MotorwayAmerica.com

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

(October 16, 2022) The relatively young Genesis luxury brand is comprised of exceptionally good vehicles with rewarding powertrains, excellent overall performance, stylish interiors with top-notch fit and finish, and loads of cutting edge technology. We feel justified with this lavish description because over the past 18 months we have driven such examples as the G70 compact sedan, the GV80 mid-sized crossover, the G80 sedan, and the new and stunning GV60 electric hatchback.

And that was our take on all of the above vehicles. And now we have spent seven days with the new GV70 compact crossover SUV, which might be the best of the best. It did not let us down, and in fact has further enhanced our opinion that the Genesis brand can stand tall against German, Japanese and American competitors.

But perhaps just as fascinating is the fact that these vehicles have the best warranties in the luxury business and in the case of the GV70 one of the most affordable price tags considering its luxury persona and the amount of equipment available. Egad, even our fixed income budgets —now being strained by runaway inflation — might be able to put this beauty in the driveway.


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As to the warranty try to match these in the BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Cadillac showrooms — 5-year/60,000-mile basic, 10-year/100,000 mile drivetrain, 7-year/unlimited mileage rust, and 5-year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance.

Like other Genesis models, the GV70 is big on value. It delivers an exhilarating driving experience, high-quality interior, and a long list of premium features for thousands less than a comparably equipped competitors starting at $42,595 for the 2022 model. (Prices have increased about $1,400 for the unchanged 2023 model).



The GV70 offers standard all-wheel drive and two capable engine options — a turbocharged four-cylinder good for 300 horsepower and a turbocharged V6 rated at 375 hp. Both engines are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

We found the 300 horsepower GV70 to be everything we need in terms of power, and surely everything most people need. It effortlessly answers the call when merging into fast-moving traffic or passing a slower vehicle on a pesky two-lane highway. For comparison, the turbocharged four can finish off a 0-to-60 run in 5.6 seconds according to Car and Driver magazine tests. The eight-speed transmission shifts incredibly smooth under hard acceleration, which is what you expect from a true luxury vehicle.

Going fast and hard through corners, the GV70 isn't as sporty as a Porsche Macan, but it responds intuitively and predictably to inputs especially in the Sport mode. Braking is predictable too, with a natural-feeling pedal stroke that makes it easy to stop smoothly. All in all, it's a quick, smooth SUV even if not quite as athlete as some Porsche and BMW models.

Of course the twin-turbo V-6 is faster at 4.9 seconds, but how much power do you need in a family crossover? The same equipment is available on both models, but the V-6 commands a several thousand dollar premium. The value here hands down is the turbo four, especially with available options and packages. And fuel economy is decent with the turbo four rated at 22 mpg city, 28 highway and 24 combined.

Our GV70 AWD 2.5T Advanced stickered for $42,045 including destination. Added to the base price were the Select Package and the Advanced Package, $8,150 together, and with another $500 for an Adriatic Blue paint scheme. The bottom line — $50,695.

The Select package for $4,000 brings 19-inch alloy wheels, interior aluminum trim with a spin brushed pattern, panoramic sunroof, ventilated (cooled) front seats, and a Lexicon premium audio system with 16 speakers. The Advanced package for $4,100 added leather seating, heated steering wheel, a surround-view monitor (once you have this feature you won't ever want to go without), blindspot monitor with cross-traffic alert, remote smart parking assist, parking distance warning, parking collision avoidance, and advanced rear occupant alert.

Standard across the lineup is adaptive cruise control; navigation on a 14.5-inch HD screen; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability; pre-wiring for towing; and if you choose to go high tech, fingerprint recognition.

The GV70 pampers passengers with highly adjustable front seats that are comfortable and should wear well on a long-distance journey. Rear passengers have it pretty well, too, with a decent amount of leg and head room, two USB ports, heating and air conditioning vents, and dual reading lights. Our usual rear-seat going-to dinner passengers also commented on "good seat comfort."

The GV70's cabin is one of the more spacious-feeling in the small luxury class. The extra-wide door openings make it easy to get in and out. And Genesis has made all the main controls easily accessible for the driver. It adopts its infotainment arrangement from the larger GV80 SUV, which means a large, widescreen infotainment display sprouting from the dashboard with a click wheel controller mounted on the center console. We encountered a problem with the click wheel for audio volume — it seemed too hard to move forward or back (maybe it needed a spray of WD40?). Fortunately, volume can also be regulated with steering wheel controls.

Genesis did not forget cargo space with a generous 28.9 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seats — and the loading area is wide allowing for bigger items. There are 56.9 cubic feet available with the rear seatbacks folded down.

We found the GV70 one of the best compact luxury crossovers that we've driven — with an excellent price and an outstanding warranty.

2022 Genesis GV70

Essentials
Base price: $42,045; as driven, $50,695
Engine: 2.5-liter turbocharged 4 cylinder
Horsepower: 300 @ 5,800 rpm
Torque: 311 pound-feet @ 1,650 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Drive: all-wheel
Seating: 2/3
Wheelbase: 113.3 inches
Length: 185.6 inches
Curb weight: 4,167 pounds
Turning circle: 37.7 feet
Towing capacity: 3,500 pounds
Luggage capacity: 28.9 cubic feet
Cargo capacity: 56.9 cubic feet
Fuel capacity: 17.4 gallons (premium)
EPA rating: 22 city, 28 highway, 24 combined
Also consider: Acura RDX, Porsche Macan, BMW X3

The Good
• Excellent base engine
• Spacious interior
• Lots of modern tech
• Best warranties in class

The Bad
• A bit short on towing capacity

The Ugly
• Storage cubbies in short supply up front