2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 First Drive Review: Pure Battery-Powered Zen

At the rear end, the split taillights remain, but there's now an EV-exclusive rear bumper. Gone are the GV70's vertically-styled twin exhausts, naturally. The front and rear skid plates have also been completely redesigned. The attractive 20-inch Dark Sputtering five-spoke wheel design is the only one available, wrapped in fairly wide Michelin Primacy Tour All-Season tires. Only four exterior colors will be available at launch - Vik Black, Savile Silver, Makalu Gray, and Makalu Gray Matte - but more could come later. All of these cost extra, with the Matte option being the most expensive ($1,500).

Genesis told us the Electrified GV70 is for a slightly more reserved customer who wants the look and feel of a regular car but also desires an SUV that happens to be electric. The GV60 is for EV purists, but the Electrified GV70 makes for a nice stepping stone to electrification.

If you like the interior design of the regular GV70, then you won't have anything to complain about here. It's a lovely setup overall, which manages to contain every modern tech function without being too cluttered - one of our primary complaints in some rivals.

There are two trims: Advanced and Prestige. The former gets you a standard panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated leather seats, aluminum trim, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and nav system, an eight-inch digital and analog gauge cluster, and tri-zone climate control. The Prestige gets all of that and tacks on a suede headliner, a Lexicon premium audio system, heated second-row seats, manual rear side sunshades, a 12.3-inch 3D digital cluster, and a heads-up display.

Like the GV70, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and as far as infotainment goes, there's not much to complain about. At one point the system got a little confused when we asked Siri a map-related question, and somehow the pre-programmed Google Maps route went blank. It was a quick and simple fix but still a distraction in late afternoon Atlanta rush hour traffic. Overall, fit and finish and functionality are excellent. A range of connective services that can be accessed via your smartphone are standard fare, specifically Surround-view Image Capture, a driver profile, and valet mode.

Our fully-loaded tester had the gorgeous new Glacier White two-tone with Prestige-only quilted Nappa leather. As much as we liked it, there were some concerns that stains and blemishes could become noticeable over time. The only other color option is Obsidian Black Monotone.

If you're worried the EV variant loses interior space because of the battery, don't be. Genesis provided us with exact measurements for legroom, passenger volume, and cargo space. At most, the Electrified GV70's numbers are only a tenth of an inch less than the regular GV70. But, the Tesla Model Y's interior volume is slightly bigger in all three areas - and it has a frunk, something the Genesis lacks.

The steering wheel has the typical controls you'll find on a modern luxury vehicle, but there's one standout: the 'Boost' button located at the bottom of the three-spoke wheel. This leads us to the next important point.

There's no mistaking the Electrified GV70 as being anything but fully electric. Instant torque does that, and the Boost Mode function is particularly thrilling. With a push of that button, there's a 10-second acceleration spurt that increases output from the usual 429 hp (320 kW) to 483 hp (360 kW). Torque remains the same at 516 lb-ft. Genesis says Boost Mode is intended for things like overtaking and, of course, fast and fun launches from a standstill. It also works great when coming out of corners. This instant acceleration won't give you whiplash as it might in performance-focused EVs like the Tesla Model Y Performance, but it's definitely enjoyable without being too aggressive.

During our two hours or so behind the wheel, we noticed the steering feel is a bit tighter compared to the GV70, and it's more apparent in Sport Mode. The electronically-controlled suspension also firmed up, something we thoroughly enjoyed when venturing into some twisty country roads. In regular street traffic, it's more comfortable to remain in Normal Mode. Genesis says the Electrified GV70's body rigidity has increased by 24% over the gas-powered model.

There's a nice overall driving balance, which can be attributed to not only the standard all-wheel drive, but also having dual motors, one for each axle. The large battery pack sits in the middle, lowering the center of gravity. Additional enhancements were made - and noticeably felt - to the suspension and tuning. The rear axle has been reinforced to respond to the excess weight, considering the EV tips the scales at 4,982 pounds. This is substantially more than the regular GV70's maximum 4,453 lbs.

Interior noise is minimal, attributed to a three-piece floor insulator, a rear wheel undercover, and other noise reduction methods in the building process. An ideal seating position can be found for drivers of any height and all of the controls were within easy reach and simple to figure out. The paddles on each side of the steering column, however, are plastic. In a luxury vehicle, they should be metal. We also had some trouble seeing the head-up display while wearing polarized sunglasses.

The I-Pedal Mode, or one-pedal driving, definitely takes some getting used to if you're unaccustomed to the technology. This writer prefers the standard two-pedal setup, but the one-pedal method, which eliminates the brake pedal and diverts both functions to the accelerator, is nice to have in stop-and-go traffic.

The regenerative braking system is another key tool that owners who are new to EVs will want to understand. Basically, deceleration and regenerative braking are controlled by the paddle shifter on the steering wheel, increasing efficiency. What's really cool is that the system is based on a combination of driving habits, road conditions, and navigation system data.

Overall, the Electrified GV70 has a sporty and controlled driving attitude. It's not a high-performance EV, but the power, along with a great suspension feel that's not too aggressive, translates into an enjoyable experience.

No combustion engine? No problem. The Electrified GV70's dual-motor setup, totaling 429 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, is more than good enough. But the real magic is its multi-charging system that uses both 800V ultra-fast charging and 400V fast charging. This is accomplished by increasing the charging system voltage without requiring a step-up converter. The 77.4 kWh battery, when connected to an 800V charger, goes from 10% to an 80% charge in just 18 minutes when charging at 240 kW.

Using an AC Level 2 charger, however, requires about 7 hours for a full charge at the same speed. That's just fine if you're charging at home, something Genesis reminded us most EV owners normally do. When on the road, buyers receive three years of 30-minute complimentary fast-charging sessions from Electrify America.

Genesis told us it's confident that owners will get an estimated 64 miles of added range with just 5 minutes of charging. We didn't have the opportunity to charge the vehicle ourselves or drain the battery. A full afternoon of driving resulted in about 25% charge remaining from the 236-mile confirmed range. This is slightly low in the current market. Official EPA estimates are 98/83/91 city/highway/combined MPGe.

Buyers will also benefit from the Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) system, which provides 110V and 220V power inside and outside of the SUV. There's the sole exterior V2L plug, located in the front grille, and a second one in the cargo area that's ideal for tablets and laptops. Genesis says the system offers enough juice to power the average US household for two days at 29.5 kWh daily. Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to sample the tech, but we're definitely glad it's there.

The 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 - the only Genesis model built at Hyundai's Alabama manufacturing plant - is currently on its way to dealers. A total of 15 states now sell fully electrified Genesis models. Pricing begins at $65,850 for the Advanced trim and $72,650 for the Prestige, not including the $1,125 destination fee.

The Electrified GV70 is a masterful example of how an EV and an ICE vehicle can co-exist on the same platform. The former feels and behaves like it was built as an EV from the get-go, and that's exactly what Genesis intended. Is it a Tesla Model Y killer? Not really, but it definitely gives buyers a more luxurious EV alternative with very competitive pricing. It looks fantastic inside and out, and the build quality is outstanding. One area we'd like to see improvement is range, ideally hitting closer to or above the 300-mile mark. The Model Y has a 330-mile range.

Genesis has built another luxury winner as it pursues an all-electric future. Competitors, whether it's Tesla, Lexus, or BMW, should know there's a new kid on the block.