Interior fit and finish is where the 2025 Genesis GV70 really shines, comprehensively earning its stripes in the luxury segment. Materials have a premium and lush feel, with electrically adjustable, heated and ventilated front seats providing excellent comfort and support. Rear passenger comfort is great, with rear climate controls (for Signature trim and up) and a recline function adding luxury, however middle-seated rear passengers will have to contend with a transmission tunnel that chews up space.
Renewed focus on cabin refinement in the updated model heralds the introduction of a new 27-inch (yes, 27-inch) touchscreen, curving from the centre dash to behind the steering wheel and responsible for infotainment and instrument cluster duties.
The screen is much better integrated into its surrounds than the previous generation’s unit, complementing curvature seen elsewhere in the interior. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard.
A head-up display and over-the-air updates – allowing software to be updated remotely – now come standard across the range too.
External dimensions of the 2025 Genesis GV70 are the same as before, but new lamp, rear bumper and badging designs feature, with an updated grille matching the geometric body used elsewhere on the GV70.
Signature Sport trim gets more aggressive styling on bumpers and exhaust tips, larger 21-inch alloy wheels (which also feature on Signature, up from 19-inch units fitted to Advance), and larger brake callipers.
Much of the new inclusions for the GV70 relate to safety, with highway driving, parking collision-avoidance, lane-following and remote parking assists, and a navigation-based smart cruise control (that taps into listed speed limits for roads, not requiring speed sign recognition) added.
These join an existing safety suite comprising blind-spot monitoring and avoidance, adaptive cruise with stop-go capability, driver attention warning, speed limit, lane-keep and trailer stability assists, and rear cross-traffic alert.
In 2.5-litre guise, the 2025 GV70 scores a five-star ANCAP safety rating, however 3.5-litre variants remain unrated.
— Liam Murphy
GV70 buyers have the option of two carryover petrol powertrains: a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder or twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6, producing 224kW/442Nm and 279kW/530Nm respectively.
Regardless of cylinder count, an eight-speed auto now turns all four wheels, with rear-wheel drive variants dropped from the range. Signature grade and up also gets an electrically controlled limited-slip differential for the rear.
2025 Genesis GV70 (Advanced trim shown)
Genesis’ revisions to the GV70’s ride quality and cabin refinement have paid dividends on-road. While V6 variants pick up adaptive dampers and the e-LSD to good effect, the ride is still highly accomplished in both trims.
Road and wind noise are almost nil, while bumps are dialled out just enough to cocoon occupants without creating a sense of disconnect with the bitumen below. This combined with additional chassis tweaks gives the GV70 a surefootedness and unexpectedly rewarding sporty dynamic when pushed. However, as expected, its heft can only be disguised for so long.
Active and passive safety measures are a tad punitive, as can be experienced elsewhere in the Hyundai portfolio, but thankfully these are becoming easier to turn off. After some seat time in the GV70, its lane-keep becomes more tolerable.
Both engines are a dream when on-song, however the eight-speed auto can be caught off-guard when asked to work quickly. Extra displacement in the V6 makes for a more effortless drive at low revs, largely compensating for any delay in the transmission and making for the better all-rounder.
Steering weight is on the light side, but the GV70 rarely feels ‘floaty’ thanks to the amount of feedback coming back through the chassis. We did gripe about a small delay between pressing the brake pedal and actual clamp at the rotors – Genesis Australia telling us this is due to the model using electric vacuum assist. Fingers crossed this gets remedied in the future, as it detracts from what is otherwise a pleasantly surprising SUV.
‘Affordable luxury’ often feels oxymoronic, but the GV70 nails the brief convincingly. Despite price rises, its appeal in the mid-size luxury SUV segment has not been watered down, thanks to a collection of modest – but material – improvements and more standard kit.
While increased pricing will mean the updated GV70 is likely to be tested against much more established models and marques, Genesis still has a fighter on its hands. Get past the badge and you might just get into the best luxury SUV available at this price point.
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