Genesis e-GV70 2022: Australian release date confirmed

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A fully-electric Genesis GV70 was only just revealed – but Genesis was already ready to confirm the BEV midsize SUV for an Australian release in the first half of 2022.

Sitting atop the GV70 range in Australia, which takes in four-cylinder petrol and diesel options and a twin-turbo V6 petrol, the Electrified GV70 will be the most powerful of the lot.

With dual motors providing AWD, the GV70 benefits from twin 160kW/350Nm motors to produce combined power of 320kW/700Nm – but a Boost Mode switch will allow drivers to experience bursts of 360kW in short stints.

Read more about the e-GV70: Electric Genesis GV70 2022: full EV revealed with dual-motor AWD, 350kW charging

That’s enough to tower over the 279kW/530Nm 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 offered on the standard GV70 range at a price of $83,276 before on-road costs. We expect the e-GV70 to be priced at around $90,000.

Though a battery size has not yet been confirmed, a capacity of about 75kWh is expected with Genesis estimating range for the e-GV70 of 400km on the relatively conservative Korea Certification cycle. WLTP range and energy efficiency is yet to be confirmed.

Subtle visual cues give away that the e-GV70 runs sans-combustion: aero bumpers and wheels are the easiest to spot, but the Crest Grille has also been filled in.

Inside, the giveaways are the Boost Mode switch and a digital power gauge substituting for the tachometer on the 12.3-inch instrument cluster that sits alongside a 14.5-inch touchscreen.

The first six months of next year will see an electric vehicle offensive from the Korean luxury manufacturer and premium arm of the Hyundai Motor Corporation (HMC), with Genesis set to launch three fully-electric models in Australia between summer and winter.

The Electrified GV70 – or e-GV70 – will be central to that offensive, though the midsize SUV will be joined on Genesis Studio floors by the smaller GV60 crossover that is solely available as an electric vehicle – plus the Electrified G80 large sedan.

The e-GV70 SUV and e-G80 sedan add electric options to sit at the top of their respective combustion ranges. They use the same platform as their conventionally-engined siblings, albeit with plenty of electric smarts adapted for their use.

The GV60, on the other hand, is electric-only and sits atop HMC’s bespoke e-GMP electric vehicle architecture shared by the already-launched Hyundai Ioniq 5 and soon-to-arrive Kia EV6 SUVs.

Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 was the first EV to launch in Australia with 350kW DC charging capability, allowing a recharge from 0-80 percent in just 18 minutes.

But the Electrified GV70 will also pick up those smarts, offering the same ultra-rapid charging with the promise of 18min replenishment of about 320km of the SUV’s expected 400km range.

In Australia, the e-GV70 will compete with the Tesla Model Y Long Range and Performance, the BMW iX3, the Audi E-Tron and the Mercedes-Benz EQC, plus high-specification versions of the Polestar 2 – as well as its Ioniq 5 and EV6 cousins.

Genesis GV70 2022: prices in Australia

All prices listed are before on-road costs.

• 2.5T RWD: $66,400
• 2.5T AWD: $68,786
• 2.2T diesel AWD: $71,676
• 3.5TT V6 AWD: $83,276
• Electrified GV70: Price not yet revealed