Electrified GV70 First Drive: Genesis Has That Invisible Touch

First impressions: Macan vibes, minus the Stuttgart invoice

There’s a very specific kind of double-take the Genesis Electrified GV70 provokes.

Park it up, glance over your shoulder, squint slightly, and you could be forgiven for thinking it had rolled straight out of a Porsche Macan design studio. The proportions, the stance, the way it hunkers down on its haunches – it all feels familiar in the best possible way.

It is not a copy, but it is absolutely playing in the same visual orchestra. Crucially, though, it does so without the six-figure bill.

This is Genesis doing what Genesis does best: delivering premium theatre with a quiet sense of value baked in.

Friends and neighbours were genuinely disappointed to hear this was only a test drive rather than a permanent addition to the Rowthorn fleet. They were not the only ones. This one was definitely a keeper.

Design: Macan energy, Korean execution

The resemblance may not be intentional, but the feel is unmistakable. The Electrified GV70 has that squat, muscular silhouette and tight surfacing that makes the Porsche Macan so desirable.

It looks expensive – genuinely expensive, not simply “good for the money” expensive.

And yet, it has a softer edge. It is less aggressive and more lounge-on-wheels. If the Macan is a tailored blazer, the GV70 is cashmere.

Model matrix

Genesis is the premium brand of Hyundai — think Audi to Volkswagen, or Lexus to Toyota.

The Electrified GV70 is available in three models:

• Pure: 0-62 mph in 4.4 seconds; Up to 298 miles range and priced from £65,915
• Sport: 0-62 mph in 4.2 seconds; Up to 283 miles range and priced from £69,315
• Luxury: 0-62 mph in 4.4 seconds; Up to 298 miles range and priced from £71,295

All UK versions use the same core drivetrain: dual-motor all-wheel drive with an 84 kWh battery. The differences are largely around equipment, materials and technology packs.

Pure is already well equipped, with standard leather upholstery, heated front seats and a premium sound system.

Sport adds the sportier styling touches: trim, wheels and interior accents.

Luxury brings the full premium experience: Nappa leather, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, more premium cabin materials, a Bang & Olufsen 14-speaker sound system with Dolby Atmos, 360-degree camera and Blind Spot View Monitor as standard.

Given how close the price points are, I would say the Luxury is well worth the extra outlay. It unlocks a properly “Bentley-esque” interior – and the clue is very much in the name. It really is luxurious.

On the road: calm, quick, quietly clever

This is not trying to out-Macan the Macan dynamically, but it is far from asleep.

With dual motors and a dedicated Boost mode, the Electrified GV70 will hit 0–60 mph in under four seconds, with a very noticeable shove when Boost is engaged. It is properly quick — quick enough to make my 15-year-old son squeal. I think it was delight rather than fear. Either way, he is still talking about it now.

But outright speed is not the standout trick. The real magic is how it manages the road beneath you.

The suspension can proactively adjust for potholes, scanning ahead and softening impacts before you feel them. In places like Cardiff or London, that is less a gimmick and more a survival tool.

Add in regenerative braking that genuinely enables smooth, intuitive one-pedal driving, and you have a car that feels effortless in traffic and composed on longer runs.

Cabin & tech: properly premium, no asterisks

Step inside and the tone shifts from “impressive” to “this could be a real problem for rivals.”

The cabin is rich — not superficially, but materially. Quilted Nappa leather wraps around you, the stitching is intricate without being shouty, and everything you touch feels considered. Reviews often point to the GV70’s high-quality, well-built cabin and upmarket materials, but in person it lands even better.

Forget the family dog and the muddy rugby-playing child for a second. I am having that award-winning cream leather interior and to hell with the consequences.

Cars are often stunning on the outside but rarely beautiful on the inside. The GV70 is one of those exceptions that proves the rule.

The new 27-inch OLED display stretches elegantly across the dashboard, merging infotainment and driver display into one seamless panel. It is not just there for show either; it feels clearer and easier to use than before.

Then there is the theatre:

• Subtle but effective ambient lighting
• A crisp head-up display, trim dependent but worth having
• A slightly flattened, D-shaped steering wheel that adds just enough sportiness

It is not trying to mimic German minimalism. It is doing its own thing, and doing it very well.

The tech is clever without being annoying, and Genesis has threaded a neat line between innovation and usability.

The fingerprint authentication system is one of those features that sounds gimmicky until you use it. One touch, and the car loads your seat position, mirrors and even radio presets. No faffing, no endless menus.

Driver assistance is comprehensive, but crucially, you can switch ADAS off without needing a PhD in submenu navigation. That alone deserves applause.

Practicality check

Boot space: The GV70 offers 503 litres with the seats up, increasing to 1,678 litres with the seats folded. There is also an additional 20 litres in the frunk, ideal for storing charging cables. It is solid and comparable with an iX3 or EQC, even if it is not class-leading.

Electric tailgate: As you would expect at this level, the power-operated tailgate comes as standard across all specifications.

Electric range: If I had one minor grumble, it would be real-world range. In my experience, it was typically closer to 240 miles, which leaves it behind competitors such as the Tesla Model Y Long Range in this key area.

That said, it trumps the Model Y in plenty of other ways, most notably in terms of aesthetics. It would not deter me personally, but it is worth highlighting for higher-mileage drivers.

Cup holders: Passes the extra-shot flat white test with ease.

Verdict: the thinking person’s Macan alternative

The Electrified GV70 does not just flirt with the Porsche Macan. It borrows some of that visual confidence, then layers on comfort, technology and a sense of occasion that arguably goes even further inside.

It is:

• As visually desirable, and arguably more distinctive
• More overtly luxurious in its cabin execution
• Packed with thoughtful tech that actually improves daily life

It may not match the Macan’s final degree of handling sharpness, but it counters with refinement, innovation and a quietly compelling value proposition.

Genuinely, if I could afford any premium car outside the acknowledged supercar range, this would be my current favourite SUV, bar none.

Macan looks. Lounge-like luxury. EV smoothness.

Genesis is not just knocking on the premium door anymore.

It is rearranging the furniture inside.