2025 Genesis Electrified GV70 review

June 6, 2025 Matt Allan

As Genesis goes all-electric in the UK, we get behind the wheel of the updated Electrified GV70 to see how this Audi and BMW rival stacks up

It’s been four years since Genesis arrived in the UK aiming to take on the German big boys in the premium market. And it’s been three years since it launched the Electrified GV70 as its first all-electric model.

It’s fair to say those years haven’t been easy for this upstart Korean brand but it’s continued to plug away, offering high-quality, high-value alternatives for discerning customers not enamoured with the four rings, three-pointed star or weird blue and white propeller thing.

The Electrified GV70 has been at the heart of that – its electric powertrain enhancing the premium refinement that was let down by rough and thirsty early petrol and diesel options. Those engines have now been binned and Genesis is an all-electric brand in the UK. That means its EVs have to be on-point, so the 2025 upgrades for the GV70 have come at a crucial time.

Design interior and technology

There’s a template for mid-life refreshes of cars – new headlights, a tweak to the bumpers and perhaps some new wheel designs. And the 2025 Electrified GV70 sticks exactly to that programme of works.

The headlights are indeed new. They have the same slimline, split-level appearance as before but with new micro-array LEDs that offer improved adaptive performance. The bumper has been resculpted with a smoother look and the grille has been subtly reworked. There are indeed also new 19- and 20-inch wheels and additional exterior paint options.

2025 Genesis Electrified GV70 side view — Exterior changes are subtle…

The only other changes are even more subtle. The rear indicators are now incorporated into the tail lights rather than being mounted low in the bumper. And, answering one of my only issues with the old car, the charging port is now powered, illuminated and heated.

There are more significant changes inside. The most obvious is the new 27-inch single-piece “connected car integrated cockpit”. This gets rid of the old instrument binnacle and replaces the two separate 12.3-inch digital screens of the old car with a single, flowing array that incorporates new digital dials and an updated infotainment system.

The centre console has also been redesigned. The drive selector and rotary infotainment controllers are smaller but still confusingly similar, and there’s a new touch-sensitive panel for air conditioning controls that helps tidy up the dashboard. Thankfully, though, this retains proper dials for basic temperature control. There’s a new steering wheel with slick black buttons and a relocated Boost button, plus new ambient lighting and aluminium door trims, although the Luxury spec gets special “Milky Way” illuminated trim. Soft-touch materials have also been extended across the dash and centre console, enhancing an already high-quality ambience. Like the exterior, these changes aren’t huge, but do help create a neater, fresher feeling.

Changes aside, the GV70’s cabin remains a gorgeous place to spend time. The leather-clad seats (quilted Nappa in our Luxury-grade car) are comfortable, endlessly adjustable and will give you a massage if you’re at the wheel for extended periods. Build quality is impeccable, and noise insulation is impressive, especially if you opt for the active noise cancellation. There’s also plenty of space for four adults to stretch out, with all the creature comforts they could need.

2025 Genesis Electrified GV70 interior — …while interior updates to the GV70 are more comprehensive

On the tech front, the new infotainment is quicker and slicker than before, although still not the most intuitive system out there. Among updates are support for streaming from services such as Disney+ and Netflix when you’re parked, and the ability to show Google and Apple Maps in the instrument cluster for the first time. The remote parking feature has also been upgraded to handle more complex scenarios and the digital key function allows you to open and start the car with just a smartphone or fingerprint.

Battery motor and performance

The 2025 Genesis Electrified GV70 brings changes under the skin, too. The twin-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain with 483bhp remains the same but there’s now a bigger, 84kWh battery.

That increases the GV70’s range to 298 miles (15 more than before), although rivals such as the Audi Q6 e-tron quattro and Porsche Macan still offer more. Where the Genesis continues to impress is with its 240kW charging, that will take it from 10-80% in just 19 minutes. That’s aided by a new battery cooling/heating system that allows drivers to manually precondition the battery for charging – handy if you’re not using the car’s built-in navigation.

As before, the GV70’s performance is surprising for a largish SUV. Nought to 62mph takes just 4.4 seconds and there’s boundless torque available at any speed. Press the boost button and this 2.3-tonne luxury barge will squat and squirm before rocketing up the road. The update also brings optional virtual gearshifts and simulated engine noise based on the same system as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.

2025 Genesis Electrified GV70 driving image — The GV70 is surprisingly quick but its main appeal is its comfort and refinement

That’s not to say this is a truly sporty car. In sport mode the active air suspension stiffens up and the steering gets heavier, allowing you to tackle even twisty cross-country routes at pace, but there’s always just a bit of body roll and you’re aware of the car’s weight when you pitch into a corner.

It feels most at home dialled back to comfort mode where the road-scanning suspension smooths out almost every bump and you can waft along in near silence while still taking advantage of the instantly available power.

Price and specification

The 2025 Genesis Electrified GV70 starts at £65,915 – an £800 increase over the old model – and now comes in three trim levels rather than the single Sport spec.

The entry point for the range is the Pure grade, which gets £1,200 worth more kit than the outgoing car. Heated front seats, heated steering wheel and three-zone climate are now standard across the range. Pure also gets 19-inch alloy wheels, highway drive assist with adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors and a heat pump as standard.

Priced from £70,715 , the Dynamic trim adds 20-inch wheels, a 360-degree camera, blind spot view monitor, a head-up display, remote parking assistance, and more advanced driver assistance.

At the top of the tree, the £74,915 Luxury grade gets heated rear seats, heated and cooled front seats, a panoramic sunroof and a Bang & Olufsen Dolby Atmos 15-speaker sound system. It also gets laminated rear glass, active noise cancellation and rear window blinds.

The GV70 continues to benefit from Genesis’ five-year care package that includes all servicing, roadside assistance, courtesy car and home collection/delivery.

Verdict

Having spent six months with the pre-facelift Genesis GV70, I was already convinced of its brilliance and the 2025 updates simply refine that package.

It looks a little fresher inside and out, the new technology brings subtle but useful updates and the bigger battery provides some welcome additional range. Aside from that it remains a hugely comfortable, relaxing yet surprisingly lively luxury proposition that’s more than a match for its European rivals.