The zero-emission mobility market is growing and is expected to grow even further in the near future. From now on, it is a question of raising the level of requirement of a vehicle which is no longer intended only for an avant-garde clientele, but which also seeks to convince the uninitiated. This lack of originality deserves to be commended. Because it is also with ordinary models that the electric car will fit into real life. This is the main reason for the electrified version of the GV70.
Some electric enthusiasts will no doubt find it unfortunate that this model was designed on a platform originally intended to accommodate a thermal engine. According to them, this conversion does not make it possible to fully exploit the architectural advantages offered by an electric car, particularly in terms of space and habitability.
The compactness of an electric motor and the installation of the batteries under the floor generally contribute to clearing an interior volume comparable to that of a vehicle which takes up more space on the street. And because the floor is perfectly flat, all passengers can have more living space than a traditional petrol model. It will be understood that the electrified version of the GV70 does not achieve any gain in these areas. No real losses, either. We must therefore deal with sufficient roominess for four people and a suitable trunk for the category.
That said, and this is where the problem lies, the GV70 Electrified does little better than the equally recent GV60. This other electric creation from the South Korean manufacturer benefits from a platform (the same as the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 and Kia EV6) intended for electrification. More compact, the GV60 offers a habitability almost similar to that of the GV70 (electric or not). Only a smaller trunk volume. And it costs a lot less ($71,150). But some new electric converts will no doubt be willing to overlook the price. To find, for example, a more traditional interior and, except for a few details, identical to that of the petrol version. That is to say, impeccable workmanship, high-quality materials, tasteful layouts and easy-to-learn controls.
The gasoline-powered GV60 is one of the most fun midsize utility vehicles to drive. What about its electrified version? She lets herself be led docilely, without her almost 2.3 tons being recalled with too much insistence to our good memories.
However, the extra pounds are felt in terms of the firm type suspension (in compression more than in rebound) and in the transition and trajectory change phases. And even more clearly, when you have to brake hard. From then on, the ABS system – rather ticklish – draws like Lucky Luke (faster than its shadow) and causes, on our test vehicle at least, a brief but untimely blockage.
This Electrified GV70, which imposes a significantly lower cost of use than that of its gasoline equivalent, connects to a charging station by manually opening a valve hidden in the patterns of the false grille. It is easy to imagine that the location of this seemingly fragile “trap door” could cause problems when it becomes trapped in ice and slush. That said, in just over 60 minutes, we’ll have restored 80% of the battery charge on a level 3 terminal. If we have a heavy foot on the accelerator pedal, the autonomy will not reach the 384 km claimed by the manufacturer. On the other hand, by adopting a flexible, relaxed and anticipatory driving style, it is possible to pass – just a little – the 400 km mark.
The main obstacle to the acquisition of this pretty and discreet “mobility object” remains its price. And don’t count on governments to come to your aid. The GV70 Electrified is not eligible for any subsidies. The price is 32% higher than the budget that must be devoted to the purchase of the GV70 powered by an internal combustion engine. Even a GV60 is significantly cheaper. A balance sheet that probably cannot be clarified until Genesis revisits the current model in depth.
84 150 $
None
More expensive and less advanced (technically) than the GV60
La Presse will soon publish the test of the following vehicles: Audi A7/RS7, Ford Mustang, Toyota Crown and Volkswagen Atlas. If you own one of these vehicles, we would love to hear from you about your experience.
Unveiled in the midst of the pandemic, the Genesis GV60 is based on the Hyundai Group’s E-GMP architecture. The GV70 Electrified, on the other hand, uses only a few of the components of this platform. That said, the GV60’s range is slightly longer (399 km compared to 383 km for the GV70 Electrified) and requires less time to refuel (7.2 hours compared to 7.9 hours), according to data from Natural Resources. Canada. The federal agency estimates that over a full year, it will cost $27 less to fuel a GV60 than an Electrified GV70.
While the GV60 originates in South Korea, the GV70 Electrified helps power the American assembly lines of the Hyundai Group in Alabama. Currently, the Genesis brand has three all-electric vehicles in its lineup. It predicts that the latter will be fully electrified by 2030.
