Genesis GV70 review reveals value that trumps the Euros

The Genesis GV70 luxury SUV comes up against the prestige big guns … and fires some shots of its own.

When you get a “phwoar” from the boys at footy training, it’s a healthy dose of approval.

Finished in matt grey and riding in 21-inch five-spoke alloys with low-profile rubber, the Genesis GV70 cut a svelte figure in the carpark.

Despite being around for more than a decade, any Genesis still often garners the question “what brand is that?”.

The winged badge draws comparisons to Bentley and Aston Martin. Hyundai’s luxury arm, Genesis may not be in the same realm as the aforementioned pair, yet the fit and finish is comparable with some of the best prestige European models going around.

Pitched against the likes of the BMW X3, Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLC, as well as Australia’s biggest-selling luxury car, Lexus’s NX, the mid-sized GV70 SUV battles in a super competitive genre.

An all-electric version is coming soon, but the GV70 range was recently revamped, so our family put it to the test.

What do you get?

Cabin refinement is akin to the best from Europe. Maybe better.

From the stainless steel-style finish on the console, quilted Nappa leather seat trim, soft headliner to the
flat-bottom sports steering wheel, collectively it feels like something special with the Signature Sport specification, which adds the athletic touches for an extra $2000.

Other feature highlights include a gigantic 27-inch display, which extends across the dash and includes the driver’s instruments and infotainment, 16-speaker Bang and Olufsen stereo, panoramic sunroof, three-zone aircon and power tailgate.

There’s also an aroma diffuser to provide varying levels of scent, along with, a UV-C sterilisation compartment to get rid of bacteria nasties off items such as your phone or glasses – the Koreans seem to be obsessed with that functionality.

Matt paint jobs in white, grey, green or blue, cost an additional $2000.

Warranty coverage meets the industry standard of five years,
along with roadside assist for the same period.

Servicing is also free for the first five years with annual intervals or every 10,000km. Continued maintenance with Genesis extends the roadside assist to 10 years.

Check out the gigantic 27-inch display which is a key feature of the Genesis GV70 dash.

One of the Genesis GV70 Signature Sport interior colour options includes orange seatbelts.

How was the drive?

Those not bothered by performance would be satisfied with the 2.5-litre turbo four-potter, which attracts the sub-$85k price tag, yet those who want punch will want the 3.5-litre turbocharged V6, which pushes the cost beyond $106,000 drive-away.

That V6 is a fiery customer, and able to propel the 2586kg GV70 from standstill to 100km/h in 5.2 seconds accompanied by a somewhat muted exhaust soundtrack (even though it is boosted by “active sound design” which pumps an acceleration tone through the speakers).

Achieving that feat can be undertaken in sport mode, but for the majority of driving it does its best work in the comfort setting where it cruises effortlessly. Aided by
double-laminated acoustic glass and even sound absorption in the wheels, the luxury SUV handles daily activities in near silence, except when exercising your right ankle.

While not as sharp as some of the European sporting machines, the GV70 ride feels more luxurious than athletic, although it managed to handle the shift between stop-start traffic and challenging rural journeys with ease.

Our test machine returned an average consumption figure of 10.5L/100km, which is actually less than the official figure from Genesis.

The Genesis GV70 Signature Sport powered by a 3.5-litre turbocharged V6.

Would you buy one?

Kel: My soft spot for Genesis continues to expand and now incorporates the GV70. While the orange stitching and seatbelts combined with the beige trim weren’t to my liking, I’d probably stick with the basic black and beige combination. Inside and out it looked expensive and I enjoyed the driving experience.

Grant: Looking at the value equation, you’d likely pay a lot more to be in something equivalent from the Europeans. Throw free servicing into the mix for five years and it further enhances the credentials. The GV70 walks a line between sporting prowess and luxury, maybe not as well as the prestige big guns, but the collective value would put it on my mid-sized shopping list.

Originally published as Genesis GV70 review reveals value that trumps the Euros