2026 Genesis Electrified GV70 Review

Of all the lessons automakers have learned about making electric vehicles (EVs) people actually like and want, among them is that quiet, under-the-skin change is often better than something wild and radical.

It’s partly why BMW’s make-the-gas-cars-electric approach has earned it awards, while Mercedes-Benz’s funky EQ line, er, hasn’t. Along the same lines as BMW’s EVs, the 2026 Genesis Electrified GV70 is just a regular crossover that happens to be electric.

A past winner in the AutoTraders Awards in its own right, the Electrified GV70 is stylish, lush, and nice to drive, while updates this year include a bigger screen, a bigger battery, and more range. It isn’t perfect, though, and the latter remains one of its biggest points of contention when compared to rivals, but as a way of getting around luxuriously, and all without burning any gas, the Electrified GV70 remains pretty fantastic.

Styling 9 / 10

The Genesis GV70 was refreshed for 2026, but you wouldn’t really know it just from the outside. It’s still a cool, swanky-looking compact crossover with Porsche Macan proportions and Bentley details. This EV version gets a shiny, closed-off grille up front, no exhaust tips in the back, and its own wheel designs. The only stylistic gripe would be that the 20-inch wheels this top Prestige trim rides on somehow doesn’t look as nice as the base 19-inch alloys.

The update is more evident inside, though, with a new screen and steering wheel dominating the dash. Say what you will about the tacked-on-iPad look, but the uninterrupted 27-inch OLED display is striking to behold in person and boasts practically perfect colours and contrast. Pair that with the Prestige trim’s available white leather upholstery, blue contrast stitching, and stone pattern door inserts that let ambient lighting peek through like stars at night, and the inside of the feels like it exists about two tax brackets higher than it does.

Safety 9 / 10

The Hyundai Motor Group’s assisted highway driving system is standard and performs better than average, despite exhibiting a bit of ping-ponging within lane markings during testing. Other niceties like blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, safe exit assist that can warn of vehicles approaching from behind and prevent the doors from being opened, a rear occupant alert, and driver attention warning are also included.

Physical outward visibility is quite good, plus the Prestige trim gets camera-based blind-spot monitoring that gives a live look at either side of the vehicle when the corresponding signal is activated. Both versions of the GV70 are Top Safety Pick+ winners, per the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS).

Features 8.5 / 10

Even beyond the safety-related stuff, the Electrified GV70 is well-equipped from the jump. A huge panoramic sunroof is heavily tinted so it never gets too hot inside under the sun. That huge infotainment screen is standard, and Google Maps directions running through either wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto now show up in the available head-up display. Spring for the Prestige trim and you get remote smart parking assist, active noise cancelling, upgraded leather upholstery, and 15-speaker stereo that sounds pretty good.

User-Friendliness 7 / 10

There are precisely two user experience sins in the cabin. The first is the rotary-style gear selector that looks like, feels like, and is placed right below the knob that controls the infotainment system. On more than one occasion during this test, I’d either scroll through a menu instead of shifting into reverse or not press the little park button hard enough, resulting in alarming, unexpected movement when I took my foot off the brake.

The second big gripe is a beep that sounds whenever you touch the touchscreen which, as confirmed by a Genesis rep, cannot be turned off. Thankfully, this goes away when you use Apple CarPlay, but it’s incredibly irritating when using any part of the native operating system.

Other than those issues, the GV70’s interface is quite easy to get along with. There’s still a panel dedicated to climate control, the infotainment software is, at its core, Hyundai’s system, so it’s thoughtfully laid out, and there are a fair number of hard buttons and knobs.

Practicality 8 / 10

Climbing into the back seats and eyeballing it, the GV70 feels reasonably spacious for the segment; as a 5-foot-8 adult, I feel like I could spend quite a bit of time there without getting claustrophobic. The 813-L cargo area is also usefully big (both the Mercedes EQE SUV and BMW’s upcoming iX3 quote 520 L with the rear seats upright), although the load floor is a bit high, likely to accommodate the rear-mounted electric motor.

