Genesis GV70 - makes premium "Germans" nervous

Can you imagine LADA cars competing in the premium segment? We laughed heartily, didn't we? So twenty years ago, hardly anyone could seriously assume that Hyundai cars would fight on equal terms with BMW, Mercedes, Audi. And now the "luxury" division of the Korean concern, founded in 2015 and bearing the name Genesis, is one new product after another.


The impressions after the presentation of the Genesis G80 sedan and the GV80 crossover had not yet cooled down, as the Koreans presented us with another couple - the G70 and GV70. If the first is a restyling of a sedan that has been produced since 2017, then the GV70 is a completely new model. True, it’s new only for us, because in South Korea the car has been on sale since last year, and European sales began in the first half of 2021. And the crossover has reached our market only now. That does not detract from our interest in this car. Because there is something to show interest!



Can the Genesis GV70 compete in the BMW X3, Audi Q5 or Mercedes GLC market? Or is it too early to talk about it? It will be interesting!

Exterior

By and large, there is only one complaint to the designers of Genesis - in their desire to draw something undeniably prestigious and, at the same time, unlike BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Volvo, etc., they looked too often at pictures from Bentley. Well, if you can’t copy premium competitors, you can copy something from super premium. After all, it would never occur to anyone to seriously compare Genesis with Bentley. Although, we repeat, a couple of decades ago, there was no question of comparison with BMW. So who knows who we will be comparing with whom in ten years.



Besides, if we are talking about allusions to Bentley, this applies, for the most part, to the G80 and GV80 models. Our today's hero looks much more original. Unless the rear end evokes memories of Porsche crossovers. But this, by and large, is nit-picking.



GV70 is beautiful. Unconditionally. Particularly impressive is the spectacular shading, originating from the junction of the wing and the hood and passing through the entire sidewall, falling in the rear almost to the wheel arch. Without it, the food might seem heavy.
And what a designer hood! It looks like the wind is creasing from the corners of the grille and the wingtips of the Genesis logo!



By the way, about the logo. Who said Bentley again? And why does no one remember that Aston Martin has very similar “wings”? And why is it that no one blames some Englishmen for stealing the idea from other Englishmen? Everyone is just used to it. Well, get used to the Genesis wings too.



Absolutely, those who are used to choosing a car with their eyes will not be disappointed by the “seventies”.

Interior

Definitely, when drawing the GV70, the designers were inspired! If the interior of the older brother, the GV80, inspires the thought of a professional and well-done job, then inside the "seventies" you feel a flight of fancy! It seems that she still has not weathered and is hiding somewhere in the ideal joints of the panels.
The “basic” two-spoke steering wheel is the same as that of the GV80 (well, yes, and almost the same as that of the Bentley), but in the upper trim levels, the three-spoke steering wheel is very beautiful and does not cause any extraneous associations.



The design of the front ventilation deflectors is simply a design masterpiece! Yes, something similar can be seen in fresh Audi, but there are no thoughts of plagiarism - the silver line flows so gracefully through the deflector nozzles, goes around the dashboard and goes into the door molding! Cool!



Everything that the eye reaches is covered in leather, there is almost no bare plastic, only somewhere around the legs. True, the skin turns out to be artificial. Like the suede on the ceiling. However, man-made suede has long been called the "rich" word "alcantara". It is not clear, beautiful and expensive.



The quality of the selected finishing materials is the only thing in which the GV70, albeit slightly, is inferior to European competitors. But only those who have traveled for a long time, for example, on the "Germans", will notice this. Those who are less familiar with the standards of the continental "premium" will have no complaints about the quality of the finish of the GV70.

trunk

The declared volume of the luggage compartment is 542 liters. True, this is taking into account the underground. The indicator is not bad, at the level of German competitors.



The main claim to the trunk is the quality of the finish. If you look from the point of view of a mass car, then there is nothing to complain about. But "premium" does not smell here! The plastic is brittle and there is a lot of it. The curtain is too "oilcloth". There are no convenient cargo placement systems. In short, if you approach the GV70 from the side of the open fifth door, then it will not fall into the premium segment. Therefore, we will allow the electric drive to close the gate as soon as possible.

