I'M A SURVIVOR!

SHANA'S RELIEVED THAT GENESIS IS STILL KICKING GOALS WITH ITS AUSSIE MODEL LINE-UP

- SHANA ZLOTIN

When I heard that Infiniti (Nissan's luxury brand) was departing Australia back in 2019, I assumed this might ultimately be the case for Genesis the luxury vehicle division of Hyundai. While the two brands aren't related, nor are their products the same, I wondered how Genesis would be able to pull off what others have tried to execute and failed.

For every success story like Lexus, there's a sorry tale like Eunos, Infiniti or, indeed, Ford's upmarket push with Vignale. Yet despite the daunting odds, Genesis is still very much part of Hyundai's plans.

Brand loyalty remains strong here in Australia, so why ignore the established luxury marques and pick a relatively new one like Genesis? That's what I'm looking to figure out after a few month in a GV70 EV.

Offered in a single grade, the midsize GV70 Electrified Performance AWD SUV sits above its top-of-therange petrol equivalent. That means you're buying all the features of this car's combustion-engined equivalent but with an electric powertrain.

We know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder but with Genesis's signature matte white paint (for $2000), it's hard to dispute its presence. The GV70 is packed with tech and luxury touches that explain why you've spent $126,475 before onroad costs. That means it has all the creature comforts you'd expect such as a panoramic sunroof, a 14.5-inch touchscreen, heated front seats and steering wheel, an array of surroundview cameras, a head-up display and more. The lack of wireless Carplay is a bit of a miss though.