The Genesis GV70 at a glance
To understand the GV70, you need the G70
Before you let yourself through the test of the new GV70, the driving report for the sister model G70 is almost required reading. It reveals how automotive progress has advanced in just a few years, and what a car manufacturer can get out of a car platform. If you don’t have the muse to read through a second driving report, here is the roughest summary: The G70 is not a new car, has been on the market in South Korea and the USA since 2017 and comes to us as a facelift variant. The engine range is mixed, there are no real incentives to buy compared to the German competition.
And then you stand in front of the Genesis GV70. A complete novelty, imposing in appearance and, at 4.72 meters, a direct counterpart to the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. The lines look even fresher than on the G70, especially the rear area defines the Korean as a real Genesis. Above all, the off-road vehicle already looks premium when it is stationary and exudes a certain esprit that the sedan does not have to offer.
Only four-cylinder, thirsty gasoline engine hardly an option
Under the bonnet, however, there was also disillusionment at first: no six-cylinder, but at least a four-cylinder turbo with 2.5 liter displacement and 304 hp (combined fuel consumption: 10.1-9.5 l / 100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 230-216 g / km²). You can certainly do, but the recommendation is to take a closer look at the 2.2-liter diesel with 210 hp (combined fuel consumption: 7.4-7.1 l / 100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 195-185 g / km²). The diesel engine taken over from the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe lifts 440 Newton meters and thus almost 20 Nm more than the approximately 100 hp more powerful gasoline engine.
With this torque, the two-ton truck moves confidently through city and country road traffic and continues to accelerate at an acceptable speed even after the recommended motorway speed. Whether you want to scratch the top speed of 215 km / h with such a motor is unlikely, however. You are much more likely to enjoy the human fuel consumption, which during the first test laps, without paying much attention, leveled off at around eight liters per 100 kilometers.
Active driving design with weaknesses in fine-tuning
If you drove a little less quickly, you don’t notice that the bonnet moves more than noticeably in the faster wind, which does not always provide the confidence that the GV70 otherwise conveys. The chassis and steering are designed to be active, which means that the SUV is anything but a sedan chair. Obviously, this was based on the driving characteristics of the BMW X3. The bottom line is that the Bavarian remains the more active car, which is largely due to the better fine-tuning. It doesn’t help, for example, to replace a lack of engine power in such a way that the shift program of the 8-speed automatic becomes unnecessarily hectic in sport mode. A problem that the SUV shares with the sedan.
The sporting position doesn’t seem worthy of the all-wheel drive GV70 anyway, is this SUV, once seated, a haven of peace and security. As far as the interior appearance is concerned, the difference to the G70 is once again gigantic, although the sister model is also very well made. The interior of the test car comes in the beguiling color “Velvet Burgundy”, which goes perfectly with the exterior paintwork in “Barossa Burgundy”.
Pure luxury in the interior
The ridge of attention to detail hardly suggests that I am writing about a car that is available in luxury trim with a diesel engine from 50,220 euros. Not little money, but a Hyundai Santa Fe including signature equipment with the same engine already costs a proud 57,000 euros. If you don’t care about the last bit of space, you are in good hands in the Genesis and indeed receive a piece of luxury goods on wheels. Whereby the spatial conditions are also not bad. So it is more than princely sitting on the comfortable chairs in the first row and even in the back there is hardly any reason to complain about claustrophobia.
The trunk volume of the Genesis GV70 is 542 liters, which is slightly more than the Audi Q5 with up to 520 liters. With a towing capacity of a full 2,500 kilograms, both for gasoline and diesel engines, the GV70 is far ahead in the favor of horse owners and caravan pullers.
Genesis GV70 with 14.5-inch infotainment display
When it comes to infotainment and displays, the GV70 also has the edge over the G70. If the 12.3-inch instrument cluster is still the same component, Genesis needs a gigantic 14.5-inch widescreen monitor for infotainment. Its resolution is felt to be even finer, the input speed even faster. In addition to voice and touch input, there is also the option of using a rotary / push button in the center console.
First conclusion
If you ignore the meager range of engines with the 2.2-liter diesel as the only sensible drive, the Genesis GV70 has become a great success. The workmanship is exemplary, attention to detail and fits the extremely self-confident external appearance. Operation and range of functions are more than okay, the pricing of the SUV does not have to hide itself within the Hyundai Group. For the first five years there is also an inclusive service offer (up to 75,000 kilometers, without wearing parts) including a pick-up and delivery service for the vehicle. In the end, the only question that remains is whether the Genesis Personal Assistant can also present a competitive leasing rate compared to Audi, BMW and Mercedes. (Text and image: Thomas Vogelhuber)