Genesis GV70 3.5T Signature Sport 2025 Review

The key GV70 stuff is unchanged, such as the exterior dimensions – including the 4715mm length, which firmly plonks the model in the larger end of the mid-sizer segment. It also continues to offer a good level of standard equipment and technology regardless of the variant, so it’s still very much a premium contender.

The GV70 also comes at a premium price with the range kicking off from $78,500 for the entry 2.5T Advanced and rising to $100,000 for the range-topping 3.5T Signature Sport tested. A direct comparison to pre-facelift pricing is not straightforward, as the previous entry rear-drive only variant is gone, but the 2.5T AWD used to cost $72,900, representing a $5600 increase.

Measure for measure though, the Genesis includes a lot, with very little left to the options list. Only premium matte paint will nudge the bottom line, costing an extra $2000, but other than that, everything included in each grade costs nothing more.

As before, a choice of two engines are on offer, starting with the entry level 2.5-litre turbo four-cylinder with eight-speed automatic transmission sending 224kW and 442Nm to all four wheels. There’s also a 3.5-litre V6 petrol version which gets two turbos for output of 279kW and 530Nm.

Three levels of specification are offered from the entry Advanced which is only available when paired with the 2.5T, while the higher grade Signature and Signature Sport are on offer for both drivetrains.

For now, there is no pure electric version and a new Sport Luxury variant replaces the previous 3.5T Sport as the flagship, bringing extra kit but also costing $100,000 compared with the $85,100 superseded halo model.

Key changes for the 2025 model include a significant update to the information and entertainment system, more safety equipment, improved comfort features for all variants and a sharper exterior design that brings ‘micro-lens array’ LED headlights, new-design wheels and four new choices of paint colour – two of which are a matte finish.

As before, all new Genesis models are sold with a five-year warranty – nothing particularly unusual for a premium manufacturer. What is unusual is scheduled servicing included for the five years which would ordinarily add about another $2000 to the cost of ownership with many other brands. Roadside assistance is also provided for 10 years.

Further adding to the value proposition, the GV70 comes with five years of Genesis Connect application-based systems allowing the owner to stay connected with the vehicle using a smartphone along with other web-based features.

For our first encounter with the updated GV70, we focused on the pointy end with the most powerful 3.5T paired with the top level of specification to see exactly what’s included with the top-shelf option.

Among the long list of technological and comfort updates, the GV70 gains extra safety features for 2025. Adaptive cruise control was standard in the previous version but it now gains navigation linked ‘smart’ cruise control which automatically slows the vehicle for potentially hazardous changes in road conditions such as bends.

Lane following assist can now follow a leading car in the event the lane markings are obscured or absent, AEB has been updated to include junction, oncoming traffic, and lane-change functions with new steering assistance.

Hands-on-wheel sensing now joins the driver attention monitor for a more accurate system that leads to less of the ‘boy-that-cried-wolf syndrome’, and a smart speed limiter reads road signs and can alter the vehicle’s speed.

Finally, the approaching traffic warning detects vehicles coming from all directions but now has emergency braking in addition to the regular warning, thanks to the number of sensors positioned around the car increased to eight.

We also very much appreciated the augmented reality navigation instructions that are beamed up to the head-up display eliminating one more reason for the driver to look away from the road.

All of the above is in addition to the comprehensive range of safety tech introduced with the model, such as eight airbags, safe-exit alert, a 3D 360-degree manoeuvring camera, and trailer assistance to name just a few of the original standouts.

Of the technologies we were able to test in our time with the GV70, we found the sensitivity of the lane departure assistance to be high but not overly intrusive. The same cannot be said for the speed limit warning, however, which intervenes just a tiny margin over the limit. It can be switched off with a very convenient steering wheel shortcut button, but it defaults to ‘on’ each time the car is started.

The Genesis GV70 scored the full five-star safety rating when it was assessed by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) in March 2021, and its more recent safety tech additions would likely maintain the top rating if it were retested following the update.

Arguably the centrepiece of the 2025 Genesis GV70 updates (or at least the most obvious) is the new central organic LED display which measures an absolutely expansive 27 inches. Not only is the screen vast, it’s also a single-piece – a respectable point of difference compared with some manufacturers which are fusing two screens behind a single transparent layer.

It’s not only beautiful but also functional, and the resolution impresses for brightness and sharpness, as well as the smooth scrolling and refresh rate.

The new screen contains many of the applications and features found in Genesis and Hyundai models, but the layout has been maximised and optimised for the unusual screen proportions, and it all ties together seamlessly rather than feeling gimmicky.

Perhaps just as impressive is that the showpiece screen and head-up display and cool blind-spot video images displayed in the digital instrument cluster are standard fare for all variants.

It takes a bit of setting up, but the Genesis can also be started using nothing more than a fingerprint which complements the keyless entry (now in the rear doors as well) for maximum convenience, while the voice controls and wireless device charging, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay combine for a wonderfully paradoxical sense of connection without any cords.

Finally, the GV70 now gets over-the-air software updates so customers do not need to visit a dealership for the latest technology upgrades and patches for glitches when they occur.

There are two drivetrain options available in the 2025 Genesis GV70, both featuring an eight-speed in-house designed automatic transmission coupled to all-wheel drive.

At the most affordable point, the 2.5T turbocharged petrol four-cylinder pumps out 224kW at 5800rpm and an impressive 422Nm between 1650 and 4000rpm.

As you might expect, the 3.5T variant produces more of everything, due to its larger V6 configuration and, while 279kW and 530Nm are decent numbers, they’re arguably not that much fatter considering the V6 has a whole extra litre to its name.

