2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 AWD Prestige

EVs are often ridiculously fast when accelerating - both from a standstill and when speeding up on the freeway. The 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 is no exception. Add to it the grip of four tires rather than two, and this baby will take off like it’s nobody’s business.

In other (great) news, the comfort and luxury found in the Genesis lineup transfers over to the electrified versions nicely. With the added bonuses of the (near) silence of an electric motor humming and the sheer joy of accelerating, the Electrified GV70 will pamper its occupants as expected from the Korean luxury brand.

After a couple of days driving around in the Electrified GV70 I even went so far as to say that the Genesis Electrified GV70 AWD Prestige might be my new favorite electric SUV. Why?, you might ask. Well, my reasoning has multiple layers and thoughts.

First off, the Genesis Electrified GV70 - especially with the Prestige Package - is a very luxurious vehicle. The interior is plush, the seats are comfortable, the technology on offer ticks pretty much every imaginable box, and there is enough room for my family of five - even if we are bringing luggage.

Secondly, the Genesis Electrified GV70 is ridiculously fun to drive. Does it handle like a sports sedan? No, not quite - but for an SUV, the GV70 definitely does well. It corners well, and at any speed it feels stable, solid, and planted to the road. But the main fun-factor comes from the rapid acceleration the Electrified GV70 is capable of. The Boost-button at the bottom of the steering wheel adds a ten-second window where the electric motors will release all their power capacity - giving you, and your passengers, a serious jolt forward.

Thirdly, the price tag. Our tested 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 AWD Prestige, including freight and handling, comes out to $74,350 - a couple of thousand dollars less that the starting price for the Mercedes EQE 350. The price for the Mercedes, by the way, will quickly increase as you load up the features and options to match the Genesis’s - making that difference in price more than $10,000, maybe even closer to $20,000, depending on how many options you deem necessary.

Electrified GV70 Or Just GV70

The Genesis Electrified GV70 AWD Prestige, as one might gather from the name, is an electric vehicle (EV). EVs are all the rage - more so in some places, and less so in others - and more and more car manufacturers are adding EVs to their lineup. Sometimes the EV is a totally separate model whereas other times it’s an “electrified” version of a current model offered.

The Electrified GV70 is of the latter type - there is a GV70 with an internal combustion motor - which means that the untrained eye would have a hard time telling if it’s an EV or not when looking at a GV70 in a parking spot. Obviously, once the car is moving, the silence of the electrified version will tip anyone off to its EV status.

Interior

The interior of the Genesis Electrified GV70 is nice. Like really nice. Now, I wouldn’t expect anything else coming from Genesis, but for somebody not familiar with the brand: the Genesis interior easily rivals that of Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and the likes.

Our review vehicle has the Prestige Package which adds a few extra really nice bells and whistles - like the heads-up display, a great Lexicon audio system, exceptionally plush leather seating and surfaces, and an Active Noise Control feature to make your ride as silent as possible. Together with the very long list of standard features, the GV70 Prestige will make sure that both the driver and all the occupants are well cared for.

Especially notable, for me, is the white leather interior. It really does take the whole interior experience to another level. Add to it the gold threading and I’m sold!

Exterior

Personally, when I’m driving around town minding my own business I don’t need the attention that some other electric vehicles might get. So, for me, the fact that the Genesis Electrified GV70 looks pretty much like any other GV70 is a bonus. It doesn’t hurt that the GV70, in my opinion, is a really good-looking car - without sticking out too much.

The massive front grille - on the electric version it isn’t really a grille where air can flow through, but rather just one giant plate of plastic - is stylish, both sporty and luxurious at the same time. The rounded headlights give it that signature Genesis look, as does the “two-stripe” rear lights as well.

And, even though I’m not really a wheels-guy (the rims of most cars fail to impress me), the 20-inch alloy wheels on the Electrified GV70 do really pique my interest. They, on their own, evoke a feeling of great sophistication - technologically advanced with sharp lines yet still circular and smooth. Good on ya Genesis!, you got even me to notice the wheels.

Select Technology Features

All the usual safety features that now seem to be somewhat standard in a new car, especially for the higher trims, are included in the Genesis GV70. These include the smart cruise control (uses a radar to match your speed to the car in front of you), a couple of systems to keep you in your lane, a top-down view of your car when maneuvering at low speeds, the headsUp Display (always tick that box when selecting options!), and a myriad of systems to help you park the car.

An extra nod of the head or tilt of the hat goes to the head Blind Spot View Monitor, which acts as an extra set of eyes specifically looking at your blind spot. When the turn signals are flipped on, the dashboard makes room for, and displays, a live video feed of the blind spot in whatever direction you’re blinking. It may take a bit of getting used to, but once you incorporate a check of that screen to your list of things to do before changing lanes it’ll really limit the risks of lane changing.

Highway Driving Assist

Another system that sticks out a bit is the Highway Driving Assist.  One can go a long way with just the smart cruise control and the lane following/keeping assistants. Together, these systems will work to keep you in your lane and traveling at either the speed you set or adapt to the speed of the car in front of you. Most car manufacturers/brands will, if you for too long let go of the steering wheel and/or take your eyes off the road, tell you to get back to driving the car… The assistant systems are only meant to be just that, assisting the driver.

GM has their “Super Cruise” system, which allows for “hands-free” driving on most freeways in the US. Tesla has their “Autopilot” which will also do the driving for you… Many brands, as a matter of fact, are adding something similar to their list of options (or standard features in some cases). Genesis is no exception, their system for somewhat hands-free driving is called Highway Driving Assist and it works - from the driver’s perspective - in the same way as the systems offered by many other brands. You turn it on and it will keep you traveling safely in your lane without hitting the car infront of you. Genesis doesn’t really market it as a “hands-free” system, but it kinda is nonetheless - obviously the driver is still responsible for the car, however.

Living With An EV - The Electrified GV70

The Electrified GV70 AWD Prestige has an estimated range of 236 miles. One must remember, however, that the GV70 is a really fun car to drive - something that will most probably increase the likelihood of the driver driving in a way, let’s say, that is not conducive to maximizing that full 236 miles of range.

To make it easy to recharge - and to save a buck (or a bunch of bucks actually) - Genesis has temaed up with Electrify America to provide Electrified GV70 owners with three years of complimentary 30-minute DC Fast-Charging sessions. There are obviously lots of caveats to that statement, so check the legalese on the Genesis site before jumping to conclusions.

Summary

Some refer to this market segment as the E-SUV, but I’d rather see us call them SUEVs… The 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 is at the top - or really near the top - of my favorite SUEVs. For the money (and yes, it’s still a lot, but I’m comparing to vehicles that cost a lot more for pretty much the same level of vehicle), the Electrified GV70 is a great “deal”. It’s big enough to be a family car, even for my family of five. It’s fun enough to thrill most car-folks and luxurious enough to soothe the others. All in all, if you’re in the market for a luxury SUV, the Genesis GV70 (in this case the Electrified AWD Prestige) should definitely be on the list of potential vehicles.