2024 Genesis Electrified GV70

We’re fans of the Genesis Electrified GV70. It doesn’t receive any major updates for the 2024 model year, which is fine. This relative newcomer is already attractive, comfortable, quick and full of useful technology. But it’s not a vehicle a lot of drivers have experience with, or may even be familiar with. Its name is a little confusing, but make no mistake: In this case, “Electrified” means “fully electric.” Usually, it’s a euphemism for “barely electric.” The GV70, be it electrified or all-gas, is a compact luxury crossover. Genesis is a Korean brand, but the Electrified GV70 is built in the USA, at Hyundai’s plant in Montgomery, Alabama. You can read all about the 2024 Genesis Electrified GV70 in our upcoming buying guide review, but here are nine thoughts from our most recent weeklong stint behind the wheel. It’s fast This EV boasts two electric motors at 160 kilowatts apiece. That’s enough for 429 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. It feels plenty quick in its Normal drive mode, but Sport takes things up a notch, pressing your passengers back into their seats and eliciting giggles and requests of “Again!” from the kids in the back. It really makes those around-town jaunts fun. You might even look forward to red lights just so you can enjoy them turning green. It gets even faster with the Boost button If Sport mode isn’t fast enough, or you just need a short burst of power when merging onto a highway, there’s a “Boost” button on the bottom of the steering wheel. It temporarily increases output by 54 horsepower, allowing for just a tad of entertaining wheel spin when blasting away from a stop light. It lasts for 10 seconds, then is ready to go again (unless the battery is below 25%). It also creates a fun animation on the driver’s display, like a subtle star-streaking like the Millenium Falcon going into hyperspace. As Autoblog Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore noted in his Electrified GV70 interior review, “The GV70 delivers 429 hp normally, which is plenty; 483 is even better.” Charge port is well hidden When I first went to plug in the GV70 when it landed in my driveway, I walked around the car a few times, my son orbiting the car opposite me, looking for the charge port cover. We didn’t see anything in the usual places — the fenders — nor any obvious flaps up front or in the rear. “Dad, I think it’s in the front.” Sure enough, blended really well into the solid grille is a flap you press to release, under which is the charging receptacle. The only hint is a little “G” on one of the little patterned diamonds. You have to look really closely to notice the gap between the door and the grille. The charge port lock had me stumped Eventually, after finding the door and charging the GV70, I couldn’t get the plug out for the life of me. I pulled, I wiggled, I pressed the button on …
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