2024 Genesis GV70 vs 2024 Genesis GV80

When examining the look and feel of the 2024 Genesis GV80 and GV70, it was evident that both SUVs possessed distinctive aesthetics that catered to different tastes and preferences. The 2024 Genesis GV80 was available with two engine options: a 2.5T turbocharged four-cylinder and a 3.5T twin-turbocharged V6. Buyers could choose from Standard, Advanced, Prestige, or Prestige Signature trim levels, with prices spanning from $57,700 to $81,750, exclusive of a $1,350 destination charge.

In our testing, we had the GV80 3.5T, dressed in the high-end Prestige Signature trim and showcased in a luxurious Matterhorn White Matte paint job. This combination brought the MSRP up to $84,600, including the destination fee. The Prestige Signature version flaunted an opulent exterior with colors like Vik Black, Matterhorn White Matte, and unique Mauna Red, complemented by dark chrome accents and nearly invisible, 22-inch black-painted wheels. Despite these upsides, the Prestige Signature didn’t necessarily offer a more attractive package than the Prestige trim, especially since wheel design details were often overshadowed by the black paint.

The interior of the GV80 Prestige Signature oozed opulence with its Ultramarine Blue over Dune theme. Diamond-stitched Nappa leather seats, an artificial leather-wrapped dashboard, matte-finish wood trim, a suede headliner, and metallic accents collectively underscored the vehicle’s luxury. Ambient lighting, a 3D digital instrument cluster, and a wide touchscreen display added to the overall richness. However, despite its luxurious interiors, we believed sticking to the regular Prestige trim was a more sensible choice over the more expensive Prestige Signature.

On the other hand, the 2024 Genesis GV70 stood out with its sleeker design while maintaining recognizable Genesis features like the split headlights and large shield grille. The GV70 presented a more streamlined silhouette compared to its larger sibling, the GV80, avoiding the excessive quirks seen in smaller models like the GV60. Standout features included a hatchback-like rear window profile, large round exhaust outlets (for the gasoline-powered Sport Prestige trim), and eye-catching 21-inch wheels (standard 19-inch wheels).

The GV70 managed to hit a sweet spot between SUV presence and luxury-car style. Compared to rivals like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, the GV70’s design sold itself well as both an SUV and a true luxury brand product. For EV enthusiasts, the Electrified GV70 offered a good blend of understated style and practicality, with a shiny grille that housed the charge port, facilitating straightforward charging in standard parking positions.

Inside, the GV70's interiors were distinctive yet luxuriously conventional. With options like quilted Nappa leather upholstery and a panoramic sunroof, what set it apart were unique design elements. The climate controls and other buttons were housed in an elliptical pod, and a rotary controller for the infotainment system added a sci-fi touch, while the rounded dashboard cross-section mimicked an airplane wing. Genesis tried to differentiate the GV70 with these bold choices, maintaining traditional luxury touches while incorporating modern, slightly unconventional elements.

The powertrain options in the 2024 Genesis GV80 and GV70 varied, but both managed to deliver impressive performance figures. The 2024 GV80 2.5T housed a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, impressive numbers for its class. This engine boasted more power than the V6 engines found in some competitors like the Acura MDX and Infiniti QX60. Our test vehicle, however, featured the 3.5T twin-turbocharged V6, which produced 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. This resulted in a more exhilarating drive but with higher fuel consumption—we observed 17.2 mpg against an EPA rating of 20 mpg in combined driving on a Southern California test loop.

Both engines paired seamlessly with an eight-speed automatic transmission and came standard with all-wheel drive (AWD). Drivers could choose from five diverse driving modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport, Custom, and Snow, with the GV80 offering 8.1 inches of ground clearance and a towing capacity of up to 6,000 pounds when properly equipped. The GV80 3.5T further included enhanced front brakes and an adaptive damping suspension for better stopping power and driving dynamics.

Our test revealed that the GV80 3.5T excelled in driving performance, offering a composed and luxurious ride while delivering excellent road feedback. The vehicle's quick acceleration facilitated easy freeway merging and overtaking, although surface irregularities were mildly noticeable, adding a sporty feel. The P265/40R22 all-season tires provided good grip on mountain roads, and the larger front brakes resisted fade after repeated usage. The only downside was the unremarkable steering, although it didn’t detract from the overall driving experience.

Regarding the 2024 GV70, its powertrain options remained unchanged, offering a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 300 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel. Additionally, it offered a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 generating 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both engines came paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD.

The Electrified GV70 featured front and rear electric motors delivering a combined 429 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, backed by a 77.4-kilowatt-hour battery pack, and a Boost Mode offering 483 hp for 10 seconds at a time. However, despite the vigorous acceleration from the Boost or Sport+ modes, the GV70’s chassis tuning didn’t match the spirited performance, making it feel heavier and less agile in corners than rivals like the Acura RDX, BMW X3, or Porsche Macan.

Comfort-wise, the GV70 was reasonably plush but suffered from a suspension that handled bumps harshly. While it wasn’t the most uncomfortable SUV in its class, the ride quality reflected its mid-tier status within Genesis’ luxury lineup. This characteristic extended to the Electrified GV70, which, despite weighing more, didn't feel more cumbersome than its gasoline counterpart.

One innovative feature of the Electrified GV70 was the steering-wheel paddles used to control regenerative braking, allowing drivers to switch from minimum to maximum regen and experience true one-pedal driving. Provided that charging needs could be managed and the EPA-rated 236-mile range was suitable, the Electrified GV70 didn’t present downsides compared to the gasoline versions and was equally enjoyable to drive.