However, its torque output is produced over a wider rev range making it easier to access for fast progress or for frugal driving, as required. Peak torque starts at just 1300 rpm and lasts all the way through to 4500 rpm.

For now, there is no fully electric GV70, but one is on the way, touching down in Australian showrooms around the middle of 2025.

All that power and performance comes at a cost somewhere, and both the 2.5T and 3.5T engines are on the thirsty side. Genesis claims the GV70 2.5T uses a combined total of 10.3L/100km while the 3.5T uses a litre more over the same average, it says.

In practice, there’s not a big difference between the claim and the real world in our experience from a first drive, but that’s still a fair bit more than a petrol BMW X3 or Audi Q5 of comparable performance, for example.

As part of the update, some of the GV70’s engine and transmission mountings have been swapped for special fluid-filled bushings which maintain the same stiffness associated with good driving dynamics, but transmit far less vibration and noise. These combine with new sound-absorbing wheels, double glazing in the front and rear side windows, as well as acoustic windscreen glass for a near silent cabin at low speeds.

As the speedo needle climbs, there is a little roar from the 21-inch wheels, as would be expected from any car wearing low-profile tyres on coarse surfaces, but the road noise is acceptable, especially as wind and engine noise levels are so low.

The V6 chimes in from under the bonnet, but only the good engine noises make it into the cabin. Even the arguably less desirable four-cylinder makes a pleasant report. What is obvious is the effect of the clever active noise-reduction system which dramatically cuts undesirable sounds, allowing sporty exhaust notes to prevail.

But the GV70 really stands out from the crowd when a twisty road beckons. It might be perceived as a more luxury focused brand, but this Genesis is a proper driver’s machine.

Despite the typical size and weight of a mid-size SUV, the GV70 feels smaller at speed. Its steering is fast and precise with a beautifully responsive turn-in. The front-to-rear balance is excellent, and even on tricky surfaces and sharp corners there isn’t a hint of understeer.

Acceleration is strong and the eight-speed auto strikes a good balance of tight ratios without hunting around gears too frequently, courtesy of the broad power and torque spread of the muscular V6.

That said, a brief spin in the 2.5T highlights the relatively small difference in output between the two engines, and it’s still possible to make great progress in the entry level version while having a great time at the wheel.

Perhaps the biggest difference in the suspension and chassis set up is found in the Signature and Signature Sport variants, which get adaptive dampers, an electric-locking LSD and choices of suspension modes.

Despite the more sophisticated and versatile suspension characteristics of the higher grades, the simpler 2.5T has been very nicely turned to give the best of all worlds on its taller tyre 19-inch wheels.

Braking is confident, the grip levels are commendable in all versions, and the GV70 has a brilliantly deft manner regardless of whether the road ahead is straight or winding.

As a challenger premium brand, Genesis is really punching hard when it comes to luxury equipment that not only feels genuinely high-quality but is offered as standard where rival brands may have relegated some to the options list.

Even at the entry Advanced point, leather upholstery, panoramic sunroof, that massive screen, double glazing in all side windows, power tailgate, heated and ventilated front seats with electric adjustment, and metallic paint are all part of the deal.

But the GV70 adds to it with understated design and high quality materials. We’re not completely convinced by all the finishes – the plain aluminium trim, for example, which is perhaps a little basic – and while we loved the light grey/blue leather it would be a nightmare to keep unsoiled, especially if children were factored into the equation.

But children and adults certainly should be factored in, with excellent comfort features all round including a dedicated digital climate panel in the second row, and sun shades. In higher-spec Signature form, occupants are treated to nicer quality leather, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel and ambient lighting.

The jump to our top spec Signature Sport trim was smaller in the pre-update variant, bringing just bigger brakes, alloy pedals and a Sport Plus driving mode. Now though, it adds more touches such as sports seats, flat-bottom steering wheel, as well as exterior embellishments such as the dual sports exhaust and unique 21-inch wheels and body kit.

Notable features include the Air Aroma Diffuser which pumps a subtle scent through the vents and allows two different perfume cartridges to be installed at one time. Our car was furnished with The Great Outdoors and Driver’s Awakening. The digital climate panel (separate to the touch-screen for extra brownie points) displayed a different icon when the aromas were installed for easy identification.

An ultraviolet item sanitiser installed under the central armrest storage area feels a little overkill unless you’re doing something very dodgy with your phone, but it’s certainly a unique touch. The Bang and Olufsen sound system was a treat to the ears.

We’d prefer a little more adjustment for taller drivers, allowing them to sit lower, but otherwise the GV70 cabin hits all the key areas in respect of ergonomics.

The Genesis brand often fails to make the consideration set for too many prospective buyers, but that shouldn’t be the case.

If you’re in the market for a premium mid-sized SUV, you should jump behind the wheel of the GV70, and check out the second row while you’re at it too.

It mightn’t have the immediate brand recognition kudos that some drivers are after, but it trades a bit of that for exclusivity and, more importantly, value.

$100,000 is a lot of anyone’s money, but it buys far more for the cash than anything comparable in the BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi line-ups, and bundles in attractive extras such as servicing costs and a long roadside assistance deal.

Despite the value equation, there’s nothing compromised from a luxury or dynamics perspective (even if the fuel bill is a little steeper than some European rivals). The GV70 is a true driver’s SUV as well as offering something for passengers who like to be looked after, all bundled into an attractive package that stands out for the right reasons.

2024 Genesis GV70 3.5T Signature Sport at a glance:
Price: $100,000 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 3.5-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo petrol
Output: 279kW/530Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 11.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 275g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2021)

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