Luxury Brands are often defined by the cars they produce, and if this new 2022 GV70 is any indication, expect great things to come from the Genesis Brand. As many of you may recall, I have reviewed a variety of Genesis vehicles over the past few years, and honestly, I was less than impressed with what I experienced. Not that they were bad, just that I expected better from Hyundai’s upscale Genesis, now its own stand-alone brand.
Genesis got it right on many different levels with this mid-sized two-row crossover. The driving experience was great, the luxury features are top-notch, safety and technology are forward-thinking, and power and performance were excellent.
Exterior
You notice its elongated, elegant, and aerodynamic shape. While crossovers tend to be more sedan-based station wagon than trucklike, as you find in SUVs. The GV70 has a distinctive sliver style head that follows through on the taillights. This is Genesis’s distinctive styling design on their vehicles. Be they SUVs, sedans, or crossovers.
While the Korean designers seem to like a little bric-a-brac which is evident on the wheels and the rear quarter panel that carries through the design of the front grill, otherwise, the car is pretty free of distracting details. Lines are flowing, and the height of the vehicle is more sedanesque than SUV-like.
Powerplant
The 3.5 Turbo-charged GDI V-6-cylinder engine provides plenty of power and performance with its 375 horsepower/391 lbs. of torque. It is a smooth powerplant that provides a sporty performance sound without being too obnoxious or harsh. Mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Fuel economy was middling for its size, with 24 miles per gallon running around town.
Interior
Plenty of black carbon fiber accents, ultramarine Napa leather seating surfaces with sport pattern quilted suede seating surfaces with red stitching, and RED seatbelts were a perfect match for this car with its optional $500 Mauna Red exterior paint treatment. A suede headliner, 16-way power driver seat, and 12-way power passenger seat with integrated memory and smart posture care. The front seats are heated and ventilated.
A 14.5-inch-high-definition screen provided easy access to many of the features of the navigation and 9-speaker entertainment system, complete with HD and Sirius/XM radio, as well as Android Auto and Apple Car Play. And yes, it has a built-in GPS map and up-to-date information provided through a satellite connection. All are controlled by a large dial forward on the center console. That dial matched the crystal gearshift selector, and while it feels plastic to me, I have been assured by Genesis that it is indeed crystal.
The rear seats match the front seats and are comfortable and adjustable, folding down to extend the cargo area. The GV70 is not designed to be a 3-row people carrier. If you are looking for a 3-row crossover, this is not the vehicle for you, which is a shame because of all it offers otherwise.
Power outlets and HVAC outlets are easily accessible for 2nd-row passengers.
Cargo Area
Like any crossover, it has an electric-operated hatch gate that opens up to generous cargo space. Underneath the cargo space, you will not find much in the way of hidden storage, but you will find a complete tool kit and, yes, a full-size donut spare tire, which is rare today.
Manual, not electric seat releases on the side drop the 2nd-row split rear seats down to provide a variety of cargo floor options. The cargo area has a 12-V power outlet, though I have seen few to no appliances that use that in these modern days.
Technology and Safety
Genesis models have plenty of safety tech in them. Cameras provide a true 360-degree surround view of the vehicle. Highway driving assists, smart cruise control with stop & Go as well as forward collision and evidence assist with Pedestrian, cyclist and lane side, lane change, oncoming vehicle, and evasive steering assist. Today you cannot live without rear cross-traffic collision avoidance and safe exit assist. That all come standard on the GV70.
And my personal favorite on Genesis, Kia, and Hyundai vehicles, is the Blind Spot Monitor, where when you activate your turn signal, a visual appears on the driver’s dash display of the blind spot in that rear area, showing you what is there. A godsend for driving in today’s suburban streets, with small children and animals everywhere, as well as seeing those unseen small cars, motorcycles, and others on the highway.
Overall
I was more than impressed with the GV70 from Genesis. Would I buy this vehicle? Absolutely, if I were looking for a luxury crossover. This one has all the performance, technology, and luxury you could want in an under $65K price tag. Genesis provides a 5-year/60K mile new vehicle warranty, a 10-year/100K-mile powertrain warranty, and a 7-year unlimited-mile anti-perforation warranty.
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