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As a luxury SUV enthusiast, I have had the pleasure of driving many vehicles in this category. However, the Genesis GV70 Luxury SUV has truly blown me away with its combination of luxury and performance. From its sleek, head-turning exterior to its advanced safety features, this SUV has everything I could ask for and more. If you’re considering a BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, or Audi Q5 – you have got to drive the Genesis GV70.
Genesis GV70 2.5T AWD Luxury Sport line in Brunswick Green.
Our test car for this review is a GV70 2.5 T-GDi AWD with the Luxury Sport line option, which amongst other toys, adds 21″ Sport 5-spoke dark grey alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport4 rubber. On the outside, the GV70 is finished in the matte Brunswick Green paint. All this for a driveaway price of just over $95,000!
What makes the Genesis GV70 one of the best mid-sized Luxury SUVs?
Value for money right off the bat! Another impressive aspect of the Genesis GV70 range is its engine options. Each is significantly better than the majority of other players in this class.
2.5L T-GDi
2.2L VGT
3.5L T-GDi
4 Cylinder Turbo Petrol
4 Cylinder Turbo Diesel
6 Cylinder Turbo Petrol
224kW Power 422 Nm of Torque
154kW Power 440 Nm of Torque
279kW Power 530 Nm of Torque
8 Speed Automatic RWD or AWD
8 Speed Automatic AWD
8 Speed Automatic AWD
Another feature that sets the Genesis GV70 apart from other SUVs is its luxurious interior. The cabin is spacious and comfortable, with room for up to five passengers – although four passengers would be ideal if you’re taking luggage space into account. The 12-way power adjustable seats are upholstered in Nappa leather and offer plenty of support for long drives. The digital dashboard is modern and sleek, with a large 14.5” HD infotainment screen that is easy to use. Overall, the interior of the GV70 oozes prestige luxury vehicle.
Visual aesthetics are the other arrow in the GV70’s quiver. Nothing on the road looks quite like a Genesis and that’s really the point. If you want to buck the trend and not follow the flock, the Genesis GV70 is your kind of luxury SUV.
The interior space is very well balanced for the rear passengers and the boot space. With the seats up, you’ve got 542 litres of space and 1,678 litres with seats folded down. You can easily get a couple of sets of golf clubs and bags in with the seats down.
Luxury and performance combined: Features that set the Genesis GV70 SUV apart
One of the most impressive features of the Genesis GV70 Luxury Sport is its advanced technology. The infotainment system is one of the best on the market, with a large 14.5-inch display that is easy to read and navigate. The system includes features such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and navigation, as well as a 16-speaker premium sound system from Lexicon by HARMAN that easily managed my new sound-system test song – Electrified II by Yello (thanks to Chris Harris from the Collecting Cars podcast).
Another impressive feature of the Genesis GV70 is its adaptive suspension system. This system adjusts the suspension based on driving conditions, providing a smooth and comfortable ride on all surfaces. The system also improves handling and stability, making the GV70 a joy to drive on winding roads. Beware changing the Drive Mode into Sport as the ride does become considerably harsher although the bolsters on the driver’s seat inflate to offer additional support.
The Genesis GV70 also offers a variety of driver assistance features. These include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring (with instrument cluster feed), and automatic emergency braking. These features and many more help to improve safety and reduce the risk of accidents, making the GV70 one of the safest SUVs on the market.
One of my favourite features on the GV70 has to be the active recirculation with tunnel mode. Standard across the range, this clever feature detects (via GPS) when you’re approaching a tunnel, closes any open windows, and activates the recirculating air. As you depart the tunnel, the windows open and fresh air enters the cabin via the micro cabin air filter with an activated carbon layer. Very clever.
Safety features of the Genesis GV70 Luxury SUV
Like its older sibling – the GV80 – The Genesis GV70 is packed with advanced safety features that make it one of the safest SUVs on the road. In addition to the driver assistance features mentioned above, the GV70 also includes a variety of airbags, including side-curtain airbags that provide valuable protection in the event of a rollover. This SUV also includes a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera system that provides a bird’s-eye view of the vehicle.
Genesis GV70 2.5T AWD 360 degree camera
Another impressive safety feature of the Genesis GV70 is its advanced lighting system. LED headlights provide excellent visibility in all conditions, as well as automatic high beams that adjust to oncoming traffic. The GV70 SUV also includes LED taillights that are bright and easy to see from a distance.
Genesis GV70 2.5T AWD Luxury Sport line in Brunswick Green
Genesis GV70 Luxury SUV: What we love and don’t love
Thumbs Up 👍
Insanely comfortable Nappa leather seats with a massage feature. After two hours of freeway driving, not an ounce of discomfort.
Great fun on flowing country roads in Sport mode. The GV70 loves a B-road.
The Genesis Integrated Controller. Touch screens are a fiddle sometimes. An old-school rotary dial makes things much more manageable whilst keeping your eyes on the road.
A truly magnificent sound system!
Thumbs Down 👎
Rear 3/4 vision from the driver’s seat. The c-pillar is just too large and the rear window too small.
The brakes could be better. A worrying level of fade after a few tight corners.
The Shift By Wire electronic gear shift control dial can be slow to respond if you’re trying to pull off a quick three-point turn.
Steering wheel could be a little thicker.
Conclusion: Why the Genesis GV70 Luxury SUV is the best luxury SUV for you
Overall, the Genesis GV70 Luxury SUV is one of the best SUVs on the market today. Its combination of luxury and performance is hard to beat, and its advanced safety features make it one of the safest SUVs on the road.
Like other Genesis vehicles, the GV70 has seemingly cherrypicked the best features of its competition and, in many cases made them better. Yes, it’s not an established brand, but that’s the point. Genesis is a challenger brand – out there to make you think and consider an alternative.
There’s even an Electrified GV70 with a 77.4kWh battery, 320kW of power and up to 700Nm of torque.
Genesis GV70 2.5T AWD Luxury Sport line in Brunswick Green
If you are in the market for a mid-sized luxury SUV, I highly recommend taking the Genesis GV70 for a test drive. I am confident that you will be as impressed with this SUV as I am.
Mike is the Australian editor of SonnyDickson.com with a lifelong passion for cars, technology and engineering. He reviews and writes about all kinds of motoring and tech products for our readers. Follow Mike on Instagram or send him an email: mike@sonnydickson.com
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