The 2022 Genesis GV70 recently received the SUV of the Year award from MotorTrend. For a new brand and a new vehicle, that seems like a difficult thing to accomplish. What made MotorTrend think so highly of this SUV in such a short amount of time? There are loads of options in the SUV category, so how could something so new already be beating out all the competition? Especially when the other options are all more experienced with producing high-quality SUVs. The Genesis GV70 has a lot going for it, and here’s exactly what qualified it for SUV of the Year.

The unique design makes it a stand out star

Starting with the design of the vehicle, the GV70 stands out from others on the road. Unconventional design choices are always high-risk for automakers, but it has paid off for Genesis. The unique exterior design gives the GV70 a luxury SUV feel.

The interior of the vehicle is no different. The oval front dashboard and 14.5-inch touchscreen have the GV70 looking sleek and clean. This standard infotainment is controlled by the rotating disc knob on the center console, which matches the one for shifting. The interior is made completely of high-quality materials like available spin-brushed aluminum trim and contains customizable ambient interior lighting. MotorTrend’s Greg Fink said, “every piece inside the vehicle feels high end”.

2022 Genesis GV70 performance and engineering

The GV70 shares a lot with the 2019 car of the year winner, the Genesis G70 sedan. Carrying over the positive aspects of the sporty sedan, the GV70 manages to maintain its comfort while adding dynamic performance. The two available engines are the 2.5-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder and 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 which produce 300 and 375 horsepower, respectively. It has available 21-inch wheels that add loads of style to the exterior of the vehicle without diminishing ride quality.

The front seat-backs have a curved shaped to give rear passengers more legroom. The rear passengers also get buttons to adjust the recline and move the whole seat forward and back. The second row of seats can fold down for extra cargo space, which is 28.9 cubic feet with all seats standing. That’s more than nearly every other SUV in the same segment, and more than enough to store anything you need inside.

The efficient GV70 comes at a great value

The GV70 matches the fuel efficiency of other models in its class. The two motors have identical estimated mpg to other vehicles like the Volvo XC60, Alfa Romeo Stelvio, and BMW X3 M40i. The only vehicles beating the GV70 in fuel efficiency by a large margin are electric, which isn’t an unrealistic option for the GV70 of the future. Currently, the GV70 gets a combined 24 mpg.

The base model comes with all-wheel drive, adaptive cruise control, lane centering, blind-spot monitoring, and a 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen. A great amount of technology for a luxury vehicle starting at just $42,045. Adding more to the vehicle obviously adds cost, but something as nice as remote smart parking assist might be worth it.

The standard warranty for every GV70 is a five-year and 60,000-mile one, which also comes with three years or 36,000 miles of basic maintenance. MotorTrend emphasizes that the Genesis GV70 doesn’t do one or two things well, it does all of them. Great features, an amazing driving experience, and a luxurious design wouldn’t stand out on their own. Each of them together under a fully-loaded $65,000 price tag gives a tremendous value, compared to competitors like the $75,000+ BMW X4 M40i.

Is the 2022 Genesis GV70 a safe vehicle?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Genesis GV70 a top safety pick+, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave it the top overall rating. Unlike many of the other luxury SUVs in the same class, the GV70 does not tie the safety features into a costly additional package. Safe Exit Assist is a standard feature, which helps drivers and passengers to avoid opening doors into oncoming traffic. Other standard safety features include blind-spot monitoring, lane centering, eight airbags, adaptive cruise control, hill start assist, and more.

Which SUVs were finalists for the award?

• 2022 Ford Bronco
• 2021 Ford Bronco Sport
• 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E
• 2022 Genesis GV70
• 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L
• 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer
• 2021 Jeep Wrangler 392 and 4xe
• 2021 Kia Sorento
• 2022 Volkswagen ID4

The 2022 Genesis GV70 is an extremely versatile SUV that hits the nail on the head in just about every category. It has everything from tech, safety, comfort, and capability to a low starting price. Many luxury SUV owners like to stick with a particular brand they’ve liked, but it might be worth it to take a shot with a new automaker. The GV70 is easily one of the best SUVs in its class. That’s why MotorTrend called it “the only choice” for the 2022 SUV of the Year award.