Test drove the new GV70 Sport Prestige today... wow

[Montanaman]

So I've been gone from the forum for awhile as I turned my leased 2021 GT1 AWD back to the dealer. I was in a horrible motorcycle accident and broke my back badly so sitting and getting in and out of the Stinger was not going to work so well for me. Because of this bizarre used car world we are in the dealer bought the lease out, and then some, as they were able to turn the car around and make a few more bucks on it. Try that 2 years ago..

So since I need a taller vehicle I thought I would check out the new GV70 when it came out in a few months. Well its here now. Even the dealer said they were not expecting it so soon. I took a test drive in a fully loaded Sport/Prestige model and it was impressive to say the least. And it better be as the sticker was over 65k with the silly dealer add-ons. That's a lot change for compact SUV but they will get it as the demand is high and the supply is low. It does not feel as raw fast as the G70 or Stinger even though it's got the bigger twin turbo. Don't get me wrong its got plenty of power but it just does not feel as fast. No the handling is not as sharp either as it weights a few hundred lbs more and it's a taller vehicle. It wasn't the quietest vehicle on the highway with those huge 21" rubber bands for tires. It's not floaty at all like the GV80 is. The interior is fantastic even with the dial up transmission shifter. Much of the infotainment and settings are reminiscent of the Stinger but of course there is more of everything. I like most of it but there will be finger prints galore on the gloss/touch area's on the steering wheel and the climate control and huge infotainment screen. Definitely want to carry a few micro-towels.

My take-away is it is a very cool SUV and it looks more like a hatch back than the BMW X3 M40i which will be cross shopped. I think the motor in the Beemer is more interesting but I wouldn't count on reliability and to get that sled fully loaded like this would be scraping 70k. Hyundai, Genesis and Kia are really killing it. You will see a lot of these on the road.

I miss my Stinger but could not make it work with my back...

 

[powermatt]

Yeah, I didn't expect to see these any time soon on dealer lots, with chip shortages and such.

I do agree the profile looks really good. It's really skirting the line of a longroof or hatchback. Which I find kind of funny. The longer this crossover/SUV craze goes on, the more and more they start to morph back in to wagons. Wishful thinking is we'll eventually come full circle and wagons will become 'cool' again.

I just hope Genesis doesn't go the way of Cadillac, trying to chase the Germans in the "sporty car/suv/crossover" segment. It destroyed their identity, and now they're really only good for fleet sales to rental car companies to fill the "luxury car" slot. Or those people that will never buy anything 'furrin'.

 

[Montanaman]

Hyundai products seem to magically appear on lots. I beefed in here before that the 2022 Stinger landed sooner than expected and got slapped but it was true. When the "influencers" on-line are getting these vehicles well after they are at showrooms they are not happy and it happened again here. There are no real reviews out on this GV70 other than a Korean or two and they are now for sale.