The Genesis GV70 has brought a different dimension to a heavily-congested market.
Quality-wise, this luxurious family SUV is more than a match for its more established German rivals.
It’s a well-equipped vehicle with a refined interior, combining stylish design with decent levels of technology.
The exterior has a bold and confident look, with a large grille and heavily-sculpted bonnet immediately catching the eye.
But the interior is the GV70’s real high-point, offering sumptuous materials, oceans of space and a delightfully-premium ambience.
The engine puts out 304ps and a meaty 421Nm of torque, making acceleration feel effortless, especially considering it’s a vehicle weighing more than two tonnes. It’s good for a 0-62mph time of 6.1 seconds, which feels swift but not blistering.
The trade-off comes in the form of fuel economy, with the GV70 returning an average of about 30mpg during my week in its company in a range of mixed driving conditions.
The set-up strikes a nice balance between comfort and performance, with the GV70’s suspension easing out all but the worst road imperfections, with the car still feeling relatively agile and responsive when cornering. It’s a great ride with a sporty character.
In terms of looks, the slick exterior leads to comparisons with Bentley, which is no bad thing of course.
The car’s silhouette is enhanced by the curved roofline and steeply-sloping rear window, which singles it out from some of the more boxy, square-looking vehicles in this segment.
Meanwhile, the silver roof-rails and twin tailpipes provide a hint of adventure.
We tested the Luxury version of the GV70, which certainly lives up to its name. Once you step inside, you feel a sense of being in a hugely refined cabin, with the Havana Brown/Ocean Waves colour-scheme adding to the special feeling.
The £4,190 Innovation pack adds a wide range of tech and safety equipment.
There’s also a 14.5-inch Navi Screen with DAB radio, phone mirroring and Genesis Connected. You also get Apple Carplay and Android Auto.
The Nappa leather seats are very comfortable. On a long journey, you can simply sink into the seats and relax.
The comfort seat pack, costing £1,690, adds electronically adjustable seats which also offer a massage function known as ‘smart posture assist,’ which helps keep your muscles relaxed on longer journeys.
Backseat passengers are also treated to some creature comforts, with the second-row comfort seat pack, costing £600, providing heated seats, window blinds, laminated glass, and a 220V inverter.
Safety equipment includes Highway Driving Assist II, Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Start, Lane Following Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assistance.
There’s also Quad LED Headlamps with Intelligent Front Lighting System, which automatically detects oncoming vehicles and switches off individual LEDs to avoid blinding them.
Genesis GV70 Luxury
PRICE: £57,375 as tested (range starts at £44,100)
ENGINE: 2.5-litre petrol
PERFORMANCE: 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds and top speed of 6.1 seconds
ECONOMY: 218g/km and 27.9-39mpg
POWER AND TORQUE: 304ps and 421Nm
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