2022 Genesis GV70 AWD 3.5T Sport Prestige |
3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (375 hp @ 5,800 rpm, 391 lb-ft @ 1,300 rpm) Eight-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive 19 city / 25 highway / 21 combined (EPA Rating, MPG) 12.9 city, 10.0 highway, 11.6 combined. (NRCan Rating, L/100km) Base Price: $53,645 US / $69,131 CAN As Tested: $64,045 US / $76,131 CAN Prices include $1,045 destination charge in the United States and $131 for freight, PDI, and A/C tax in Canada and, because of cross-border equipment differences, can’t be directly compared. |
We love categorization, don’t we? We must always define exactly who or what something or someone is before we can be satisfied. Whether by gender, race, political persuasion, religion, society has always done great things when we reduce to base characteristics and put everyone into their neat little boxes.
Um, anyway.
Cars are like this too. We have definitions for compact, subcompact, full-size, and midsize cars – but the definitions are always in flux. Crossovers and SUVs are their own Linnaean nightmare – and don’t get me started on how to define luxury. It used to be 10 steers worth of leather and enough road isolation to allow for delicate medical procedures in the backseat, but times have changed. The 2022 Genesis GV70 is a different look at tall car luxury.
Perhaps I must turn in my Genuine Automotive Enthusiast Membership Card and Decoder Ring (engraved with a five-speed manual-shift pattern), but I’m finding myself genuinely enamored with the styling of this crossover/SUV thing. I know. It’s not a sports car, nor is it even a sports sedan. It’s a high-ish riding tall wagon, the likes of which have plagued our roadways and shopping plazas for too many decades. But Genesis has taken the familiar profile and made it objectively stunning.
Even the ever-yawning mouth, festooned as it is with chromed diamond-weave orthodontia, makes for one of the most appealing facias in the segment – admittedly not a particularly high bar. The side panels have a gentle downward sweep to the primary character line, with a second crease creating a hump over the rear wheel that gives the rear some attractive haunches. Further back, I love the fat dual exhaust pipes jutting through the rear valence, a subtle hint to the lovely twin-turbo six within.
Having driven the similarly-nomenclatured G70 sedan a few times, I made a few assumptions about the interior accommodations of the GV70. I was pleased, therefore, to find that the rear-seat legroom was a bit more commodious than in the sedan sibling. My teens, in their last outing in the junior G70, found their knees well into the backs of their parents – a situation most intolerable for all.
Not so in the GV70, where legroom – while not limousine-like as in the G90 – was more than adequate for a highway jaunt. Upfront is even better, with massaging seats lined in a suede-like material that your pessimistic author fears won’t look great in 10 years’ time, but it’s quite nice right now.
I’ve recently railed about the atypical HVAC and audio controls in other products from the Hyundai/Kia/Genesis group, and I’ll echo them here. The 14.25-inch widescreen is lovely, with intuitive access from touch, a central touch/tilt/spin knob, a dedicated clickwheel, and steering wheel controls for audio. However, you’ll note the presence of a touchscreen for most of the HVAC controls save for temperature, defogging, and rear defrost. Fan speed, vent direction, and most notably heated seat and steering wheel controls are all managed through the small HVAC screen.
Note the snow accumulating in these photos.
The touch screen is of a type that will not work with typical gloves – and I don’t use “touchscreen gloves” as they annoy me. On a cold morning, what does one typically reach for upon starting the car? You guessed it – seat and steering wheel heat. Which, again, can’t be activated while I’m wearing the gloves.
Had I had any sort of musical chops whatsoever, I’d be recording a cover of a Skynyrd classic – this time titled “Gimme Back My Buttons.”
As we have seen from the rest of the Genesis lineup, it should be no surprise that the GV70 is quite engaging to drive. That’s a hedge, I’ll admit – the GV70 is no sports sedan, and it isn’t trying to be. It simply feels as if it wants to be driven with a bit more verve than the usual suspects. It doesn’t leap off the line in a haze of rubber and squealing – rather, it gets up to speed quickly but gracefully. And boy, does it like speed. Cruising at well over the posted limits is effortless, and sometimes unnoticeable except by the gendarmerie¸ which I mercifully avoided this week.
