Flowers in the field and electricity in the wheel: Genesis were very subtle in the design changes in the transition to a version free of pollution from the exhaust (photo: Walla! system, Udi Etzion)
Price:
NIS 469,000
Score:
8.5/10
We liked:
performance, equipment, quality, service
We didn't like:
range, price, road behavior
It took them a few months longer than planned, but Genesis already has three electric cars on offer.
More than Lexus or Volvo, like Audi, but still less than Mercedes and BMW.
Unlike the other luxury brand names I mentioned, Genesis is probably the only one you're currently scratching your head wondering when Phil Collins switched to making cars.
Genesis is Hyundai's Lexus.
A young luxury division that quickly grew out of a popular car manufacturer.
The Koreans don't have the rich history of the Germans on the track and on the roads and they don't fill museums with desirable, round, nickel-rich classic cars.
To overcome this, Hyundai worked as we are used to them, with patience and creativity: it took them almost a decade to start exporting the Genesis models, after they finished calibrating and shaving on the first generation, which was only sold in South Korea.
At the same time they sent bounty hunters to Germany and returned with designers, engineers and suspension calibration artists, MBW and Co.
learn from the best.
In the list above I didn't mention Infiniti, the luxury division of Nissan, which is struggling to rise, after strange attempts like putting its badge on an old Mercedes, in the rapidly fading Q30.
Hyundai did everything alone, with large investments, and with a lot of thought for the long term.
Learning from the mistakes of others is also important.
When Genesis was launched in Israel two years ago, it did so with muscular gasoline models that were surprising in their level of quality and attention to detail and also very enjoyable, but in an era of global warming they were as politically correct as MK Almog Cohen. 'Wait', they promised, The trams in the oven.
Indeed, after only two years, Genesis is undergoing accelerated electrification, with the GV60 crossover that competes with the Mercedes EQA and Tesla Model Y, with the electric version of the G80 sedan that competes with the Mercedes EQE and now with an electric version of the GV70 crossover, which recently landed in Israel and competes with the BMW iX3 itself The electrified version of the X3.
A high-quality and easy-to-operate driver environment, except for the multimedia operation dial that looks like a gear dial and is located next to it (photo: Walla! system, Audi Etzion)
The electric GV70 looks like the petrol version, unless you recognize the grill that has become opaque and hides the opening of the charging port, the missing exhausts and the redesigned front bumper.
She is not trying to cut an extraterrestrial coupon for the green transformation.
The same dramatic grille copied from Bentley, the same rounded lines that characterize all the models of the young luxury division.
The passenger cabin is also almost the same, except for the BOOST switch that was added at the bottom of the steering wheel, and the gear tunnel that was lowered a lot at the back.
The trunk has been cut by 30 liters to 503 liters and there is no spare wheel underneath, but a small 22 liter one is added in front, taking advantage, but not enough of the disappearance of the gasoline engine.
The seat is not one of the highest, but the space is good, both in front and in the back, where a third passenger still suffers from a shorter seat than the others.
It's a shame that the rear seat is folded using the American method, through handles in the trunk, which makes it difficult to lift the seat back and position it at the right angle.
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The back seat is more spacious than in the gasoline version, thanks to the disappearance of the gear tunnel (photo: Walla! system, Audi Etzion)
The operation is convenient except for the use of a round dial to operate the multimedia for those who do not want to use the touch screen, and may get confused with the gear dial below it.
The fittings are still generous.
The base version we received for testing, EV Edition (NIS 469,000) includes multimedia with a 14.5-inch screen that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a digital dashboard with a 12.3-inch screen, electrically adjustable seats and front and steering wheel, leather upholstery, sun window, electric tailgate and 19 inch rims.
The luxury version (NIS 499,000) upgrades to 20-inch rims, a Lexicon stereo with 14 speakers instead of 9, a road noise reduction system and three-zone climate control.
The Ultimate version (NIS 519,000) adds upgraded electric adjustment to the driver's seat, heated rear seats, Nappa leather upholstery and a premium display.
The safety equipment is complete, this is one of the few cars with a score of 8 in the Israeli safety rating, and 5 out of 5 stars in the European crash test.
