2023 Genesis GV70 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The naming convention “GV70” is key here, because there are styling connections to the G70 compact luxury sedan, especially above the belt-line. From the split-bar headlights to the strong chrome line that curves from behind the rear window afterward visually connect the GV70 to its sedan counterpart. The chrome bar is a clever design touch that alludes to the notion of a coupe-like SUV (See Mercedes GLC Coupe) without actually losing the versatility.

If any shopper is questioning the luxury credentials of Genesis versus the established players, just step into the GV70’s cabin. The interior is fantastic, using top-notch materials and boasting great fit and finish. It’s not just that the stitching and panels all exude luxury, it also has the design. The aesthetic is both contemporary and classic all at once. The climate controls are baked into a curving bezel and the touchscreen rises organically out of the dash.

Like other Genesis models, the GV70’s dash has a full touchscreen backed up by a rotary dial and helpful button controls in the centre console. While it doesn’t have a traditional volume dial or tuning dial, it does have helpful rollers on the centre console and in the steering wheel. This is something that Mercedes-Benz used to have but is going away from in favour of touch capacitive controls. The physical rollers on the Genesis are far better than the touch capacitive controllers on the Mercedes.

In Canada, the gas-powered GV70 is available in five trims divided between the two available powertrains, the 2.5T or 3.5T. The Genesis Electrified GV70 is offered at a single trim level and is treated as a separate model.

The base GV70 2.5T Advanced comes very well equipped for the Canadian market and includes power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, ventilated front seats, heated outboard rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a panoramic sunroof, 19-inch wheels, four USB ports, wireless device charging, a hands-free power liftgate, remote keyless entry, and adaptive cruise control. Stepping up to 2.5T Advanced Plus adds an 18-speaker Lexicon premium audio system, head-up display, 360-degree camera, blind-spot view monitor, rear side sunshades, and a 110-volt AC power outlet for the cargo area. The 2.5T Prestige trim adds more, including a sport appearance package, alloy pedals, Nappa leather seating with suede, a microfibre suede headliner, a power cushion extension for the driver’s seat, rear parking collision avoidance assist, and remote smart parking assist.

The 3.5T Sport is the entry level for the V6 engine. Feature highlights over standard equipment include a sport appearance package, alloy pedals, an electronically controlled suspension, 21-inch alloy wheels, sport leather upholstery, and much of the equipment from the Advanced Plus package.

On the top-of-the-line 3.5T Sport Plus trim, you’ll receive an electronic limited slip differential, Nappa leather seating with quilting, carbon fibre trim, a 12.3-inch 3D TFT LCD digital instrument cluster, acoustic rear door glass, and other features.

If you’re looking at the all-electric GV70, your vehicle will come equipped with 20-inch alloy wheels, the driver ergo motion seat, and a full catalog of the features Genesis offers on the gas version of its compact SUV.

We drove the Electrified GV70, and its luxury credentials were impressive. The soft, cream-coloured seats featured a fetching quilt stitch pattern and the perforated leather was impressively comfortable. The cream primary leather colour was set off with black leather in the dash, for an eye-catching, high-contrast design.

The Genesis GV70 2.5T comes equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine. It develops power specs of 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The 3.5T is powered by a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 engine that makes 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines route power through an eight-speed automatic transmission to all-wheel drive (AWD).

The turbo-four makes plenty of power for most driving situations. You won’t be wanting for the V6, but performance enthusiasts will appreciate the extra grunt as well as the throaty engine note. Some luxury SUVs trend towards comfort and others towards sharp handling. The GV70 artfully blends both into a refined and well-rounded driving experience. You can confidently take a corner at speed, but it will also soak up bumps in the road.

We drove the Electrified GV70. It uses a 77.4-kWh battery back, powering two electric motors in an AWD setup. The dual motors make a combined 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. Acceleration is stout, yet smooth. It does not throw your head back, but you do feel a confident swell of acceleration. For even more oomph, there’s a Boost button at the bottom of the steering wheel. Boost Mode will increase output up to 483 horsepower for up to 10 seconds.

The electric version of the GV70 has a total of 383 kilometres of range, which is on the shorter side for a modern electric vehicle. Luckily it has DC fast charging and can replenish the battery from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 18 minutes on a fast charger capable of delivering those speeds. The charging port is located behind a panel in the faux grille. The charger door seamlessly blends with the driver’s side of the grille pattern.