Handling isn’t quite in sports-sedan territory, but it’s not far off. The body leans, unable to oobleck its way out of Sir Isaac’s consideration of a couple of tons, but with plenty of control. The tradeoff comes in ride quality, which is superb – the body is solid and quiet when impacting potholes and expansion joints, giving all occupants a pleasant experience. Despite the roll, it still feels much more eager to have fun at seven-tenths, where most competitors leave any fun behind at the design office.
Indeed, the only competitor that I can think of that offers anything resembling this kind of driving joy would be some sort of M-ified version of the BMW X3. While the German-with-a-lowcountry accent might be a bit rowdier in the twisty bits, it’s more punishing when the pavement gets straight and choppy. Others that come to mind are the Mercedes-Benz GLC, Acura RDX, and the Lincoln Nautilus, which all lean to the softer side of the couch-versus-crotchrocket pendulum.
All worthy competitors, but Genesis has outshined them all. It’s not perfect – a four-seat Miata with a manual (that can be switched to automatic if someone else wants to drive it), a 1,900-pound curb weight, the ability to carry a half-dozen sheets of plywood, and 50 mpg is really the ideal if you’re asking – but for this entry-to-sorta-midsized luxury-ish crossovery segment, it’s hard to beat. Justice Potter Stewart probably didn’t have luxury cars in mind when he handed down his “I know it when I see it” opinion on porn, but I have to believe that it applies here to the 2022 Genesis GV70. It’s a stunning combo of features and performance that has to be the new luxury standard.
[Images: © 2022 Chris Tonn]
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Is it just me or does anyone else see Porsche 928 influence in the rear quarter?
It’s not just you, I definitely see it too.
Got passed by one earlier today in the next lane. Def thought Stuttgart. Nice job.
Yeah, I don’t know. The proportions are completely different. I think when it comes to these CUV’s, it is really tough to make one that stands out. Saying that this is a ripoff of anything would be like Apple trying to defend its patent on a rectangle with rounded corners.
I have to say, I love the pockmarked rims and the exhaust treatment is nice….but am not really feeling the whole sparce/empty treatment given to its expansive grill or the stacked headlights of the entire Genesis lineup.
Good looking CUV thingy. Eye watering as tested price.
The average new car is $47k. How much would you expect a luxury car to cost? $64k is hardly eye watering unless you think it’s still 1994.
I was still making less than 13K a year as a commuter pilot in 94. But in in early 2020 we purchased a certified used Lexus GX460 mid level trim with 200 miles on it for 45K. So asking 20 grand more two years later for a CUV is in my humble opinion a stretch. I think it’s a nice tall car, but sheesh.
both right. 60k is a ton but that’s what these things cost now… grrrr… saw a dude w/ a bone stock ranger for 20k. looked pretty good. for me, luxury is about how quiet, how comfortable. just bought a used Q7 (yeah, sorta scared…) but so much quieter and more comfortable on the freeway than anything else i tested… temp controls –> big knobs. that you for that….
pretty much hate touch screen controls.. can’t do it w/o taking my eyes off the road…
“On a cold morning, what does one typically reach for upon starting the car? You guessed it – seat and steering wheel heat. Which, again, can’t be activated while I’m wearing the gloves.”
I would guess that most buyers would use the app to remote start the vehicle on cold days. It can be configured to set the seat heat, steering wheel heat, cabin heat to your desired setting. How well that works is something worth testing. As tech becomes more important it probably makes sense for reviewers to install the app as that’s important to many buyers in places that tend to get very warm or very cold.
good point. but i REALLY would like to firewall my life from my car as much as possible… just trying to decrease the vectors of “people getting all my data”.. next up, disconnecting my TV from the internet…
I’m gonna get hate for this, but as fastback CUVs go, the best-looking one out there is the Infiniti QX55.
(Raises hands to block incoming overripe tomatoes.)
Still, kudos to Genesis – those guys are killing it.
Correction! Infiniti QX70/FX35 I think is the best looking one out there….to this day. Cannot believe they didn’t follow up that design. My two cents
Agreed.
Having been in the position of driving this and a G70 V6 back-to-back (and owning a Stinger GT) I’ll admit I had a hard time understanding where the extra $11K is going with the CUV when matched up trim-to-trim.
Interestingly, in the size class up you can get a V6 GV80 for about $3K less than the G80 sedan.
“…I had a hard time understanding where the extra $11K is going with the CUV when matched up trim-to-trim.”
