In recent years, we’ve seen more rotary-style gear selectors appear in modern cars. In some vehicles, like the Genesis GV70, the rotary gear shifter makes the driving experience more convenient. Sure, it’s not as eye-catching as the GV60’s Crystal Sphere, but practicality is more important.

The Genesis GV60’s gear shifter has one huge downside

The Genesis GV60’s Crystal Sphere shifter has a dial attached to a rotating orb. Only the backside of the orb is visible when the vehicle is turned off. Once you turn the vehicle on, it rotates to reveal the rotary dial with all of your typical shifting functions. 

Putting the car in reverse or drive is as simple as turning the knob. When you’re ready to park the GV60, you just press the center P button on the dial. However, putting the SUV in neutral with this shifter is needlessly complicated when the ignition is off.

Here’s the process:

1. Press Start twice without depressing the brake pedal.
2. The vehicle enters IG On mode.
3. Remove the cap on the right upper side by the sphere and press the button.
4. Then you will be asked to press the brake pedal and push the button again.
5. Neutral will be engaged, and the shift selector will appear (the GV60 will stay in neutral regardless of whether you leave the vehicle).
6. Press P to return to Park. 

As a safety measure, the GV60 automatically shifts to Park mode when the driver’s door is open.

Indeed, most situations where you’d have to engage neutral mode don’t require swift gear changes. However, sometimes shifting into neutral is the only way to get your car unstuck from a snow drift. Regardless of how often you use it, the neutral gear is an essential safety function that every driver should be able to operate easily.

Examining the 2023 Genesis GV70’s improved rotary shifter

In contrast, every Genesis GV70 has a shift-by-wire rotary gear selector that’s fairly straightforward to use. To shift into Neutral, all you have to do is turn the dial to align with the N symbol. Keep your foot on the brake pedal as you rotate the dial. You’ll know that you’ve successfully initiated Neutral mode when the N is illuminated. 

As we can see on the Genesis website, the new shifter takes on the appearance of a traditional rotary controller instead of an orb. However, it still retains a luxurious appearance thanks to a bejeweled finish on top of transparent glass. Just like the Crystal Sphere, the GV70’s shifter has mood lighting indicators for each gear setting.

Experts prefer the 2023 Genesis GV70’s gear shifter

The GV70’s gear selector helped it earn the title of 2023’s Best Luxury Midsize 2-Row SUV, according to Good Housekeeping. Editors appreciated this SUV’s pleasant driving experience and reported zero issues related to ride comfort.

Both 3.5T trims have an electronic suspension with road preview designed to optimize suspension performance at a moment’s notice. This system is exclusive to Genesis, using a forward-facing stereo lens camera and navigation data to predict harsh road imperfections. 

The Genesis GV70 has standard AWD and a 300-hp turbo-four engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The 3.5T trims come with a twin-turbo V6 that makes 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. These models also feature dual exhaust pipes and an optional limited-slip differential.

The higher trims have available Nappa leather accented with contrasting stitching. The interior is nicely-built and has plenty of room for five passengers, plus it offers nearly 57 cu-ft of cargo space. 

Every Genesis GV70 comes packed with a lot of tech features, many of which are accessible via a 14.5-in center touchscreen. In addition to touch inputs, this screen can be operated with another rotary dial located above the gear shifter.

This might be confusing for first-time GV70 owners. Still, learning the dial placement is a relatively more straightforward task compared to operating certain Crystal Sphere functions.