GenesisGV70

　　

2024 Genesis GV70 Review

byJared GallCorrespondent

　　Jared Gall started his career in the auto industry in 2001 with an internship at Car and Driver. He has written and edited many thousands of car reviews, technological deep-dives, industry analyses, and personality profiles. He is a correspondent at zzdcar and still has the 1969 Chevrolet C20 he dragged out of his parents' barn and drove until Car and Driver started giving him cars to evaluate.

　　, rating written byJared GallDirector, Vehicle Testing

　　Jonathan Elfalan has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. As a director of vehicle testing at zzdcar, Jonathan has tested and reviewed thousands of cars and written thousands of car-related articles over the course of his career. Jonathan got his start testing cars for Road & Track magazine as a newly minted mechanical engineer grad from University of California, Irvine, and has also contributed to Motor Trend and the Associated Press. He likes to say he learned to drive a manual transmission in a rear-wheel-drive mid-engine vehicle but often omits it was his family's 1991 Toyota Previa minivan.

　　Just a few years after launching as a stand-alone brand in 2017, Genesis sent its GV70 into the liveliest segment of the luxury car market — small crossovers — and crushed it. It immediately jumped to the top of our list of favorite vehicles in its class, and to the top of Genesis sales charts. Behind that Bentley-esque grille is a sumptuous interior packed with comfort, tech and safety features that rival any of the established luxury brands. The GV70 doesn't need to be priced lower than its competitors to be appealing, but it is, making it even more attractive.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 Genesis GV70 2.5T 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$191/mo  for GV70 2.5T

　　GV70 2.5T

　　2.5T 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $45,150 MSRP3.5T Sport 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $57,750 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Freedom of choice

Configuring a GV70 is simpler than speccing most of its competitors. Other brands offer lengthy à la carte option menus and assorted packages, but if you're buying a GV70, you pick an engine, a trim level, colors, and that's it. The only additional options are accessories like a cargo net or wheel locks. But the price increases between the GV70 trim levels are small enough to think of them as one or two big options with a smattering of freebies. It's only if you just want a single feature from within the highest equipment level, and don't care about anything else, you might feel frustrated with this trim structure.

　　

Competitors to consider

The small luxury SUV class is overflowing with compelling choices across the spectrum, from the luxurious Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC to more athletic vehicles like the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, BMW X3 and Jaguar F-Pace. But we find the Genesis GV70 strikes an awfully appealing balance — so long as you're not in the market for a fire-breather like the pricey performance derivatives each of those competitors offer but the GV70 does not. Read our Expert Rating for the full picture on what makes the GV70 so good.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.3

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the GV70 drive? The GV70's enjoyable driving experience starts with its smooth and robust powertrain. The turbocharged V6, which is what we tested, provides easy and accessible power from just about anywhere in its rpm range. In our testing, the GV70 accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds. The automatic transmission delivers smooth shifts when you're just tooling around, but it can also crank up the aggression with crisp, positive shifts when the roads get fun. 

　　Around turns, the GV70 isn't as sporty as a Porsche Macan, but it responds intuitively and predictably to your inputs. Braking is predictable too, with a natural-feeling pedal stroke that makes it easy to stop smoothly. All in all, it is a quick and smooth SUV but not the athlete that some others are.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the GV70? Comfort is a big part of what makes the GV70 a great SUV. The front seats are highly adjustable, and our test vehicle's seats also had heating, ventilation and a massaging feature. The rear seat cushions are also pretty comfy and offer a generous amount of recline. An adaptive suspension (standard with the V6) adjusts itself based on the road conditions ahead. The ride isn't quite as plush as in the larger Genesis GV80, but it strikes a commendable balance between comfort and compliance.

　　The climate control has a dedicated touchscreen that's easy to use. The seat heating and cooling are nearly unmatched for their intensity, and the heated steering wheel was equally as impressive. A quiet cabin rounds out the luxury experience with dual-pane windows keeping a lot of the wind and ambient noise at bay. There was only some low-level road noise on particularly textured surfaces.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below