It’s the CUV Tax.
I agree, but am not looking at compact luxury CUV’s either. I think this would probably stack up pretty well against its intended competition. The price of entry anyway.
Aside from the “CUV tax”, the GV70 is underpinned by a new platform, has updated engines, has more tech features and has an appreciably nicer interior; plus it’s only available with AWD, unlike the G70.
Look for the next G70 to make a significant price jump (notwithstanding the possibility that it may be an EV).
Comparably equipped, the GV80 is pricier than the G80.
What the GV70 needs is a true Sport trim with suspension upgrades; the supercharged MHEV 3.5 turbo 6 wouldn’t hurt either.
While looking at a Santa Cruz I had to drag my wife away from one of these sitting in the Genesis lot next door. It is an amazingly good looking vehicle inside and out. As mentioned by the reviewer CUVs are everywhere yet this one manages to look impressive. Remove the badge and you could easily be fooled into thinking it came from Germany.
The egg with a long hood channels those old Infiniti FXs in a good way.
65K for a little Hyundai is somewhere between ambitious and LOL. Even in Zimbabwe money that’s a Tahoe RST, or a loaded Lariat, or a BMW 5. One of these things is not like the others.
All the reviews say the current crop of models (other than the G90 which is being updated) are as good if not better than their rivals. And for significantly less money. That seems like a strategy that’s likely to pay off. IIRC they are selling these as fast as they can make them.
That build well/price low strategy worked amazingly well for Lexus, despite the hysterical laughter from Germany, Britain, etc. Who then needed to completely revamp their business models to meet the serious challenge at hand.
Hasn’t held up for Lexus’ RWD sedans, but the value quotient has worked really well for their FWD models.
Is any site capable of publishing a review that doesn’t contain some variation of “it’s no sports car, but…”
Anyway, this is a beautiful vehicle. Saw one in person the other day for the first time and was shocked how big it was in the flesh.
This is one of the best reviews that I have read on TTAC for some time. As someone who still has his copy of The Brethren I greatly appreciated the Potter Stewart reference. I also appreciate the issue regarding touchscreens. I detest them with a passion. And yes, when they first arrived had one ‘freeze up’ overnight when outside in Muskoka. Also appreciate the reference to how in the 1970’s most North American consumers defined ‘luxury’.
I too detest the touch screens and that is one of the turnoffs to the Santa Cruz compared to the Maverick besides price and poorer mpgs. If the Maverick would not have been on the market I probably would have gotten a Santa Cruz. The Maverick with the hybrid was enough to get me to order one. Maverick still has a touch screen but you can use most functions without it.
@Jeff, I am eagerly awaiting your review when you do get your Maverick. We just $800+ into our ‘older’ 2nd car. May hold onto it until Mavericks become available again. Although the pricing in Canada, particularly if you want heated seats and blind spot monitoring which my wife is insisting upon, is exorbitant.
@Arthur- My Maverick is an XLT in Area 51 (light blue). I did not get the heated seats nor the blind spot monitoring because I didn’t want to hold up the production anymore than what I knew it would be but I did order the spray in bedliner, full size spare, and all weather floor trays. I won’t be needing the heated seats since I will be moving to Arizona in another year and the Honda and Buick both have heated leather seats. The Buick has blind spot monitoring and heads up display. Just got a 3rd notice from Ford with a production date of the week of March 7. Will let you know how I like the Maverick once I get it and drive it but from the online reviews most love it.
I don’t think there is much separating “luxury” these days from the more plebian cousin. Aside from Mercedes and BMW which traditionally do not have a lesser brand, the other marques for the most part build on shared platforms between brands and have done so for decades. Historically the differences between the “luxury” and prole brand were drivetrain, interior options, some sheet metal, sound deadening and air ride/sports suspension but nearly all of those things are swappable on the production line. Now the prole brands offer most of those things if you have the coin, so what does “luxury” mean now?
In Genesis’s defense, there are no Hyundais using this RWD platform (the Stinger does) and no Hyundais or Kias using the 3.5T. Thus far they have resisted to urge to regrille a Santa Fe Signature and call it the GV50.
I figure Hyundai executives figure BMW and Mercedes have had more success with their own RWD platforms than Lincoln, Acura, Cadillac, Infinity have had attempting to rebadge their mass market vehicles as luxury vehicles.
