We’re fans of the Genesis Electrified GV70. It doesn’t receive any major updates for the 2024 model 12 months, which is effective. This relative newcomer is already attractive, comfortable, quick and filled with useful technology.
But it surely’s not a vehicle lots of drivers have experience with, or may even be acquainted with. Its name is a bit confusing, but make no mistake: On this case, “Electrified” means “fully electric.” Normally, it’s a euphemism for “barely electric.” The GV70, be it electrified or all-gas, is a compact luxury crossover. Genesis is a Korean brand, however the Electrified GV70 is in-built the USA, at Hyundai’s plant in Montgomery, Alabama.
You’ll be able to read all in regards to the 2024 Genesis Electrified GV70 in our upcoming buying guide review, but listed here are nine thoughts from our most up-to-date weeklong stint behind the wheel.
It’s fast
This EV boasts two electric motors at 160 kilowatts apiece. That’s enough for 429 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. It feels plenty quick in its Normal drive mode, but Sport takes things up a notch, pressing your passengers back into their seats and eliciting giggles and requests of “Again!” from the children within the back. It really makes those around-town jaunts fun. You would possibly even sit up for red lights just so you’ll be able to enjoy them turning green.
It gets even faster with the Boost button
If Sport mode isn’t fast enough, or you simply need a brief burst of power when merging onto a highway, there’s a “Boost” button on the underside of the steering wheel. It temporarily increases output by 54 horsepower, allowing for only a tad of entertaining wheel spin when blasting away from a stop light. It lasts for 10 seconds, then is able to go again (unless the battery is below 25%). It also creates a fun animation on the motive force’s display, like a subtle star-streaking just like the Millenium Falcon going into hyperspace.
As Autoblog Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore noted in his Electrified GV70 interior review, “The GV70 delivers 429 hp normally, which is plenty; 483 is even higher.”
Charge port is well hidden
Once I first went to plug within the GV70 when it landed in my driveway, I walked across the automotive a number of times, my son orbiting the automotive opposite me, on the lookout for the charge port cover. We didn’t see anything in the standard places — the fenders — nor any obvious flaps up front or within the rear. “Dad, I believe it’s within the front.” Sure enough, blended very well into the solid grille is a flap you press to release, under which is the charging receptacle. The one hint is a bit “G” on one in all the little patterned diamonds. You’ve got to look really closely to note the gap between the door and the grille.
The charge port lock had me stumped
Eventually, after finding the door and charging the GV70, I couldn’t get the plug out for the lifetime of me. I pulled, I wiggled, I pressed the button on the handle, I locked and unlocked the vehicle. Eventually, I got within the automotive and dug through the infotainment menus and located a way. There are three charge lock settings: “At all times,” “While charging” and “Don’t lock.” The second was chosen, and the automotive wasn’t fully charged yet. I picked that third option, breathed a sigh of relief as I unplugged the handle and got my kids to high school on time.
Verbal charge notification is unsettling
After you plug within the Electrified GV70, and it begins charging, it hollers at you and anyone else standing near it, “Charging began.” The amount was set to medium, nevertheless it was still startlingly loud, and frequently took me off guard. You’ll be able to turn that voice off, though.
The GV60 I drove last 12 months did the identical thing, though I don’t remember it being this loud.
The back seat is small
I put my daughter behind me in her front-facing automotive seat. With boots on, she would freak out about her feet being stuck behind my seat. I had to maneuver myself forward to a less-than-ideal driving position just so she may very well be somewhat comfortable behind me. I wouldn’t want to sit down behind an adult within the GV70. Other compact electric crossovers — dedicated EV models, specifically — make great use of interior space, often feeling larger on the within than they give the impression of being on the skin. Not so with the Electrified GV70, which is predicated on the gasoline model and built with internal combustion packaging in mind. For those who didn’t should design across the motor up front, you could possibly expand a part of the cabin forward and provides more room to the occupants.
The Ergo Motion seat is … interesting, but I believe I prefer it
The Ergo Motion driver’s seat can give you a massage, nevertheless it also changes shape to be more supportive in Sport mode. It does the identical thing somewhere around 82 miles per hour, which was all the time a surprise.
The touchscreen is a reach
The infotainment screen is high up on the dash and pretty distant. I needed to lean forward to succeed in it. There are other controls you should utilize, but they aren’t as intuitive as just tapping the screen. Moreover, the rotary interface for the infotainment sits just in front of the rotary drive selector — or is it the opposite way around? — on the middle console. They give the impression of being different and have different textures, but they’re the identical size. It’s confusing whenever you’re not looking.
People still don’t know what it’s
Prepare for people to ask what you’re driving. Despite the fact that I did pass a minimum of one other GV70 during my week with it, I’d still get comments in parking lots from folks who couldn’t discover what I used to be driving. One preschool teacher asked “Is it electric?” Yes, he was correct, but I didn’t have the time to elucidate that there’s a gas version of the identical model as well. It’s form of cool to drive something that folks don’t see day by day, especially when it actually looks good.
This Article First Appeared At www.autoblog.com