Genesis GV70 2021: set to arrive in Australia within months

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Genesis has unveiled the Australian specification for the 2021 GV70 midsize SUV which details enough power, style and luxury features to take the fight to its established rivals.

When it arrives, the GV70 will become the fourth vehicle in the Genesis line up and will go head to head with midsize SUV rivals such as the BMW X3, the Mercedes-Benz GLC and Audi Q5. 

What engine options are available on the 2021 GV70?

The GV70 will be offered with a choice of three turbocharged engine options with all matched to an eight-speed torque converter automatic which has now been further refined.

The 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is the entry-level option, with respectable outputs of 224kW of power and 422Nm of torque. The 2.5T is the only option available with both rear and all-wheel-drive layouts, with all other engines matched to the latter.

Despite recent news that the Hyundai Motor Group is phasing out diesel engines, one has still made its way into the Australian-spec GV70.

While it may not be the beefy three-litre straight-six (204kW/588Nm) found in its GV80 large SUV sibling, the 2.2-litre four-cylinder engine with an all-aluminium block wouldn’t be a slouch off the line with 154kW/440Nm and all-wheel-drive.

Sitting at the top of the range is the twin-turbo 3.5-litre petrol V6 making the same 279kW/530Nm as its big brother. Like the diesel, the power is fed to an AWD system but the top-tier engine is the only one fitted with a limited-slip differential on the rear axle. 

In addition to the power bump, the 3.5-litre V6 is also fitted with a sports brake package along with a unique interior and exterior design – with bigger and wider 21-inch wheels in place of the 19-inch alloys seen elsewhere in the range.

Regardless of which engine option you select the GV70 can tow a respectable 2.2 tonnes with a trailer stability assist system built-in as standard. 

What is the inside of the GV70 like?

The Genesis GV70 is fitted with 12-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats as standard, with the seats and dashboard selectively trimmed in leather.

Other niceties such as a wireless charger have been fitted along with manual sun shades in the rear doors, a panoramic sunroof and a remote operated power tailgate.

Sitting in the centre of the dash is a 14.5-inch centre touchscreen with a built-in navigation system and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

Buyers who want more can opt for the Luxury Package which swaps in quilted Nappa leather seats, a suede headliner, heated rear seats, a sport steering wheel and a raft of aluminium trimming on touchpoints around the cabin.

The package also adds a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display in the instrument cluster, a heads up display and the standard nine-speaker sound system is upgraded to a 16-speaker Lexicon sound system.

What stands out on the outside of the GV70?

Continuing the Genesis brand’s Athletic Elegance’ ethos, the GV70 is fitted with the two-stripe quad lamp headlights, with the wheels pushed out the corners giving it a pretty handsome appearance in our eyes.

Both 2.5-litre turbo drivetrains and the AWD 2.2-litre turbodiesel can option the Sport Line Package, which spruces up the outside with more aggressive front and rear bumpers, a blacked-out grille and roof rails.

The GV70 also gains larger dual exhausts, better brakes, swaps in a nicer set of 19-inch alloy wheels and a raft of other trimmings.

Is the GV70 a safe family car?

While the GV70 has not yet been crash tested, Genesis has thrown just about every crash avoidance feature they could find at it. 

These include blind-spot monitoring, front AEB with the ability to detect pedestrians and cyclists, lane keep assist, multi-collision braking, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance and a driver attention monitoring system.

Other features such as adaptive cruise control and 360-degree camera should also make life a bit easier.

More details on pricing will be revealed closer to the Australian launch in the second quarter of this year.