Genesis GV70 review

Introduction

The Genesis GV70 is by no means the first swanky SUV to be launched into the car market, so is it worth your attention? Well, if you like being pampered it probably is.

You see, the GV70 is a luxurious high-riding model from a manufacturer with a premium remit. Genesis is the luxury arm of Hyundai, in the same way that Lexus is Toyota's posh off-shoot.

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It’s pitched against rivals at the upper end of the family car class and has a simple engine range, plus three well-specced trim levels to choose from. You can have an electric version too – to read about that, see our Genesis Electrified GV70 review.

So, to return to our original question, now that the Genesis GV70 has your attention, should you actually go out and buy one? Read on to find out, as we rate it against the best family SUVs including the Audi Q5, the BMW X3 and the Lexus NX...

Overview

The Genesis GV70 has a lot going for it, with competitive pricing, a long warranty, lots of equipment and one of the most luxurious interiors in the family SUV class. It's not as rounded as the Audi Q5, but it's still a convincing left-field choice. We recommend the smooth but punchy 2.5-litre petrol engine with Sport trim.

Pros

• Well equipped
• Keenly priced
• Lots of safety technology

Cons

• Ride is a little unsettled on large wheels
• Some rivals are roomier in the back
• Less economical than rivals

Trims available

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Luxury

Top-spec Luxury features the same extras as Sport but also gets a set of massive 21in wheels and does without the sportier appearance. We don’t feel this is worth the extra outlay, especially when you consider that the larger wheels have a detrimental effect on ride quality.

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Performance & drive

What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is

There are just two engine options for the Genesis GV70 – one petrol and one diesel. Both engines deliver their power through a four-wheel-drive system, giving them plenty of traction off the line.

That traction means the 300bhp 2.5T petrol engine will get you from 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds, which is respectable for a car this size and matches the Audi Q5 45 TFSI. Performance at low and mid revs is good, with the engine responding quickly to your prods on the accelerator.

There’s plenty of power to get you up to motorway speeds easily, but you’ll find that you have to work the engine quite hard to get the best out of it, which generates a fair bit of engine noise.

Like the petrol engine, the 207bhp 2.2D diesel is impressively quick, with a 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds (just a touch behind a Q5 40 TDI). It hauls the GV70 up to motorway speeds with relative ease, delivering plenty of low-end shove and a decent spread of power across the rev range.

Neither engine has mild-hybrid tech and there isn’t a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option to rival the likes of the Lexus NX 450h+ and Mercedes GLC 300e.

If you want the most comfortable ride, it’s best to opt for a GV70 with the smaller 19in wheels. They do a far better job of isolating occupants from bumpy roads than the larger 21in ones fitted to top-spec Luxury Line models.

The ride in pricier versions struggles to settle down, exposing you to bumps you won't feel in a Q5. Potholes and motorway expansion joints can send the odd thump through the body, although it's no worse than in the Volvo XC60 and the GV70 is more supple than M Sport versions of the BMW X3.

The GV70 is around 200kg heavier than the equivalent Q5, so while that car feels like a high-riding hatchback in bends, the GV70 leans over like a big SUV and is far less willing to make quick changes of direction.

Still, the steering builds up weight accurately enough for you to confidently guide the car down a country road. Decent levels of grip allow you to carry enough speed to make good progress, although it's not exactly thrilling to drive. Consider an X3 or Jaguar F-Pace if you want a more entertaining car.

Refinement is a mixed bag. On the downside, the 2.2D diesel emits a coarse rumble during acceleration, and unlike in the Q5 40 TDI, that rumble is always there at a cruise. It can also be a bit boomy at low revs in town.

The four-cylinder petrol is smooth and generally more hushed. It sounds a little strained under heavy acceleration (the augmented engine note pumped through the speakers in Sport mode tries to drown this out), but you’ll best enjoy this car when you drive in a relaxed manner anyway.

The standard eight-speed automatic gearbox shuffles through the gears unobtrusively at town speeds and is surprisingly quick to change down when you want a quick burst of acceleration. In fact, it's far better than the auto box in the XC60.

Road noise is well subdued, even with the big wheels on top-spec Luxury Line models, and you’ll need to switch the radio off and strain your ears to be bothered by the wisps of wind noise from the door mirrors.

Driving overview

Strengths Quick; competent handling; quiet cruiser

Weaknesses Noisy diesel engine; larger wheels upset ride comfort

Interior

The interior layout, fit and finish

When you ease yourself into the Genesis GV70, it's easy to find a comfortable driving position because it has lots of electrically assisted adjustment for the seat and steering wheel.

Standard lumbar support provides additional comfort, or you can opt for the Comfort Seat pack to add a massaging driver’s seat that has a programme to improve your posture automatically during long trips.

A front-seat passenger gets electric seat adjustment (including for height) as standard, but for adjustable lumbar support, you need to add the optional Comfort Seat pack.

All the armrests and controls are well placed, and the rotary dials to operate the front climate settings are easy to operate, although they’re not as tactile to use as those in the Audi Q5.

The GV70 puts you in a more commanding driving position than the Q5. The low dashboard top allows you to see the extremities of the bonnet and the slim front pillars give you good forward visibility. Sideways visibility is fine too, and the rear pillars have windows to break up what would be a large blind-spot.

You get parking sensors all-round and a rear-view camera as standard. The GV70 also has a neat trick to help you see kerbs in the side mirrors: the reversing lights illuminate lines on the ground behind the car.