As required by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for EVs, the GV70 Electrified emits an external “engine noise,” but there’s also noise pumped into the cabin. There are several sounds to choose from, including a strangely visceral simulated engine noise, which can be turned up and turned down and off.

Like its gas-powered counterparts, the Electrified GV70 showcases well-rounded handling, though it errs slightly more towards comfort than sporty. It’s worth comparing the Electrified GV70 to its dedicated EV counterpart, the Genesis GV60. The latter only has a slightly longer driving range, and the GV70 is still better at being an SUV. The GV60 is more of a performance crossover with sharp handling and decent passenger space, but its cargo space is on par with that of a hatchback.

The GV70 provides 1,611 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded, which is about average for the compact luxury SUV segment. With the rear seats in use, the GV70 has 818 litres, which is above average in the class. The GV70 comes standard with a hands-free power liftgate.

Up front, the GV70 has decently large cupholders in the centre console, though the in-door cupholders can’t hold larger water bottles. There’s a helpful tray in the centre console with a retractable lid, as well as the typical centre console bin.

Drivers and front-seat passengers will find it easy to adjust to a comfortable seating position. The same can’t be said for the rear seats. Legroom is tighter for the second row and will require the front-row occupant to slide their seat further forward. The rear bench does recline, and you’ll want to make sure it’s at least partly reclined in order to find a comfortable seating position.

The standard infotainment system is a 14.5-inch touchscreen setup with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. We found the touchscreen easy to use, featuring large icons and logical menu navigation. Genesis also provides a series of helpful buttons in the centre console as well a rotary dial for scrolling and selecting. Unfortunately, the rotary dial is located directly adjacent to the vehicle’s rotary shifter. Drivers could easily confuse the two.

The GV70 comes equipped with four USB ports, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a nine-speaker stereo system. Ambient lighting, a digital instrument panel, a Lexicon 18-speaker audio system, and the Genesis digital key are all available features.

Shoppers can expect a full suite of safety features and driver-assistance technology in the GV70, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and highway driving assist with a lane-keeping assist system. On the 2.5T, Advance Plus adds a blind-spot camera system, and a 360-degree parking camera system. Reverse automatic emergency braking is part of the Prestige grade. These optional features are also variously available on the 3.5T grades.

On the Genesis Electrified GV70, much of this equipment comes standard.

The Genesis GV70 receives a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute from Highway Safety (IIHS), its highest honour.

The most efficient conventionally powered version of the GV70 is the four-cylinder turbo. It returns fuel economy of 10.7 litres per 100 kilometres city, 8.4 highway, 9.7 combined. The V6 model returns 12.9 L/100 km city, 10.0 hwy, 11.6 combined. Genesis recommends premium fuel for both engines.

The Electrified GV70 returns 2.6 litres-equivalent, or 23.0 kWh, per 100 kilometres combined.

At the time of this writing, the base new car MSRP for the 2023 Genesis GV70 is $57,500 for the 2.5T Advanced AWD. The top price is $84,500 for the Electrified GV70. In Canada, Genesis pricing is all-in, meaning all fees are included with no haggling required. You’ll also receive Genesis at Home concierge service with at-home test drives and loaner delivery for service appointments, plus scheduled maintenance, map updates, and more included for five years.

In the realm of luxury vehicles, there is an understanding of elevated quality and craftsmanship. But in an era where most vehicles are produced on an assembly line, don’t overwhelming resources outshine nice handiwork? Genesis has the might of its Hyundai parent company behind it, and Hyundai has some of the most compelling EVs on the market today. Even a standard Hyundai Sonata is a fantastic vehicle, and the Hyundai Elantra N is a snot-nosed and nimble performance runabout. And no matter the vehicle, Hyundai also has powerful yet easy-to-use technology. All of these attributes have made their way into the GV70 and GV70 Electrified.

So how much do labels matter? The BMW and Mercedes emblems that discerning consumers seek out might be simply for clout, but those logos have earned their reputation because of the decades each brand has spent building fantastic vehicles. Genesis might not have the storied history of these luxury greats, but for the past eight years, the brand has had a stable of terrific vehicles that rival the luxury establishment, often undercutting the competition on price. If you follow the logo on the hood simply for its logo, we can’t help you there. But if you go for those premium brands because they build great vehicles, then take a closer look at a GV70.

Note: Images show a US model.