The 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 Is Effortlessly Plush

• Genesis is adding another battery-electric vehicle to its lineup by electrifying its midsize crossover, the GV70, for the 2023 model year. But is it any good?

• Starting at $66,975, the 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 features a 77.4-kWh battery pack, 236 miles of range, and 429 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque.

• Beyond a silent ride and smooth electric power delivery, Genesis is incentivizing buyers by offering three years of free 30-minute charging sessions with Electrify America.

Electrification doesn't have to be a statement. Sharp angles, futuristic styling, and alternative materials are all choices that manufacturers make to help their electric vehicles stand out in a crowd of internal combustion. BMW's top-of-the-line XM plug-in hybrid or even the upcoming Kia EV9 are just two recent examples of this boisterous approach, with shocking designs and explosive powertrains.

But it doesn't have to be this way. Adding an electric powertrain shouldn't necessarily disrupt the long-held flow of owning and operating a vehicle. And in the 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70, it doesn't.

Originally launched in 2021, the Genesis GV70 is a luxury, midsize crossover loosely based on the Genesis G70 sedan. Initially, the GV70 was offered with two ICE powertrains—a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6—for $42,595 on the low end and $63,545 at the top.

Inflation has added a few thousand dollars to the MSRP of the ICE versions for 2023, but the electrified version slides in at $66,975 including an $1125 destination fee to nearly match the top-of-the-line ICE model. You can also upgrade to the Prestige package at a sticker price of $73,775 for additional interior and infotainment amenities.

However, the standard features and equipment of the Electrified GV70 make a strong case even without additions. And its unique chassis construction only adds to that.

For starters, the model is not built on Hyundai’s dedicated EV platform (E-GMP), but rather on the ICE GV70 platform itself. To achieve this, the 77.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack is laid out skateboard-style underneath the chassis, with two 160-kW electric motors connected at the front and rear to create standard all-wheel drive.

To account for the 5038-pound curb weight, Genesis added hydraulically damped bushings to the suspension and increased chassis stiffness by 24% thanks to additional carbon-fiber crossmember sheets. Also, fewer body panels are required to build the all-electric version—374 pieces versus 456 pieces—making the structure more stiff.

This complex construction amounts to a model that handles much like its ICE brethren. With a compliant, electronically adaptive ride and MacPherson front, multi-link rear suspension, the Electrified GV70 inspires confidence to push through high-speed sweepers, with an immediate steering action that requires only small movements off-center.

Despite its heft, the model actually feels quite maneuverable and light due to its responsive steering and excellent damping over unpaved, pot-hole-ridden, and smooth roads alike. It's not quite as dynamic as the similarly sized Porsche Macan, but it's pretty close while also requiring less effort to drive.

Despite the comparatively small battery pack, the Electrified GV70 makes a brisk 429 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, with 483 hp available in short stints thanks to the "boost mode" switch. Rapid acceleration is no problem for the Electrified GV70, whether starting from a stop light or making a quick pass on the highway.

However, it's not tailored for explosive enthusiast driving, but rather to deliver smooth power that can be aggressive. Because of this, the accelerator mapping is especially well-tuned, and power delivery is linear and directly correlated to pedal inputs. Ultimately, the powertrain is easy to use, exceptionally quiet, and will still squat down like a drag-prepped Foxbody when you ask it to.