Equipment

Needless to say, the GV70 is "stuffed" under the very roof (panoramic, by the way). Moreover, this applies to both “comfortable” options and active safety systems.
Of the interesting "chips" that can be found in the GV70 (though not in all versions), we note:

• ★ 14,5 inch multimedia screen - with great graphics and fast response. You can control the system both from the screen and using the "washer" on the central tunnel, almost similar to iDrive from BMW.
• ★ Built-in video recorder, recording a picture from the front and rear video cameras, moreover, with a good resolution. It is even strange why such a simple option has not yet received mass distribution on other cars.
• ★ Telematics system similar to that offered by the "smart" Hyundai Creta. The option is incredibly convenient and very useful.
• ★ Premium acoustics Lexicon with 15 speakers.
• ★ Massage in the driver's seat. The qualifications of the "masseur", however, leaves much to be desired. But in order to “knead the rolls” on a long journey, it will do. In addition, most competitors do not have this.
• ★ Double side windows and a laminated windshield provide a decent level of acoustic comfort in all ranges of motion.
• ★ Autopilot Highway Driving Assist II (HDA II) confidently keeps the crossover in the lane. And if you turn on the turn signal, it is able to change lanes on its own. At the same time, he will perform the maneuver only after evaluating the situation in advance and considering it safe. The GV70 is also able to dodge if it gets clipped.
• ★ Advanced Rear Occupant Alert - a system that monitors the presence of passengers in the second row. She uses a built-in radar and "sees" not only movements, but is able to detect even breathing!
  

And the GV70, like its "big brother", is able to independently leave the parking lot. Driving from the key fob, you can remotely make the “seventies” drive a few meters forward or backward. At the same time, all "felt" of the car are active and, in case of an obstacle, it will stop. Good for tight parking.



Eight airbags are responsible for passive safety, with one Airbag protecting the driver’s knees, and another deployed between the front seats, not only preventing the driver and front passenger from “contacting”, but also negating the likelihood that something heavy will fly from behind. Some unfastened passenger, for example.

Technique

The Genesis GV70 is built on the same platform as the older GV80. The wheelbase, however, is reduced by 7 cm. The suspension is double-lever in front and “multi-link” in the back.
Koreans offer a choice of three engines:

• ★ 2,2 liter turbodiesel with 199 hp
• ★ 2,5 liter petrol turbo engine, can offer 249 hp.
• ★ Gasoline V6, also turbocharged and herd of 379 "horses"
  

In the transmission - all-wheel drive with a clutch that connects the front axle. "Automatic" in all cases, traditional, eight-speed. This is partly due to a rather immodest appetite. If a diesel engine, in urban mode, consumes 10,3 liters of diesel fuel per 100 km according to the passport, then gasoline 2,5 - already more than 15! And the real numbers could be even higher. So those who "drown" for savings - please do not worry.



The brakes of the GV70 are "electronic" - there is no direct connection between the pedal and the brakes. Communication is carried out by wires. Engineers say that this allows you to rid the pedal of vibrations when the ABS is activated. You can also select the sensitivity settings for the brake pedal. Calipers on all wheels are four-piston, disc diameter is 360 mm (GV80 has 20 mm more). Even under difficult driving conditions, the brakes do not overheat and provide confident deceleration.

In move

Let's be honest - will there be many buyers of the GV70 who really care about handling in extreme conditions? Oh hardly!
And in normal modes, the "seventy" rides more than with dignity and confidence. A little more than we would like is transmitted to the salon of information about the quality of the road surface. In this Genesis is again inferior to the premium "Europeans". And again - slightly, on the verge of nuances.



If you go really actively, the GV70 does not “torque”. There is no excitement in it, the rear axle sometimes “floats” in corners, the steering is synthetic and not without flaws in feedback. However, all the comments lie in the plane of driving pleasure. The safety of maneuvers at any speed GV70 can provide. Within the laws of physics, of course. So there is no need to rush.

What's the bottom line?

The Genesis GV70 is not an outstanding car, but a very interesting one. And it is able to compete with the crossovers of the German "Big Three". It is unlikely that he will put the X3 or Q5 on the shoulder blades, but the GV70 will definitely draw some of the clientele (especially among its female part). Especially considering that Genesis is always cheaper in similar trim levels.



Recommended prices start at 4,15 million rubles for the diesel version. For the most powerful V6 car, they will already ask for two million more. Although show me where cars are now sold at recommended prices? Therefore, the real deal will depend on the demand and greed of dealers. And this, it seems, is the only thing that can hinder the market success of the "seventies".