Interior space in the 2024 GV80 and GV70 varied, catering to different needs. For 2024, only the GV80 3.5T Advanced model featured a third-row seat, no longer available in the Prestige trim. The Prestige Signature model further skimmed passenger capacity down to four, with its second-row captain’s chairs, which were power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated, making it less practical for larger families.

Opting for the GV80 meant enjoying synthetic leather, real leather, or premium leather interiors, depending on the trim. Standard features included heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, manual rear door window shades, and a power hands-free liftgate. Our test vehicle was well-equipped, featuring a panoramic glass roof and triple-zone climate control. However, despite these comforts, the seats weren’t particularly comfortable for long road trips, with uncomfortable cushioning leading to frequent stops for breaks.

Legroom in the second row fell short, although storage space was considerable with 34.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expandable to 84 cubic feet with the seats folded. However, the Prestige Signature’s high rear center console proved a hindrance when loading large items.

In comparison, the GV70 offered competitive interior space, albeit with slightly less headroom than its rivals like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. The legroom in the front seats was slightly more generous than the BMW and Mercedes, but marginally less than the Audi. Second-row legroom was comparable, offering a smidge more than the X3 and slightly less than the Q5 and GLC.

The GV70 provided 28.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, substantially more than the Mercedes (21.9 cubic feet) and slightly more than the BMW (28.7 cubic feet), though less than the Audi (29.5 cubic feet). With the rear seats down, the GV70 offered 56.9 cubic feet, which trailed behind its German rivals. The Electrified GV70's battery pack had minimal impact on interior space, with slight reductions in legroom and headroom, and less than a cubic foot drop in cargo space.

However, the stylish design of the GV70's interior posed challenges for small-item storage. The orb-like infotainment controller and rotary shifter left minimal room for storage, though a dedicated phone storage nook and rear-seat climate controls were present. The Electrified GV70's automatic side bolsters in Sport mode tightened during acceleration or cornering, enhancing occupant security, unheard of in this price range outside of high-end performance cars.

The 2024 Genesis GV80 boasted a mix of traditional and cutting-edge technological features. The standard analog gauges of the previous year were replaced by digital instrument displays in the Prestige and Prestige Signature trims, featuring a 12.3-inch display with a subtle 3D effect. The GV80’s 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display was standard across all models but was placed further away, often necessitating the use of the rotary controller on the center console.

Standard infotainment features included a navigation system, SiriusXM satellite radio, and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The GV80 also offered Genesis Connected Services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and wireless smartphone charging as standard features, with the Prestige Signature adding second-row wireless charging. Bluetooth streaming and a user-friendly voice recognition system simplified operation, while the infotainment display was visually pleasing, safe from glare, and easy to navigate.

Most GV80 trims came with a Lexicon premium sound system, which was set to be replaced by Bang & Olufsen components in the 2025 model year. The Prestige and Prestige Signature trims featured a head-up display (HUD) that showed blind-spot alerts, enhancing safety and convenience.

The GV70’s infotainment borrowed heavily from the Hyundai roster, making it simpler compared to the elaborate systems in competitors like the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. However, this simplicity favored user experience. Standard features in the GV70 included a 14.5-inch touchscreen, wired Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. While lower trims had an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, higher trims enjoyed a 12.3-inch unit with a nostalgic 3D effect. An available 12-inch HUD and a 16-speaker Lexicon audio system completed the tech offerings.

Usability was straightforward in the GV70, thanks to an intuitive touchscreen layout and equally user-friendly rotary controller. Unique features like a fingerprint scanner for individual driver profiles and a digital key system for keyless entry and driving further enhanced the technology suite, drawing positive comparisons to similar features in other luxury brands, including Hyundai.

Safety was a strong aspect for both the 2024 Genesis GV80 and GV70, with both SUVs offering comprehensive safety features and impressive ratings. The GV80 came equipped with numerous advanced driving-assistance systems (ADAS) and safety features such as a camera-based Blind-Spot View Monitor, Remote Smart Parking Assist, and Highway Driving Assist (HDA), which combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering and lane-change assist.

During our testing, the HDA system performed well, mainly in light or dense, slow-moving traffic. However, in moderate to heavy, high-speed traffic, lane-hopping vehicles occasionally caused abrupt braking or power surges, making manual control preferable. The sophisticated Blind-Spot View Monitor provided video feeds within the digital instrument panel when signaling a lane change, increasing safety alongside the HUD showing blind-spot warnings.

The GV80’s Remote Smart Parking Assist could autonomously park the SUV in parallel or perpendicular spaces, even with the driver standing outside using the key fob. With a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, the GV80 assured safety, though the frontal-impact test for driver and passenger earned a four-star rating.

For the GV70, gasoline versions received the IIHS’ highest Top Safety Pick+ award, with the Electrified GV70 receiving the same accolade as a 2023 model. Although not all 2024 NHTSA ratings were available, the gasoline GV70 earned four-star frontal and rollover crash-test ratings, consistent with the identical 2023 model’s five-star overall rating. NHTSA ratings for the Electrified GV70 were pending.

Standard safety features on the GV70 encompassed lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, driver-attention monitor, parking assist sensors, and Highway Driving Assist. A sophisticated Highway Driving Assist 2 system offered automated lane-change capability and blind-spot monitoring. Genesis also featured high-tech safety systems like safe exit assist and radar-sensitive rear occupant alert to ensure passenger safety.