Luxury marque Genesis certainly delivers the feel-good factor. The premium brand from South Korea’s Hyundai is a well-thought-out blend of style, comfort, top technology and driving satisfaction. 

It’s a winning mix that gives a cossetting feeling as I discovered on a week-long road test of the Sport Line version of the GV70 SUV (sports utility vehicle).

Style file

With its elegant, dynamic lines, the five-door GV70 has plenty of eye-appeal. Looking poised on its 21in alloy wheels, the car has an athletic character and powerful stance, from its imposing front grille, via the sleek and elegant coupe-like roofline, to the twin strip LED tail-lights which feature the same ultra-thin signature as the front quad lamps.

The inside story continues in similar stylish vein, with a cabin featuring appealing design, premium materials and high-quality finishes.

From the quilted leather seat upholstery to the geometric-patterned aluminium trim and tactile dashboard controls, the interior ticks the box marked ‘top quality’.

The generous width of the interior is emphasized through the use of sleek, thin air vents that run across the passenger compartment, cutting through to the doors to surround the driver and enhance the impression of liberating space. 

And there are many thoughtful design features including clamshell door bottoms, which wrap underneath the car to protect the inside sill from road grime and so prevent stains or dirt being transferred to occupants’ clothing when getting in or out. 

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There is customisable ambient lighting for night-time, while during the day an expansive optional panoramic glass roof gives an airy feel to the cabin.

Luggage capacity is 542 litres with the rear seat back in place and 1678 litres with it folded down.

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Features

A wealth of lovely equipment includes three-stage heated (or cooled), multi-adjustable, powered front seats with memory-function for driver, door-mirror puddle-lights projecting the Genesis badge, power-opening boot lid, high definition 14.5in, split-screen infotainment display, an array of parking/surround-view cameras, smart cruise control, a connectivity suite, over-the-air updates to the navigation system to enhance accuracy and route planning, and a head-up display.

Safety features include lane following assist, lane keeping assist, intelligent speed limit assist, driver attention warning and blind-spot collision avoidance assist.

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Tech time

The availability of four drive modes (Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+) allows the driver’s experience behind the wheel to be tailored. At the touch of a button each setting carefully re-tunes the steering and damper response, as well as powertrain attributes such as throttle and transmission feedback to either enhance efficiency, promote a more relaxed environment or prime the car for dynamic driving.

The car also has an advanced ‘road preview’ system. Working in conjunction with the electronically controlled suspension damping, this feature further enhances the ride by using a front facing camera to ‘read’ the road ahead and automatically prime the adaptive dampers to reduce body movement and wheel impact over road obstacles, such as speed bumps.

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On the road

The four-wheel-drive car is a motoring treat, feeling powerful and assured, with its 2.2-litre turbo-charged diesel engine being well-mated to a slick eight-speed automatic transmission. With crisp acceleration, confidence-inspiring handling and the raised seating position of the SUV, the driving experience is rewarding.

Performance figures are 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds, with a top speed of 133mph. Combined fuel consumption is 42mpg and CO2 emissions are 189g/km.
Verdict

Genesis has all the hallmarks of a premium brand and the GV70 makes for highly satisfying motoring, with it attributes of alluring style, comfort, top tech, engaging driving and luxury.

Price: £58,275 (inc options).