Speaking of illumination, LED headlights are fitted to all GV70s. The Innovation pack adds upgraded matrix lights that adjust the shape of their beams to provide as much light as possible without dazzling other drivers.

The standard driver’s display uses a mix of analogue dials and digital read-outs, but the Innovation pack gets you a 12.3in fully digital cluster with a 3D visual effect. It looks futuristic, but is more of a gimmick than a genuinely useful piece of tech (you can turn off the 3D effect if it's not to your liking).

The head-up display that also comes with the Innovation pack is much more useful, putting the speed and warnings of traffic approaching from behind in your line of sight.

The standard 14.5in infotainment system touchscreen is one of the largest you’ll find in the family SUV class, but can be a bit of a stretch to reach while driving compared with the portrait-oriented screen in the Volvo XC60.

Fortunately, there's also a rotary controller just ahead of the gear selector for controlling infotainment functions. It’s similar to the iDrive dial in the BMW X3, allowing you to scroll through menus, but can be quite easy to grab by mistake when trying to reach for the gear selector.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring is included so you can use your own apps to circumvent the GV70’s sat-nav. The optional upgraded 15-speaker Lexicon stereo is reasonably priced and offers clear sound quality, although it's not as punchy as some systems.

Overall interior quality is impressive, with soft surfaces on all the major touch points, and even in some unusual places, such as at the bottom of the doors. We’d also recommend the Napa Leather Pack.

With quilted leather seats, suede headlining and an eclectic mix of interior colour schemes, you almost feel as though you’re sitting in a Bentley.

Interior overview

Strengths Comfortable seats; excellent quality; user-friendly controls; plenty of interior colour options

Weaknesses Nothing major we’ve seen so far

Passenger & boot space

How it copes with people and clutter

The Genesis GV70 has a generous amount of head and leg room for those sitting up front. Space to store odds and ends is fine, with a decent-sized glovebox and large door bins, as well as handy cup holders and a sizeable cubby under the armrest. There’s also a lidded tray area for your phone with wireless charging.

The back seats aren’t quite as generous, with less leg room than in the Volvo XC60 and less shoulder room than in the Land Rover Discovery Sport. Plus, there’s a large transmission tunnel eating into leg room for a middle passenger.

Head room in the back is fine though, and is on a par with five-seat rivals, including the BMW X3. Much like in the Audi Q5, the rear bench of the GV70 can be reclined for greater comfort, but the seats don't slide backwards to improve leg room.

Storage space in the rear is adequate, with nets mounted on the front seat backs, a pair of cupholders on the centre armrest and door cubbies large enough for a drinks bottle. There’s also a coat hook by the window.

Unlike the Q5 – which has rear seatbacks that split into three sections to fold down – the GV70's split 60/40. That's less versatile, but matches the set-up in the Lexus NX and Volvo XC60. There are useful handles just inside the boot so you don’t have to open the side doors to fold the seatbacks down.

The boot itself will swallow a set of golf clubs or a child’s pushchair with ease, and there’s no loading lip to heave bulky items over.

However, the GV70's slide-out boot cover is mounted surprisingly low, and we could only fit six carry-on suitcases below it, compared with seven in the XC60 and nine in the Q5.

You do at least get a dedicated storage area for the tonneau cover, a 12V electric outlet, and a couple of tie-down hooks to secure your luggage. A powered tailgate is standard on all versions.

Practicality overview

Strengths Good amount of space up front

Weaknesses Limited seating flexibility; less rear leg room than in rivals

Buying & owning

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

Pricing for the Genesis GV70 might cause you to do a double take because the most expensive versions are on a par with the cheapest end of its rivals' ranges. You can always find discounts on those rivals though, before you commit, make sure you check out our New Car Deals pages.

Expected resale values for petrol versions of the GV70 outperform those of the equivalent Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Volvo XC60. On the other hand, if diesel is your preferred fuel, it’s worth noting that diesel GV70s are expected to hold their value rather less well.

Economy and emissions are a GV70 weak point. Diesel models should manage 40mpg, but petrol ones dip to the low 30s (on our real world test route we saw just 25.8mpg).

The emissions figures put it in the top 37% benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax bracket. If you want a more frugal company car you'll be better off with a PHEV or an electric car (the Genesis Electrified GV70 for example).

The GV70 also sits in the top insurance bracket so you can expect a hefty annual premium, but the extra cost should at least be partly offset by five years of free routine maintenance that is factored into the cost of your car.

Genesis gives you lots of standard equipment on the GV70, with the entry-level Premium getting dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, 19in alloy wheels and keyless entry.

Sport versions have sportier exterior and interior styling, three-zone climate control and a heated three-spoke steering wheel. Top-spec Luxury has the same extras as Sport but with the biggest 21in wheels and does without the sportier appearance.

We don't have any UK reliability data for Genesis, but every car is backed up by a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty. Hyundai did very well in the 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey which bodes well for its luxury car division too.

Like most modern SUVs, the GV70 was awarded a full five-star rating for safety by Euro NCAP (in 2021). All versions get automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assistance, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

The Innovation pack adds other automated features, such as lane-change assist on the motorway and an upgraded emergency braking system that helps you avoid vehicles pulling out of junctions.

Costs overview

Strengths Well equipped; should prove reliable

Weaknesses Fuel economy is disappointing; lack of PHEV option

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