home charging system, and Genesis says it takes around seven hours to charge the battery from 10% to 100% with a charging setup capable of delivering this level of power. Both the Q8 e-Tron and iX have higher-capacity batteries that take longer to fully charge when being supplied with the same level of power, but they also have longer estimated ranges than the Electrified GV70 when fully charged.
The Electrified GV70 has a vehicle-to-load feature that can supply up to 3.6 kW of power to run a small electric appliance. For giggles, I plugged a blender into the SUV’s household outlet, and it worked; this feature would be convenient for tailgating. Our Best of 2021 winner, the Ford F-150, has an available Pro Power Onboard generator system that can supply up to 7.2 kW of power, which we found pretty useful and used to power a lot of stuff.
Slick, Easy Tech
Aside from a couple of hiccups, the Electrified GV70’s infotainment system is a winning combination of modern and easy. It mirrors the gas GV70’s setup with a standard 14.5-inch multimedia touchscreen that’s paired with an available 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (an 8-inch screen with analog gauges is standard). Like other Genesis and Hyundai models (Genesis is Hyundai’s luxury brand), the system features slick graphics, an easy-to-use menu structure and a responsive screen. There are also physical volume and tuning controls conveniently placed near the (redundant) multimedia control knob on the center console.
Climate functions can be controlled by a separate touchscreen or more traditional dials and buttons located below the multimedia screen. All the controls are logically arranged, responsive and easy to use when driving.
A few things did annoy me, however. While many brands — even mainstream ones — are moving to wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, that’s missing from the GV70. Smartphone integration in this SUV requires a wired connection, and reaching the touchscreen also required a bit of a stretch for me.
And back to that multimedia control knob: It’s both redundant and unnecessary. Using the touchscreen is much simpler and less distracting while driving. What’s more, the knob’s placement isn’t ideal, as it sits too close to the gear shifter — which is also a knob.
On the safety front, standard features include automatic emergency braking (forward and rear), lane following assist, rear cross-traffic assist, blind spot collision avoidance assist, a blind spot monitor in the instrument cluster, adaptive cruise control, rear occupant alert and safe exit assist.
Remote smart parking assist is also standard, and with the press of a button on the key fob, it can automatically park the Electrified GV70 in perpendicular or parallel spots.
Other available tech features include some pretty wild entries, such as a remote image capture system. Cameras on the GV70 can monitor it and the surrounding environment, and you can access them via a Genesis Connected Services app. Another is a standard fingerprint authentication system, which allows you to use your fingerprint to both start the vehicle and load personal settings for things like the seats and the multimedia and navigation systems.
Luxe Front and Back
As with the exterior, the cabin’s vibe is simple yet elegant, highlighted by a classy design and high-quality materials. My test car had a Glacier White interior, which gave the cabin an open feeling, and lovely ivory Nappa leather seats (both elements are part of a Prestige Package). It’s a stark contrast from the Model Y’s spartan, bland cabin.
Ambient lighting around the doors, dash and center console adds some visual interest, and the colors are cleverly tied to the vehicle’s drive modes. For example, when you engage Boost mode, the ambient lighting changes to red.
Up front, driver comfort and visibility are excellent thanks to plush seats and clear sight lines. In back, the seats power recline for added comfort, and there’s decent legroom for two smaller adults; a third could fit in the middle seat in a pinch. By the numbers, the Electrified GV70 has less rear legroom than its competitors, and one 6-foot-plus editor of ours said he needed more space; at 5 feet, 6 inches tall, I had ample room.
Unfortunately, there’s not quite enough space to comfortably accommodate rear-facing car seats, which take up a lot of room. In our Car Seat Check, the Electrified GV70 earned a high grade for its easy-access lower anchors, but its grades dropped when it came to accommodating rear-facing infant and convertible seats, both of which reduce front-passenger legroom. Check out the full Car Seat Check for more.
The Electrified GV70’s cargo area measures 28.7 cubic feet, according to Genesis’ measurements, which is similar to the gas GV70. Highlights include a wide cargo opening, a shallow underfloor storage bin and a small netted storage area on the side that’s good for corralling small things. For more space, the backseat folds in a 60/40 split via handy cargo-area levers. There’s also a small front storage area under the hood.
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The Price Is Right, But Your State May Not Be
The Electrified GV70 won me over big-time, but there are two caveats.
For one, it’s only available in 23 states as of publication (limited distribution has been an issue for other all-electric models from parent company Hyundai). Second, it’s priced appropriately for the luxury segment but is not currently eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit as the Model Y and Cadillac Lyriq are. The 2023 Electrified GV70 starts at $67,550 (all prices include destination). The 2024 Audi Q8 e-Tron and 2024 BMW iX have higher starting prices ($75,595 and $88,095, respectively), and the Tesla Model Y, which loses points for its confounding controls and unluxurious interior, has a significantly lower $49,380 starting price, though it can go even lower thanks to its tax credit eligibility.
While the Electrified GV70 won’t work for everyone, it should be at the top of the list for luxury EV shoppers. It delivers high levels of refinement on multiple levels, from its coddling cabin to its composed, confident road manners — and if that sounds boring, there’s always Boost mode.
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