• 2022 Genesis GV70 ($41,000- $62,500)
• Pro: The 2022 Genesis GV70 is a beautiful and comfortable luxury crossover that rivals the top German competitors in its class.
• Con: Not many luxury buyers are familiar with the Genesis nameplate, yet.

The Genesis brand has made some big waves in the luxury wading pool over the past few years, but it’s a shame that not too many have noticed. However, the 2022 Genesis GV70 shows a lot of promise, which is tough to do in the competitive luxury crossover segment. The GV70 competes with the Acura RDX, Audi Q5, and BMW X3, and those rivals should take notice.

The 2022 GV70 is based on the Genesis G70 sedan platform, but it has an elevated stance and demeanor. My tester for the week is a Genesis GV70 AWD 3.5T Sport Prestige and it came with everything you could want in a GV70, including equal parts of sportiness and prestige.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 evokes emotions of opulence and the Porsche Macan

Take one glance at the 2022 Genesis GV70 and no one would blame you if you thought it was a Porsche Macan for a hot second. Its rounded back end and steeply raked, narrow rear-quarter window make it look very close to its sporty German rival. However, the GV70s bisected rear LED taillights and large “Genesis” badge will give it away upon closer inspection.

Walk around to the side of the Genesis GV70 and you’ll notice its raked roofline, bulging fenders, and sweeping body lines, all of which make it look aggressive yet elegant. Stare at the front end of the car and you’ll notice that there’s a lot to take in, at least in terms of the massive grille.

Love it or hate, the GV70s imposing front grille matches well with the car’s aggressiveness and it’s complemented well by the bisected LED headlights. However, don’t pay too much attention to the smaller grilles on the front of the car, they’re not functional and add a little too much grille, in my opinion. Also, my test car featured a Mauna Red paint job, but there are 12 other colors to choose from.

The GV70’s interior is comfortable and unique

Step inside the Genesis GV70 and you’ll be treated to an interior filled with carbon fiber trim, leather seats, and suede inserts. All-in-all, the GV70’s interior is simply gorgeous. Kelley Blue Book notes that the GV70s interior is inspired by the cross-section of an airplane wing, which makes sense, given Genesis’ generous use of ellipses-shaped features. Beauty aside, the GV70’s interior is functional and comfortable as well.

The front seat occupants have a lot of room for their elbow, knees, and torsos, as do the rear seats. There’s even enough room for the middle-seat occupants. My test car came with an Ultramarine-colored interior, which is black with a dark bluish hue. It’s a little funky, but it matches well with the red seatbelts. If you don’t like that interior color, then black, red, and beige are available as well depending on the trim level and exterior color you choose.

The Genesis GV70 keeps with the pack when it comes to tech features

Just because the Genesis GV70 is a Hyundai underneath all of the sophisticated sheet metal, it doesn’t mean that it’s lacking in any department compared to the rest. Even in its base form, the GV70 can meet the needs of almost anyone looking for a small luxury SUV. The most notable standard features include full LED lighting, heated front seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, a 14.5-inch navigation system, Android Auto/Apple Carplay, a power liftgate, and a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat.

Opt for the higher Sport Advanced and Prestige trim levels and you’ll open up more luxurious features like a panoramic moonroof, a surround-view monitor, remote Smart Park assist, and a Lexicon premium audio system with 18 speakers. The higher trim levels also come with a set of either 19 or 21-inch alloy wheels.

My top-trim tester also came with a 3D gauge cluster that measures 12.3 inches and houses the brand’s blind-spot view monitor. There were also heated rear seats and a 110-volt AC power outlet for passengers that need to blow dry their hair while on the go.

All of the tech features are easy-to-use and find, however, the large knob on the center console that controls the infotainment system is a little cumbersome to use at first. Fortunately, the screen is touch-sensitive, which makes it easy to work around when the car is stopped since it’s a bit of a far reach for the driver.

The Genesis G70 handles well, but not as sporty as it looks

If you’re looking for sporty handling that carve-up canyon roads, then the Audi Q5 and Acura RDX are better suited for that. But if you want a comfortable cruiser on the highway in addition to some handling competency when the roads get twisty, then the Genesis GV70 will work well for you.

That’s not to say that the GV70 isn’t sporty, it is, but it proved a little better in a straight line than on curvy back roads. That being said, the GV70 provides a smooth ride over road imperfections and larger bumps, but it isn’t harsh by any means. So no, it can’t out-handle a Porsche Macan, but it can take you on a long road trip without any hassles and still look like one.

If you’re looking for power, then the GV70 3.5T is the one to get

The 2022 GV70 uses the same powerplants as its Genesis GV80 sibling. Under the hood of the 2.5T models, you’ll find a turbocharged 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 300 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. That’s a good amount of power for the everyday drive and if fuel economy is what you seek, then that’s the one to pick.

But if you want more power, then opting for the 3.5T trims will get you a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine that’s capable of putting out 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. Car and Driver’s testing reveals that this iteration of the GV70 can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.0 seconds.

That sounds pretty spot-on as every time I left hastily from a stop, I was pushed back in my seat with a wave of power in the mid-RPM range. You won’t need to worry about getting onto the freeway or putting your car in the optimal position in traffic if you choose the GV70 3.5T model. Also, the eight-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly, but not very quickly.

The Genesis GV70 comes standard as a rear-drive model, but can be had in an all-wheel drive configuration as well. My test car also came equipped with a limited-slip rear differential that helps keeps the traction on the road when it’s wet or slippery.

As for fuel economy, the GV70 2.5T models can achieve up to an EPA-estimated 22 city/28 highway miles per gallon and the 3.5T models are rated at 19 city/ 25 highway mpg. In my week of testing, I achieved an average of 17.5 mpg in mixed driving situations.

If the Genesis GV70 had a middle name, it would be “safety”

The 2022 Genesis GV70 is loaded with safety features. For starters, it has eight airbags – including a front center airbag – in addition to a host of driver-assist features. The most notable include a Smart cruise control system with Stop and Go, a forward collision alert, lane-keep assist, and a rear cross-traffic alert.

Other features include a driver-attention warning, safe exit assist with a rear occupant alert, and front and rear parking sensors. The 2022 Genesis GV70 is yet to be rated by the IIHS and NHTSA, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it took home the highest safety ratings awards when it does.

Is the Genesis GV70 expensive to maintain?

The 2022 GV70 is so new that there isn’t too much data out in terms of maintenance and repair costs. However, Your Mechanic did give the GV70 a 4.9 out of 5 stars when it comes to maintenance and estimates an average annual repair cost of $95 to $219 for the GV70.

Fortunately, anyone that buys a Genesis GV70 won’t have to worry that much about repairs as it is covered by the brand’s comprehensive 5-year/60,000-mile new car warranty in addition to its legendary 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 is a noteworthy contender in the luxury crossover segment

Although the 2022 Genesis GV70 shares the luxury crossover category with heavy hitters like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3, that doesn’t mean that it will concede to the shadows. Instead, given the GV70s unique aesthetics inside and out, litany of tech-savvy features, and choice of powerful engines, it’s definitely one noteworthy entry that’s worth a look. If you’re looking for a luxurious compact SUV that won’t break the bank like its German rivals, then add the 2022 Genesis GV70 to your shopping shortlist.

MotorBiscuit gives the 2022 Genesis GV70 an expert rating of 8.0 out of 10

The editors at MotorBiscuit gave the 2022 Genesis GV70 an overall rating of 8.0 out of 10. The GV70 is one of the newest luxury crossovers in the segment and is a great competitor. With a large amount of luxury, power, and a long warranty, the Genesis GV70 can provide buyers with unbridled opulence at a great value.