In a world where many electric vehicles are embracing exterior styling that borders on the edges of sci-fi, there is a growing pool of customers who want the EV experience but don’t want to be forced to jump headlong into a vehicle that goes too far out of their comfort zone. Genesis is aware of this and has created EVs that channel their green driving mission well and look like their traditional ICE counterparts. However, is this enough to help models like the 2024 GV70 Electrified stand out against a growing pool of EV contenders?
GV70 Electrified Features Familiar Styling
When you first look at the 2024 GV70 Electrified, you might be forgiven if you mistake it for its ICE-powered counterpart. Unlike other EVs, the GV70 doesn’t start too far from its ICE roots; as a result, it has a lot of the same basic look that defines a traditional GV70. The major difference is the front grille panel, which has become a signature trait of the Electrified family. The panel also houses the front-mounted charging port, but newcomers (us included) might need a few minutes to formally find it the first time around before committing it to memory since the door blends in very well with the rest of the panel.
This look should please Genesis fans, especially when it is paired with the optional matte grey paint that came standard on our tester. Just remember that the bold hue is a hand-wash-only experience, and trips to your local car wash are ill-advised. The strong family resemblance also allows the GV70 to carve a small niche for itself among buyers, and we suspect that more EV entries will follow the GV70’s lead in trying to offer a strong degree of familiarity to help buyers transition to an all-electric driving experience.
GV70 Electrified Interior Also Leans On Familiarity
Like the exterior, the interior of the GV70 Electrified is also shared with the gasoline model and has expressive styling and high-quality materials. We especially like the knurled glass shift knob and the comfortable leather seats. The transformation into an EV hasn’t affected passenger and cargo space, with our tester offering plenty of leg and knee room for both rows of seats. The flat floor also helps improve footroom and allows cargo and other items to be easily loaded into the rear.
The GV70 Electrified’s updates for 2024 focused on the core essentials, with a newly standard WiFi hotspot being the only major change for the interior. The GV70 Electrified also comes very well equipped with the model skipping the GV70’s base trims and moving straight into the upper tier Advanced and Prestige trims. That means you get a digital instrument cluster standard, a panoramic sunroof, and a wireless phone charging pad. Our tester also arrived with a large 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The large screen is mounted on the dash, and it comes with standard goodies such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a well-laid-out menu screen. A small quirk here is that the GV70 still does not offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, with buyers still being required to hook up their phone to the system to access those aforementioned items.
Dual Motor Fun Gets A Boost
Performance for the 2024 Genesis GV70 comes from two electric motors, with all-wheel drive being standard. The setup is mated to a 77.4 kWh battery pack that makes a combined system output of 483 hp and allows the EV to get 236 miles of range before it needs to be plugged in again. When it comes to raw speed, our tester managed to make the sprint to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, and an available Boost mode button helps the EV have more low-end torque and power, but only for a brief time. Boost mode is a fun conversation starter, making accelerating from stoplights a fun experience.
Handling in our tester was also impressive, with the suspension doing a good job delivering high amounts of long-distance comfort, especially in freeway driving. That said, we wished that the brakes had more polish, and like other EVs we experienced over the years, the transition between regen and traditional braking is hard to spot, and as a result, the bite point can be hard to find when it comes time to bring the GV70 to a stop.
The GV70 Electrified comes standard with an onboard fast charger that can max out at 240 kW when the SUV is hooked up to a DC fast charging station. Genesis reps say that the setup allows the battery to go from 10 to 80 percent charge in as little as 20 minutes when the EV is hooked up at a DC charging station.
Value Quotient
Pricing for the 2024 Genesis GV70 Electrified starts at $66,450, which is a significant premium over the $44,900 figure wielded by the base ICE version. Our example arrived with several options (including the $6,800 Prestige package, which helped the price go up to a final as-tested total of just over $74,000. This pricing is within segment benchmarks and allows the GV70 Electrified to still have a firm place in the compact luxury CUV wars.
We look forward to seeing how Genesis will grow the Electrified family, with the G80 Electrified already delivering some of its magic to the sedan segment. As the EV ranks continue to grow (especially in the luxury segment) the GV70 Electrified will be facing a growing pool of rivals and as a result, it will need to fight hard to get as many sales as it can.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.