Genesis isn’t new at all, but they’ve really hit their straps in terms of design, fit and finish and overall luxury making their ascendancy up the sales chart a sure thing over the next few years. This week, we’re driving the mid to large sized SUV the GV70 and it’s a cracker.

First and foremost, it’s head-turning. I’ve had plenty of people ask what it is, and many more turn as I go past. In part I put that down to the paint on this thing which would be the best $2,000 option ever spent. It’s a Matte but still metalic or satin green, and I bloody love it.

With an all new eye and pencil cast over the entire Genesis range there’s a real jump up from the “Statesman” competing sedan that first launched the brand here, to the now Euro challenging design of the current model range in both Sedan and SUV.

Aside from the exterior design, the interior too is a stunner. Utterly well equipped, great use of materials almost all are soft to touch, along with just some great little touches in the detail.

And then, there’s the standard list of safety options, things like High Beam Assist, not an option – just standard. Ambient lighting, panoramic sunroof, all standard across the range.

I don’t think you’ll find too many other luxury cars with this list of Safety features across the range as standard:

  • Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance-Assist (BCA)
  • Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM)
  • Driver Attention Warning (DAW)
    • including Leading Vehicle Departure Alert
  • Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), including:
    • Car/Pedestrian/Cyclist detection
    • Junction Turning/Junction Crossing function
    • Lane-Change Oncoming/Side function
    • Evasive Steering Assist function
  • High Beam Assist (HBA)
  • Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA)
  • Lane Following Assist (LFA)
  • Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
  • Multi Collision Brake (MCB)
  • Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance-Assist (RCCA)
  • Rear Occupant Warning (ROW)
  • Safe Exit Assist (SEA)
  • Smart Cruise Control (SCC)
    • including Stop & Go function
  • Surround View Monitor (SVM) with 3D surround view
  • Trailer Stability Assist (TSA)

Even things like the 12-way adjustable powered seats with heating and cooling, standard across the range.

A big, wide 14.5 inch display for infotainment sets the scene in the cabin, though in keeping with the Hyundai/Kia family of vehicles distain for owners choosing Apple or Google by default, there is no wireless Apple CarPlay despite the utterly premium sector this sits in. Wireless charging, but no wireless connectivity. It’s stupid, and it’s the one simple thing the product managers and frankly the board of the group just need to give up on and make happen for their customers. They’ve built an amazing infotainment system, but I don’t want to use it as much as I do Apple CarPlay.

I’ve been driving the entry level All Wheel Drive with the 2.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine. Kicks in at $68,800 plus the $2k for the colour.

However, on this car, there is also the Sport AND Luxury packs. Another $13,000 and you’re driving this exact model away.

Sport pack gives you 19-inch Sport Line wheels as well as improved breaks and exhaust finishes, and some tweaks to the outside trim like a gloss-black front grille.

Adding the Luxury pack then gives you additional safety features like forward attention warning and parking collision avoidance, privacy glass and a few more tweaks including a Head-Up display and 16 speaker HARMON sound system.

I’ve done a few days of city commuting, and then a four hour road trip, and it’s been a joy in every situation.

On power, I’d say think of this as a Luxury car, drop the sport stuff – I think Sport Plus mode sounds fake and there’s no real immediacy to the throttle response. If that’s the kind of car you’re after, then test drive the 3.5T Sport version of the GV70.

What is cool is that when you’re in a sports mode of any kinda the seats grip you like a sports seat, while in comfort mode it’s relaxed and soft all around.

Steering response is spot on for a luxury SUV, not a sports car, and with all the assistance systems in place you’re never leaving your lane and a freeway drive is a complete breeze

There’s ample space for four adults, while if you’re looking at the back seat alone it would be fine for three kids, but not three big teens without a squish.

Boot size is great though the almost shooting-brake styling does seem to reduce the upper part of the rear cargo space.

To my eye, this car is bigger than a BMW X3 but perhaps just a touch smaller than the X5 – but fits well into the lower end of the price spectrum those two occupy. And I think that’s the key here, this car, like it’s siblings on the Genesis family lot – offer a stunning amount of luxury in design, fit, finish and standard equipment.

I’d go so far as to say they could easily be seen as desirable given the stunning design in the current range.

Well worth a look.

If you do go for a test-drive, make sure you get some time to sit still, and play with the seat settings, look through the infotainment and appreciate the interior luxury – I think that’s it’s best selling point.