“than Lincoln, Acura, Cadillac, Infinity have had attempting to rebadge their mass market vehicles as luxury vehicles.”
Lexus IIRC has done very well with that model, GM also did for a very long time with near luxury but perhaps not as much since 2009.
Genesis vehicles are all on their own rear wheel drive platform. These aren’t rebadged RAV4s or Pilots like from Lexus or Acura.
At least in my driving experience, vehicle being on a RWD based platform makes a huge difference.
I agree Hyundai has yet to toss its mass market platforms into the Genesis fray, but it seems nearly every marque eventually does with some doing very well because of it (Lexus).
I also agree with you on the latter.
Image?
Sticking with a RWD based lineup has paid dividends – Genesis has an ATP far higher than any of the Japanese lux brands (tho, they probably give up some volume to play at a higher pricepoint, but that’s a trade-off they’re willing to make).
Touch screen stuff aside, yeah, I’d definitely drive that. If I was good for spending $64k for a car, that is.
In a similar miss, in the Ioniq 1, Hyundai only made the heated steering wheel available in Canada – as though it doesn’t get cold in the US.
Four weeks later, and I’m considering the 2.5T, at least on paper, since a car need seems to have arisen in the SCE household. The 2.5T is $12k less than the 3.5T.
One useful metric for me – this car can tow 3500 lbs.
#PieceofChit
Did they run out of pudding at the old folks home there boomer?
I’m not familiar with the true Genesis models, are these lease only fodder or can you keep these out of warranty (or perhaps something in the middle)?
They come with a transferable 10 year 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. 5 years 50k bumper to bumper. One would guess that influences their engineering decisions. No use using a plastic widget if you’re on the hook for replacing it in 9 years.
Agreed, thanks for responding.
Incidentally on a BBC special on British car production (primarily the Mini) the Jaguar engineer they briefly interviewed referenced “lifecycle” and then quantified the JLR lifecycle as ten years. I do wonder if that is simply an industry standard and not only JLR’s policy. That expected period would also align with post 2000 product and remarketing strategy from zee Germans.
Maybe it was just a typo, but the bumper to bumper is same as Hyundai. 5yr/60k miles. If the 10yr/100k powertrain warranty is transferrable, that’s different than Hyundai, which does not transfer from first owner.
Their latest CR reliability scores were rough (25/28 but in front of Tesla and Lincoln). However the score was also based solely on the G80 and GV80. I’d say lease or see if things improve in the fall.
They did great the previous year – 2020:
“Genesis Ranked Second Overall in Consumer Reports’ 2020 Annual Ranking of Most Reliable Automotive Brands”
What did CR say were the problem areas for the G/GV80?
The wheels are fugly.
And the hatch slope…dudes and dudettes, that there is nothing more than a traditional car trunk.
Pass.
Stop with the big black plastic grilles. Many of the hole are blocked off. It just looks cheap. Next are the “diffusers” which have 0 effect on passenger cars.
I just have a hard time getting excited about two-row CUVs. The practicality advantage over sedans isn’t enough to justify the uglier styling and worse ride/handling balance. Add a third row (and the truly cavernous cargo area that usually brings) and the equation changes a bit.
I can appreciate the turbo V6 and the effort put into the interior, but I’m not sure it is better to get those things here than in a G80 at roughly the same price.
Please note the time and date. I agree with dal :)
Nicely written review. Sounds great, but priced a bit high IMO. Two questions that I think should be answered in every review of a CUV/whatever:
1. How close to truly flat is the rear seat(s) when folded?
2. What is the length of the cargo space when the seats are folded down?
Inquiring minds — of every skier and dog owner — want to know.
Thanks!
Who is the true luxury buyer: they guy who pays cash for his Camry Hybrid or the guy who leases (ie.rents) his BMW 5 series?
The real answer (on hiatus for the moment due to market conditions) is the guy who gets both a discount price and 0% financing on some unloved but reliable model. Paying cash is often leaving money on the table.
It’s a good looking ride, not gonna lie. I’ve driven an Elantra for years while putting kids through Catholic high school and college. Mom gets the nice car. I could be in the market tomorrow to finnaly get back into something nicer like this, but its a shame that my local Hyundai dealer is a sleaze that I’d never shop again. Only dealer within 50 miles.