Power 9 / 10

Two electric motors (one driving the front wheels, another for the ones in the back) combine to make 429 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. This is a lot for this type of crossover; for reference, the gas-powered GV70 makes just 375 hp — and that’s with its upgraded V6 engine. As a result, this electric version is speedy, smooth, and very immediate. There’s even a little “boost” button on the steering wheel when you need all those ponies on deck to trounce any base-model BMW X3s that foolishly challenge you to a race.

Driving Feel: 9/10

On the move, the GV70 is a class-leading vehicle no matter the powertrain. It’s easy and intuitive to place around the city, stable on the highway, and responsively entertaining on a backroad. The steering is really well calibrated, as are the brakes. Both feel like they were made by people who not only know what they’re doing behind the wheel but also genuinely enjoy being there. It’s a delightful drive for what this crossover is, and it even has seat bolsters that automatically tighten and hug you in place depending on speed or drive setting.

The Electrified GV70 has one weird refinement-related habit, though: the suspension subtly wobbles forward and back whenever it comes to a complete stop. Inconsequential and small, sure, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t break the luxury immersion a little whenever it happened.

Comfort 9.5 / 10

Once you get going again, the admirably competent handling takes nothing away from the comfort department. The suspension is soft, as are the seats. There’s no massaging function, but the top trim has a posture program function that moves select portions of the seat around after driving for a long time (it can also be activated using a button on the side of the seat). This helps keep you from getting stiff or sore, and it works quite well.

Climate control is of the three-zone automatic variety, the front seats are heated, and they’re ventilated in the Prestige trim, while the rear seats are also heated. This EV is also very quiet, a result of both not having an internal combustion engine and good insulation from wind and road noise. As a sanctuary in which to relax, the Electrified GV70 yields few complaints.

Fuel Economy 7.5 / 10

For 2026, Genesis added a bigger 84-kWh battery to the Electrified GV70 along with a Tesla-style charge port. Officially, range comes in at 402 km — 22 km more than last year. On the efficiency front, this test saw an indicated average of 24.0 kWh/100 km over almost 900 km of mixed city and highway driving, giving it a real-world would-be range of about 350 km on a full battery. This is a fairly usable amount of distance but falls short of rivals like the Tesla Model Y Premium, which officially boasts 542 km, or BMW’s shiny, new iX3, which is said to go as far as 650 km. It’s also worth noting that while the 2026 Electrified GV70 can be plugged into Tesla charging stations, only the newest ones in the network are compatible.

Value 7.5 / 10

The 2026 Electrified GV70 starts at $78,500 for the base Advanced trim, but the Prestige that comes with all the bells and whistles kicks off at $88,500. Add a $500 colour charge, and this one was priced at $89,000 before tax. (Unlike other automakers, Genesis includes freight in its advertised pricing.)

For comparison, that’s substantially more than the Tesla Model Y, which tops out at $75,000 for the go-fast Performance model, and several grand more than Genesis’s own (albeit smaller) GV60, depending on trim. It does, however, undercut the BMW iX and Mercedes EQE SUV which both start in the $90,000s.

The Verdict

If you can live with the gear selector, the screen beep, and the range that still trails key rivals, the 2026 Genesis Electrified GV70 is a wonderful EV. It may occasionally be a little irritating, but it also does a lot of the intangibles well enough to arguably make up for it.

When wiper fluid is deployed, for example, it’ll shut the cabin ventilation so the smell doesn’t get in. The aforementioned posture adjustment function is always a welcome feature on a long drive, and I could’ve sworn the active seat bolsters gave me a little soothing hug after I honked at someone.

In broad strokes, too, the Electrified GV70 is very pleasant to drive, very pleasant to look at, and that white interior in particular may just be nice enough to counter any rational objections or pesky infotainment beeps. As a luxury transportation device, it’s almost a home run.