Overview
LIKE Lexus before it, Genesis is grappling with establishing a foothold in the luxury car market through a range of sedans and SUVs. Lexus took decades (having now been in Australia 35 years) and spent countless millions to attain a relatively strong position Down Under, while Genesis is at the start of its journey.
The company makes impressive cars that have achieved limited cut through in a crowded market but is addressing the situation with more dealers, an agency model sales system as well as direct to customers, more choices across the range, limited editions and performance models on the way.
In the case of their currently most popular model, the GV70 Medium SUV, reviewed here, Genesis has announced a MY25 version with more kit across luxury, safety and technology… mild styling tweaks and a price rise.
The model has dropped significantly in sales terms year on year and stiff competition mainly from established Euro brands and Lexus has led to Genesis feeling the need to load the latest GV70 with what appears to be everything it has available on the feature inventory almost including the kitchen sink.
Has it gone too far?
Depends on your perspective but this reviewer feels a UV-C steriliser and an aroma therapy diffuser fall within the superfluous category as does the bewildering array of advanced driver assist tech that no doubt wrests control of the vehicle when it thinks it should.
Against all the OTT tech stuff, Genesis also took the time to engineer some genuine improvements to the GV70’s chassis, suspension and to develop useful features such as multiple drive modes and hands-free features.
The mildly restyled vehicles look great across all three variants, Advanced, Signature and Signature Sport priced from $78,500 for the entry level Advanced 2.5. The 2.5 Signature is from $87,500 and the 2.5 Signature Sport from $89,500, all excluding on-road costs.
Add V6 power to the Signature and it is from $98,000 while the Signature Sport ads $2K to that each excluding on roads. The latter price is a $16K hit on the previous Sport model that went for $84K.
All-wheel drive is now standard across the board with the longitudinal engine placement delivering benefits in terms of balance and drive feel.
Generous levels of kit across all three variants includes new stuff like over-the-air upgrade facility, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and (Genesis) connected services.
Other range-wide goodies are a 27.0-inch OLED wide touchscreen incorporating multi-media functions, tri-zone climate control selections, and the driver’s cluster and micro lens array headlights. New alloys make an appearance along with crosswind stability, biometric (fingerprint) authentication and a head-up display.
Genesis ADAS tech’ sees the arrival of park collision avoid assist, highway driving assist, navigation-based smart cruise control, an in-car camera and remote smart park assist among an extensive ADAS menu. The intelligent speed limit assist now features a steering wheel shortcut button (to switch it off).
Both powertrains are carried over from the previous model and motive power remains the same via a 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol four cylinder rated at 224kW and 422Nm and a 3.5-litre twin turbo petrol V6 rated at 279kW/530Nm both consuming 95 RON unleaded.
The on-demand AWD goes through a slightly revised eight speed conventional auto transmission with wheels suspended by a strut front multi-link rear system with the base model running simple dampers and the V6 gaining adaptive control suspension with electronic (camera) road preview and dynamic stability damper control.
Obviously the two higher grade choices are fitted with more luxury and driving features including interior colour options and premium audio. Genesis offers a guaranteed future value (GFV) if the vehicle is factory financed that may inspire confidence in some buyers.
Driving Impressions
At a preview event, we had a crack at both the 2.5 Signature and the 3.5 Sport and liked most aspects of both. The level of performance is not in question here as both the four- and the six-cylinder deliver plenty of poke off the line and throughout the engine operating range.
The V6 will clock a 0-100km/h sprint in a claimed 5.2 seconds and the four cylinder does the same sprint (on 21-inch wheels) in 6.2 or 7.2 with 19-inch wheels fitted.
Kick-down is accompanied by a redoubling in acceleration rate and only a small increase in noise more apparent from the four than the six with the sweet sounding V6 winning the aural contest.
We used the paddle shift with rev matching function on occasion and it’s handy but in reality, is unnecessary as the turbo engines produce bountiful low rev torque to get the 2000kg-tonne plus SUV hustling along.
But it likes a drink, the four pot recording an average of 12.5 litres per 100km on a mixed drive loop and the V6 was in the 14s each slurping 95 RON at least.
Punting the four cylinder fairly hard on a winding country road revealed some bouncing as the relatively basic suspension tapped out due to comfort-oriented settings although it tracked true all the time.
On the other hand, the V6 was rock solid thanks to its high-tech adaptive suspension but in relation to the electronic road preview system we can’t pass comment because we couldn’t tell when it was operating and what it was doing suffice to say the potent SUV remained totally predictable during some fairly hard driving in the foothills behind Byron Bay.
Genesis and all cars in the Hyundai group use a version of electric steering that delivers unfailingly good feel and response… but in this car, it has variable gearing for rapid response and only 2.6 turns lock to lock.
Other dynamics were equally impressive particularly the monobloc brakes offering up fade free stopping with plenty of bite and feel, ratcheted up on the V6 with bigger rubber on bigger wheels.
Both cars driven were quiet inside especially cruising when minimal noise entered the cabin. The only noise emanating from the engine at full throttle and a small amount of tyre hum and exterior mirror swoosh.
Driving both GV70s tested was a treat at Byron and environs with only some criticism directed at the colour of the screen’s readouts which are too opaque. Other things are good including the sporty seats, pumping audio, efficient climate control, natural driving position, adjustability and information delivery.
And they look great in the metal with a certain “Bentley-ness” about their flanks.
All variants have a 2200kg braked tow rating and we liked the hands-free tailgate, not so much the panoramic sunroof.
Other cool and worthy features include the multiple power outlets through the cabin, heated exterior mirrors, heated and vented front and rear seats (not in Advance grade) and head-up display.
The comprehensive climate control system has so many functions we couldn’t keep track.
Would we buy one is the big question?
Yes, is the answer as the GV70 looks and goes as well or better than most of its Euro’ competition.
It costs about the same perhaps a little less, has more kit, a strong warranty and pampering ownership experience but best of all for someone taking a punt on an “establishing” brand, a guaranteed future value so you don’t get burned at resale… Happy days.
