by Anthony Fongaro - photos via Genesis - 09/04/2023
Let me ask you something. What do you think about gas-powered cars being transformed into electric vehicles? The switch can be quite simple. Take out the gas engine and swap in some batteries, right? Not exactly. Changes need to be significant enough to justify both the swap and the increased prices. That’s what Genesis is doing. Their first transformed vehicle was the Electrified G80. They changed up the propulsion system along with dials and the front end. Did they do the same thing with the also oddly-named Electrified GV70? I think you know the answer, but let’s find out together!
Genesis’ GV70 is one of the most handsome vehicles on the market. Changing it to the Electrified GV70 is subtle, and that’s not a bad thing. Both the front and rear lights are two lines, and it has a Porsche Macan-type profile. What you’ll see is a lack of exhaust pipes with body cladding covering that up. This vehicle was in Saville Silver paint and donned 20-inch alloy wheels. The front doesn’t have a grill but it does have the charge point at the front. I’m glad they do that because it makes it far easier to charge. Those are the only changes and those changes are all that they need.
It’s the same with the exterior. The luxurious interior stays the same, minus the dials which show power and charge. Since this is the Prestige, you can have these as 3D dials but that gave me a massive headache. Steering wheel controls include buttons for the infotainment system and the digital dials. Prestige models also have a head-up display which is a nice feature to have. There is a separate section for climate control but I would like regular dials and buttons. A large infotainment system has both a touchscreen and a rotary dial. Even though the transmission also uses a dial that is below the infotainment dial, confusing the two happens until you get used to it.
Ventilated seats can be a bit tricky because they can feel quite weak. Not the same with the Electrified GV70. Not only are the seats comfortable and supportive, but you can actually feel the seats cool down. The problem with all ventilated seats is the fans are loud and in an EV, it’s one of the only sounds you hear. You can also change the sounds inside from serene to sounding like an engine. Don’t use that because it sounds fake and is very loud, especially under hard acceleration. What is nice is you can get nature sounds which makes your entire experience even more enjoyable. If you’re wondering, yes, there is a front trunk or frunk.
Under the hood, I mean under the Electrified GV70, is a 77.4 kHw battery and dual motors. These produce 429 horsepower/316 kW under normal conditions in Sport mode and 516 lb-ft/702 Nm. I say normal because of a button on the steering wheel. Boost! Press that, and horsepower goes up for 10 seconds to a massive 483 horsepower/355/kW! With all-wheel drive, the Electrified GV70 gets from 0-60 MPH in 3.8 seconds. It’s such a quick crossover that when you press Boost, you get thrown to the back of the seat.
Even when you drive in Normal mode (there’s an Eco mode but don’t bother it dulls the throttle and apparently cuts the power) this is a swift crossover. Anything you have to do from acceleration to overtaking is a doddle. When you are on the move, it’s quiet and serene. There’s adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and blind spot monitoring. Since this is much heavier than the regular GV70, handling is a little compromised. Genesis claims the Electrified can get up to 236 miles on a charge but I managed a little over 190 with calm driving.
100 and 10,000. Those are the increases in both horsepower and price. Electrified GV70s start at $66,000. Some options included the Prestige Package at $6,800. This includes Nappa seats, a head-up display, an excellent Lexicon sound system, a heated second row, and a heated steering wheel. That brings the Electrified GV70 to almost $75,000. This price may be similar to the competition but doesn’t mean it comes cheap.
If you do want an Electrified GV70, one with the Prestige Package is a must. Changing this to an EV seems subtle, but absolutely worth it. Although the 3.3 liter turbocharged V6 sounds great, it does drink a lot of fuel. Whichever type of GV70 you get, there’s a beautiful interior, good technology, and a high level of comfort and style. The Electrified GV70 combines that with more power and a calmer driving experience. I liked the Electrified GV70 and if you’re looking for a crossover with style, take a look at one. Other than the range, you won’t be disappointed!
_websize.jpg)
