THE all-electric version of Genesis' GV70 SUV was launched in the UK in October 2022 since when nothing, apart from a slight price increase, has really changed.

It remains a plush, premium, practical competitor to the plethora of rivals on the market.

Priced from £65,105 for the single Sport trim, it's not cheap but it is luxurious and certainly has a few tricks up its sleeve, including a pair of electric motors delivering up to 483bhp in ‘Boost' mode and a stonking 700Nm of torque. Enough to blast it from 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds, though it feels quicker.

As an all-electric car, perhaps more important is its claimed combined range of 283 miles - or 367 around town. But, who buys an SUV just to drive around town?

All Genesis models come with a five-year care plan including warranty, roadside assistance and servicing (time or 50,000 miles, whichever is sooner) for that period.

On the outside, the Electrified GV70 is only really differentiated from its conventionally-powered siblings by a re-designed grille, behind which sits its cleverly hidden charging port. Sitting flush with the grille's ‘G-Matrix' pattern, the diamond shaped door effectively disappears when closed.

At the rear, the bumper has been subtly redesigned too.

A variety of eco-friendly materials have been used to furnish the beautifully crafted interior but the quality is very high. It's a comfortable and posh place to be with plenty of space.

As in the ‘ordinary' GV70, there's a 14.5-inch central infotainment touchscreen which can also be operated by a rotary controller dial, an eight-inch digital dash, powered leather seats, and ambient mood lighting.

The horizontal touch sensitive heating and ventilation display is inspired by the shape of aircraft wings like the Genesis logo. All of the buttons, displays and controls have been placed in the perfect position, simplifying every interaction.

Heating is available for both seating rows and soft materials cover every surface, from the inside of the door handles to leather effect trim for the dashboard.

The boot, which comes as standard with a powered tailgate, delivers a spacious 503-litres of capacity which increases to 1,678 when the 60:40 split-fold rear seats are down. There's also a useful 25-litre ‘frunk' at the front of the car which is handy for the quick and straightforward storage of charging cables.

As mentioned above, the GV70 can be blisteringly quick but it's no performance SUV. Really, it's about luxury and comfort and it does that very well. Smooth and refined, it features adaptive suspension with road scanning tech.

This uses information from a front-facing camera to automatically ensure the adaptive dampers are precisely calibrated to cope with any upcoming obstacles, such as speed bumps and potholes.

Special noise-cancelling technology keeps tyre roar to the minimum by using microphones and sensors to project inverted sound waves through the audio speakers. On a motorway, it's a serene and enjoyable place to be.

Despite the name, it handles reasonably well in the twistys due to the battery being mounted low between the front and rear axles and the brand's dynamic torque vectoring control, which subtly brakes an inside wheel when the car is cornering. And its bespoke Michelin tyres provide tremendous grip. However, it is really more about comfort.

There's three drive modes - Eco, Comfort and Sport - which allow the driver to retune the steering and damper response, as well as powertrain attributes such as throttle feedback to either enhance efficiency, promote a more relaxed environment or prime the car for dynamic driving.

The Electrified GV70 is also the first Genesis electric vehicle to feature SUV-specific e-Terrain technology for extra grip in mud, sand and snow.

It also has a clever 'Vehicle-to-Load' feature that allows you to power electrical ancillary devices such as laptops or electric bikes from the vehicle - or even charge another EV.

Also worth recommending is the Electrified GV70's i-Pedal mode that allows the driver to accelerate, decelerate, and stop using just the accelerator pedal alone. This boosts efficiency by maximising the amount of energy that is recaptured when slowing, feeding it back into the battery. Drivers can adjust the braking force to suit their preference by selecting from three different modes using wheel-mounted paddle-shifters.

Officially, the Genesis Electrified GV70 has a range of up to 283 miles. If you're looking to travel further afield it can be rapid charged from 10 to 80 per cent in around 18 minutes.

The Electrified GV70 comes with a range of standard active and passive safety systems a front centre airbag, smart cruise control, emergency braking and Evasive Steering Assist which will actively help turn the car away from a potential collision.

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