South Korean manufacturer Hyundai’s latest addition to its luxury car brand Genesis, the GV70, provides a masterclass in affordable yet lavish motoring. Its bold aesthetics aim to please and make quite a statement, says Tom White in Australia’s CarsGuide magazine.
Its “signature design elements”, including the curved bodywork and V-shaped grille and badge, emulate a Bentley’s, and have made it into something “distinctively unique”. The GV70 looks like it will succeed in offering SUV enthusiasts something genuinely new – unlike rival offerings from Toyota and Nissan.
Happy with hoonery and refined cruising
Its corpulent frame has impeded the performance a little, but it’s no slouch, accelerating from rest to 62mph in a smooth 7.9 seconds and going on to a top speed of 133mph (for the 2.2-litre diesel model; a petrol version is also available). And the car can be great fun when you want to floor it, says Jake Groves in Car magazine. From a set of dials that are “properly Tron-like”, you select from a variety of drive modes, ranging from the relatively tame “Eco” to “Sport+’”, which disables the traction control and ramps up the power.
MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
The result can be exciting, even if raw speed isn’t the main feature of the car. “It’s quick to react to your inputs, giving you a surge of power and a sporty soundtrack to accompany it if you hoof it. The all-wheel drive system is unfazed by all of your hoonery; there’s no understeer even if you get silly with your corner speeds.” Still, the car is made more for elegant cruising than boy racing and its 1,985kg heft anchors you to the road while the effective suspension floats you effortlessly over unexpected potholes.
The high-quality interior is impressive too, says Alex Ingram in AutoExpress. It’s clear that “great care has been taken to ensure that all of the bits you touch most often are finished to a high standard” and tech-inclined drivers will be pleased with the wireless phone-charging ports, futuristic dash with 14.5-inch touchscreen, and hi-tech augmented-reality navigation programme.
More clever tech comes with the optional Innovation Pack (£4,190)”, says Motoring Research, which includes remote hands-free parking, surround-view cameras and a child-safety system that prevents the rear doors from opening if a car or cyclist is approaching. All in all, the Genesis GV70 is cheaper than a Bentley, better looking than your average Volvo, and packed full of tomorrow’s best gadgets. It’s something of a steal and an indulgence at the same time. Prices from £39,450
-
Could your family be at risk of an unexpected tax bill? How to keep your loved ones in the loopWith pensions set to be included in inheritance tax calculations, research suggests many families are out of the loop when it comes to planning the financial aspects of both retirement and inheritance
-
Rightmove: Glut of homes for sale in southern England drives asking price dropAsking prices are 0.1% lower than a year ago, according to the property website, driven by challenges in affordability-stretched London and the south
-
The alcohol industry is suffering as consumers sober up – is it still worth investing in the sector?Changing consumer tastes are rocking the alcohol industry, but the best players are adapting their strategies. Buy them while their shares are still cheap
-
Giorgio Armani: the irreplaceable Il SignoreGiorgio Armani started his fashion business in 1975 and built it into the world’s largest private luxury brand. Where can it go without him?
-
8 of the best properties for sale with mountain viewsThe best properties for sale with mountain views – from an Arts & Crafts house with holiday lets in the Carding Mill Valley in Shropshire to a highland lodge with wood-burning stoves near the Rogie Falls in the Scottish Highlands
-
Review: Puerto Rico – embrace the spirit of BoricuaTravel Natasha Langan discovers why the indigenous name for Puerto Rico has come to define this Caribbean island’s vibrant culture
-
8 of the best beachside properties for saleThe best beachside properties for sale – from an Arts & Crafts house in Hampshire with 128 metres of beach frontage, to a 16th-century house in Norfolk, just 300 metres from a Blue Flag beach
-
A voyage of discovery through the Baltic countriesTravel Max King explores the rich history, culture and cuisine of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
-
Are wealthy whisky enthusiasts leaving Britain?Collectables Wealthy whisky enthusiasts are heading to tax-friendly countries such as Dubai, where there is more disposable income to spend on collectable luxuries like rare whisky.
-
8 of the best properties for sale with kitchen gardensThe best properties for sale with kitchen gardens – from a 17th-century timber-framed hall house in Norfolk, to an Arts & Crafts house in West Sussex designed by Charles Voysey with a garden by Gertrude Jekyll
