2022 Genesis GV70 first drive review: Usurper of the throne

There’s a pecking order in the luxurious-vehicle enterprise. Excluding area of interest firms that provide ultra-higher-stop autos, European makes like Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo frequently reign supreme. Then arrive the Japanese, who are a rung or two over America’s Cadillac and Lincoln. This hierarchy is perfectly proven but under siege. South Korean upstart Genesis is on the warpath and its 2022 GV70 is poised to depose segment leaders and usurp the smaller luxurious SUV throne. 

That appears a bit hyperbolic, but soon after driving the Activity Prestige-trim GV70 I am convinced it is really the segment leader, or at the really least 1 of the best choices in its course. 

Sharing the similar basic underpinnings with the great G70 sedan, the GV70 SUV is dressed to impress. With that shield-shaped grille, quad lamp assemblies at both equally finishes and sweeping overall body strains, this SUV seems to be upscale devoid of essentially resembling any of its rivals — perfectly, unless you look at the Porsche Macan a competitor, then there is absolutely a resemblance.

The GV70’s bodywork is distinctive and athletic, but its cabin is what definitely wows. At least in top-of-the-range Activity Prestige variety, this interior sets a new typical. The seats are trimmed with sumptuous Nappa leather and suede, there are amazing carbon-fiber accents that function a exclusive woven sample that seems to be like almost nothing else in the automotive entire world, and then there is the crystalline handle knob for the infotainment system, which feels as fantastic as it seems to be (even if it is really comparable in measurement and mounted too carefully to the rotary gear selector so you constantly seize 1 alternatively of the other).

This interior attributes a delicate oval topic which is clean and present day. A large, curving piece of brightwork spans most of the dashboard, encircling the climate and lighting controls. The door handles are surrounded by oval-shaped bezels and several other accents are likewise rounded. 

There’s no other way to put it: This luxurious SUV’s interior is amazing. 


Genesis

Further environment the GV70’s cabin apart from other luxury SUVs is its vibrant color palette. Aside from uninteresting beige and black, you can also get Ultramarine Blue, which seems to be like the deep ocean. Havana Brown and Pine Grove Green are as distinctive as they are eye-catching, but for all those with even bolder preferences, a vibrant crimson termed Sevilla Crimson is also presented and it’s severely eye-catching.

All round, this Genesis’ interior is hotter and additional welcoming than what you get in several German autos and it is really much less robotic than the stuff Japanese firms give these times. Mainly, Genesis has figured out how to drive boundaries devoid of likely overboard.

Common devices features a broad and narrow 14.five-inch display screen that elegantly pops up from the dashboard, even though it isn’t really so tall it obstructs ahead visibility. Ordinarily, you navigate the GV70’s fast and intuitive infotainment system with a console-mounted handle dial, but the panel is also a touchscreen. Yeah, it can be a bit of a access, especially even though driving, but it is really wonderful to have both equally enter options. By natural means, Apple CarPlay and Android Vehicle are typical fare, and you also get a wireless charging plate and a nine-speaker audio system, even though an array with eighteen seem emitters is accessible.

The GV70’s styling is distinctive and attractive. 


Genesis

Provided in each individual GV70 is a nifty fingerprint reader on the dashboard. It lets you accessibility driver profiles, start off the car devoid of a critical and delivers valet method accessibility. Digital critical operation is accessible, too. This function at the moment only performs with Android handsets, even though I am explained to assist for Apple equipment is under progress. Identical to Lincoln’s Phone As A Essential, this function enables you to lock or unlock the car, load driver profiles or share a virtual critical with other men and women, all from the usefulness of your cellular device.

Other no-excess-demand facilities include things like blind-location monitoring, computerized higher beams and rear parking sensors. Heated front chairs, a 12-way ability driver’s seat and keyless entry with pushbutton start off are typical, too, as is Freeway Driving Assist — Genesis’ title for adaptive cruise handle with stop-and-go capacity and lane centering. Dependent on product, Freeway Driving Assist II is also accessible. It features the aforementioned operation in addition lane-change support. In tests, Freeway Driving Assist II performs seamlessly. It does an great job preserving the GV70 in the centre of its lane and attentively adjusts the pace to match that of the car in advance. The system is particularly helpful in large congestion, carefully halting the GV70 when points grind to a halt and automatically setting up it all over again once website traffic begins shifting.

Talking of driving, two engines are presented in the GV70. A two.five-liter turbo-4 serves foundation obligation and is fantastic for 300 horsepower and 311 pound-toes of torque. The optional unit is a 3.five-liter twin-turbo V6 that cranks out a stout 375 hp and 391 lb-ft. This motor delivers solid acceleration and is loads refined, but it isn’t going to come to feel particularly special.

It really is too straightforward to confuse the infotainment handle dial for the rotary shifter simply because they’re mounted around just about every other on the centre console. 


Genesis

An eight-pace computerized transmission is typical in the GV70 and it is really absolutely seamless about ninety% of the time, even though occasionally you can come to feel — and listen to — upshifts at reduced speeds. Enhancing traction in a wide variety of disorders, all-wheel generate is typical devices. 

With that V6 under the hood, count on 19 mpg town and twenty five mpg on freeway drives. Mixed, the GV70 really should return 21 mpg. The 4-cylinder motor is additional productive, but not by significantly.

The steering is properly weighted and unusually crisp for an SUV, even though the GV70’s trip is a bit too company for my style, even in comfort and ease method. This stiffness isn’t going to defeat you up, but neither does it give significantly of a managing reward. Even so, this Genesis drives perfectly, even if it feels a bit more substantial than it really is and it in no way encourages you to do irresponsible points. Dynamically, this SUV is capable but not remarkable..

You could do a ton even worse than the Genesis GV70. 


Genesis

All this excellence will price tag you, even though not as significantly as you may count on. An entry-stage 2022 Genesis GV70 begins correct close to $42,000 which includes $one,045 in delivery charges, undercutting the Audi Q5 and BMW X3 by a couple grand just about every. By natural means, the Activity Prestige product I am assessing below is a bit steeper, but nevertheless, it checks out for correct close to sixty four grand, which, honestly, appears like a deal supplied how luxurious this SUV seems to be and feels. If you are nevertheless not convinced to give the GV70 a attempt, all Genesis types arrive with absolutely free scheduled upkeep and at-household choose-up for 3 several years or 36,000 miles. This little perk really should make residing with 1 of these autos a practically seamless practical experience

With an opulent interior, avant-garde structure and capable dynamics, the 2022 Genesis GV70 is an remarkable car. Place it at the top of your procuring record if you are in the market place for a smaller luxurious SUV, it will never disappoint.


Editors’ note: Journey expenditures similar to this tale were being coated by the manufacturer, which is common in the auto sector. The judgments and opinions of Roadshow’s staff members are our very own and we do not settle for paid out editorial content material.