It feels simultaneously like yesterday and a lifetime ago, when Hyundai turned its Genesis nameplate into a full-blown luxury brand. In reality, it’s been almost 10 years, which is long enough for even the company’s newer models to experience a mid-cycle refresh. The Genesis GV70 crossover is next on the list.
While the 2026 GV70 isn’t revolutionary new, it is prettier and more useful than the previous one, just as a refresh should be.
Photo by: Genesis
Genesis says the GV70 is the most popular model in North America, and like the current car, the 2026 version is available in two main forms: gas or electric. Powertrain options on the combustion cars remain, with Genesis offering a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 300 horsepower and a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 with 375 horsepower. The Electrified GV70 gets an upgraded heart, replacing the 2025 model’s 77.4 kWh battery with an 84 kWh pack. Genesis hasn’t shared any details about that battery, other than to say it will “provide greater range” than the current package, which can travel 240 miles (386 kilometers) on a charge.
The updated GV70 receives updates in terms of styling, convenience and interior on the ICE and electric versions. Inside is a new 27-inch OLED screen that extends from the driver’s instrument cluster to the infotainment screen, creating one long, horizontal slab of information and entertainment. There are also redesigned 19- and 21-inch wheel options.
The combustion-powered 2026 GV70 has a larger, more dramatic and angular grille. While the current car has round mesh pieces under the headlights, the 2026 model will have sweeping, boomerang-shaped cutouts. There is also a new exterior color called Ceres Blue, a light gray blue.
Photo by: Genesis
The new electric GV70 has body-coloured mesh on the front, compared to the black mesh on the current car. That, plus the car’s optional white interior, gives it a 2000s iMac vibe. I can’t tell yet if I’m into it.
The electric GV70’s main grille piece resembles a large chrome guitar pick, and the chrome-covered charging port inside it now has an electric motor to make opening and closing easier. The port also has a heating function for charging in cold weather, as well as new lighting to facilitate charging in dark garages or at night. (That is useful in America, because our charging stations are not yet universally well lit like gas stations.)
The electric GV70 comes with a North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, the Tesla (and Tesla Supercharger) standard. A Combined Charging System (CCS) adapter is included, allowing Electrifed GV70 drivers to charge at major non-Tesla stations such as ChargePoint and Electrify America. This is useful during long journeys or in rural areas with fewer chargers.
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Genesis also gave the GV70 a new suspension feature called Highway Body Motion Control, which the company says will make the car more comfortable during acceleration and deceleration. This works in tandem with the GV70’s existing Road Preview system, which uses cameras to detect changes in the road surface and adjust the suspension accordingly for a smoother ride.
There’s also a digital key for both versions of the GV70, allowing drivers to unlock and manage the car from their phone, as well as a new ‘Terrain Mode’. Depending on the road conditions, Terrain mode allows you to use the best driving setting: snow, mud or sand.
Changes to the 2026 GV70 aren’t major, but they are noticeable (to the informed eye) and more convenient. That’s not bad for a car in its fifth model year.