First drive: Genesis GV70 | Car Reviews

Genesis GV70

Genesis is taking its time with the new chapters of its book. First came the G80 saloon and GV80 SUV, along with its unique way of dealing with customers through personal assistants. It's opened its first studios (Genesis doesn't call them showrooms) in London, Munich and Zurich and unveiled a shooting brake, as well as its first two full-electric models in the form of the electric G80 and the GV60. It's expanding its subscription service and its marketing as it aims to grab a piece of the lucrative premium segment from its key rivals and now it's launched its second wave of models, the G70 and this, the GV70.

Test Car Specifications

Model tested: Genesis GV70 2.5T
Pricing: starts at £41,000 (as tested: £53,750)
Engine: 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol
Transmission: Eight-speed auto, all-wheel drive
Body style: five-door SUV
CO₂ emissions: 218g/km (Tax 191-225g/km: £1,345 in year one, £490 years 2-5)
Combined economy: 27.9mpg
Top speed: 149mph
0-62mph: 6.1 seconds
Power: 304hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 421.7Nm
Boot space: 542-1,678 litres

What's this?

This is the new Genesis GV70 SUV and it's the one we were probably looking forward to more than the GV80 which we found just a little large, brash and ostentatious. The GV70 is more compact at 4,715mm in length and a much better looking car altogether with great design features.

Like the GV80 and the G80 saloon, it features parabolic curves in the side profile and twin lines for the daytime running lights either side of that very distinctive Genesis grille. It's a good looking vehicle, especially in the Mauna Red of the vehicle we tested which also has a beautiful red Nappa leather interior. The cabin is superb, with a great lines, sculpted surfaces and a design that easily beats rivals like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes GLC and Volvo XC60. Everything is well laid out with a few little gimmicks such as the light-up trim inserts in the door panels, but the main thing is that the interior of the GV70 has a real feeling of quality and luxury.

There's a 12.3-inch 3D digital instrument cluster, a clear head-up display and an easy to read and use 14.5-inch infotainment screen, although it can be a bit of stretch to reach the far buttons on it from the driver's seat. There are also some real buttons, yes actual physical buttons and a very clear climate control system that in itself is a design feature within the dash. In addition there's a rotary dial for going through various menus and buttons on the steering wheel for simple stuff like the volume, cruise control and various driver assistance settings.

Overall, it's a very high quality interior with a great feel to all the materials, lots of space, good design features and the impression that the team at Genesis have put quite a lot of effort into making sure that it all looks and feels premium and luxurious. It's rivals had nothing to worry about with the G80 and GV80, but they'd better pay attention now.

How does it drive?

We drove the 2.5-litre turbo petrol with 304hp and 421.7Nm (no, we don't know how they ended up with 0.7Nm). Genesis claims a 0-62mph time of 6.1 seconds and a top speed of 149mph. That doesn't make it the quickest in its segment but it's definitely no slouch. It has Sport and Sport Plus modes, the latter even including Launch Control. We were asked not to use it on a public road and so obviously we didn't.

At around two tonnes there's a bit of weight to the GV70 but it's an SUV and while you can feel its weight on occasion, it's an unexpectedly agile thing. Like the larger GV80 you can feel the corners pitch now and again, something that might be remedied by going with the smaller 19-inch wheels. It drives smoothly in Eco and Comfort modes, but switch into Sport or Sport Plus and the seat bolsters close in on you, everything tightens up and away you go. The engine is incredibly responsive and for the most part best left to its own devices rather than using the paddle shifters on the steering wheel. There's no unexpected body roll, in fact it sits remarkably flat on the road and it tackles corners as though it's trying to inflict maximum g-forces on the occupants, such is the level of grip. It's athleticism is impressive and we have to say, unexpected.

It's not all perfect though, the lane departure system is really annoying and you'll be wanting to switch that off unless you're doing a long journey on the motorway. Actually, that's it, that's all we've got in terms of flaws. It's even really quiet inside with barely any external noise intrusion, even from the 21-inch wheels.

Verdict

There's a 2.2 diesel but the 2.5T that we drove starts at a price of £41,000. It was fitted with the Innovation Pack, Comfort Seat Pack, Lexicon audio, Nappa leather seats, an electronic rear limited slip differential and that Mauna Red paint as well though. That little lot brings the price up to £53,750 pounds but even so, that's a lot of stuff for an extra ten grand and cements our view that the GV70 is an awful lot of car for the money.

The GV70 really is the sweet spot at the moment in the range. It is beautifully designed inside and out, well equipped, has a real feeling of quality and luxury and also happens to be a great car to drive. It has more than enough power for most and dynamic abilities that we didn't expect and which really impressed us. If I had the money, I think I'd be inserting that "shut up and take my money" meme here. Nice one Genesis.