There is a full active safety package, including emergency braking in reverse, shifting the steering wheel when trying to pass into a lane with a vehicle you may not have seen, and preventing a door from opening when you might open it on another vehicle or a cyclist.
There is an off-road mode, with a choice between snow, mud and sand modes.
But how many GV70 owners go off road with it?
And without a spare wheel? (Photo: Walla! system, Audi Etzion)
The 2.5-liter turbo engine of the gasoline version with 304 hp is replaced by two electric ones, one on each axis, with *490 hp, we will soon talk about the star, an automatic transmission with a single gear, and a 77.4 kWh battery. The star is in its place
because This car has two power supplies. The basic one is 435 hp, then it is a wagon with 4.5 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h. The reinforced one reaches 490 hp, and is available every time for ten seconds after pressing the boost button on the steering wheel, which shortens the classic acceleration to 4.2 seconds.
gimmick?
Absolutely, this car is fast enough even in normal mode.
A childish and fun toy that puts the fart voices offered by Tesla in proportion?
We will not deny.
There is also a choice between 3 driving modes, economical, comfortable and sport, where even in the first one you will not lack power, and in sport it will be a bit excessive at times, accompanied by tire slippage.
In any case, it's a vehicle that overtakes everywhere and much faster than you thought, with Tesla-style performance.
The rounded rear part is designed as if it melts a little in the heat, but definitely sporty (photo: Walla! system, Audi Etzion)
But performance comes at the expense of range.
The manufacturer talks about 19 kWh per 100 km in the hybrid, we achieved 21.7 kWh in a calm cruise at 100-110 km/h, and 23 kWh per 100 km at the end of the test.
And that means that 400 km is the real upper limit of the driving range. It's not much, but we expected more from a vehicle at this price.
The GV70 EV is capable of a fast taste at a super speed of 350 kWh, which is not offered in Israel.
At the more common 150 kWh stations you will need about 30 minutes to fill the battery from 20 to 80 percent. The
electric version was also equipped with adaptive suspension designed to cope with a weight that has grown to 2.3 tons. It works partially, in a comfortable position the GV70 EV Reasonable on urban disruptions and succumbs to undulating roads. This also reflects on the road behavior which is less sporty in nature than the gasoline version, with less precise body restraint in turns, and even more numb steering.
A serious challenge for the Germans.
But why a price tag that mentions them? (Photo: Walla! system, Udi Etzion)
In the bottom line, these are mirror images for Tesla.
An electric car, but with a rich passenger cabin, with a high level of service, which includes free treatments for three years and the collection of the car for a supplement, and a personal service person who is always available by phone, compared to an app that you have to fight with about queues for the garage.
A charging station is included in the price, but it's a shame that there isn't also a discount deal on one of the charging networks for Genesis owners, as is offered in some European markets.
The electric GV70 is the best version of itself: powerful, contemporary, super equipped and useful, without compromising the quality and the atmosphere of luxury.
But a price increase of more than NIS 100,000 compared to the gasoline version makes it less worthwhile.
Genesis is the young one that competes with the expensive German ones, but if it exaggerates the prices, the customers may check what the Chinese luxury brands that came to Israel after it have to offer.
On the technical side: Genesis GV70 EV
Engine, drive:
two electric motors, dual drive
Power/torque:
71.4/489
Gearbox:
auto, direct transmission
Battery:
77.4 kWh
Dimensions:
Length (m):
4.72
Width (m):
1.91
Height (m '):
1.63
Wheelbase (m):
2.88
Trunk (liters):
503
Front trunk (L)
: 22
Performance:
Acceleration 0-100 (seconds):
4.2
Maximum speed (km/h):
235
Combined range (manufacturer):
455 km
Combined range (test):
400 km
Safety:
European crash test score
: 5 out of 5 stars (2022)
Active safety:
Lane deviation correction, automatic braking, warning of a vehicle in a "dead zone" in the mirror and video recording on the dashboard during signaling, traffic sign recognition, automatic braking when driving backwards, warning of forgetting children Air pollution: Group 1 of 15 Warranty: 3 years
or
100
thousand
km M. 7 years or 150 thousand km for the hybrid system.
Competitors:
Mercedes EQC, BMW iX3, Lexus RZ
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Tags
Genesis
