Adapted Video Transcript
The new 2022 Genesis GV70 is the latest evidence that Genesis’s star is rising in the luxury car universe. I was dazzled when I saw pictures of the GV70. In person, I need a word stronger than “dazzled.” Let’s go with “enamored.”
2022 Genesis GV70 Exterior Design
There are all the design elements you would expect from a modern Genesis:
- A big diamond-pattern grille
- Twin bar headlights and taillights, plus a long nose
- Rear-wheel drive proportions
But applying all those traits to a more compact SUV canvas has yielded stellar results. I especially like the profile. It is muscular and distinct without looking too busy. I even like the C-pillar treatment. It reminds me of the forward-swept wing of the experimental Grumman X-29 airplane of the 1980s.
Genesis GV70 Interior – Quality, Luxury Features
What about the interior? There is a ton of character inside. I hope you like ovals because they figure prominently throughout. Genesis has also embraced color with their interiors of late, and the GV70 is no exception. Blue, red, beige, and black themes are all available.
Beyond how it looks, there is a tactile sumptuousness to the cabin. Touch around, and your fingers are greeted with a feeling of quality.
Flinging some slight criticism at the GV70, I don’t like the standard 2-spoke steering wheel. But, you know what? The Sport model has 3-spokes. That alone is motivation to go Sport, though the Sport’s dark chrome trim, carbon fiber accents, and 21-inch wheels don’t hurt.
Steering wheels aside, I like the uncluttered button arrangement, though I am not a huge fan of the roller-style volume control. Like in the GV80, the GV70’s rotary gear selector is eye-catching; just be sure not to confuse it with the adjacent rotating, clicking controller used to manage the 14.5-inch infotainment screen.
Speaking of the infotainment, its low and wide shape is really clever because it puts more screen real estate higher on the dash, near the road where your eyes ought to be looking.
2022 GV70 Dimensions and Cargo Space
The GV70 is a smaller SUV offering from Genesis, but the rear quarters offer plenty of space for an average-sized adult. Cargo space is similarly workable.
- Length: 185.6 inches
- Width: 75.2 inches
- Height: 64.2 inches
2022 GV70 Engine and Performance
On a mechanical note, the GV70 is built atop the same rear-wheel-drive architecture as the G70 sedan, though, for America, all-wheel drive comes standard.
Power comes from a base 2.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine or an optional 3.5L twin-turbocharged V6, each paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Heads up: Genesis is a little cagey on final power figures, but it’s safe to assume these numbers, cribbed from the GV80, are basically spot on. (2.5L Turbo I4 300 hp, 311 lb-ft) (3.5L Turbo V6 375 hp, 391 lb-ft) GV80 power in the lighter GV70 chassis sounds like a fine idea to me.
For elevated agility on or, potentially, off-road, Genesis offers an electronic rear differential with torque vectoring abilities. Also, GV70s equipped with the 3.5-liter engine come with a camera-based adaptive suspension, which reads the road ahead, adjusting the suspension in real-time for improved ride and handling.
Genesis GV70 Driving Assist and Tech Features
Of course, the GV70 will include an expected array of driver-assist tech like lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and remote parking assist; you might recognize by its other name, Hyundai Smart Park.
Fancier renditions will offer indulgences like a Nappa leather interior, active front-seat bolsters, a panoramic roof, and a 360-degree camera system. One other cool feature is a new radar-based rear occupant alert system, whose ultrasonic sensors can detect when a sleeping infant is breathing in the back seats. As a father, I think that’s very cool.
Price: What the 2022 Genesis GV70 Will Cost
The big question you might have is how much does the GV70 cost? A well-reasoned guess is roughly $40,000, which would match or undercut competitors like the BMW X3, Audi Q5, and Mercedes Benz GLC. It will also be interesting to see how the GV70 compares price-wise with premium choices like the Acura RDX or Volvo XC60.
I really liked driving the Genesis GV80 but, as a fan of smaller vehicles, the GV70 lands right in my emotional wheelhouse. As soon as they let me wheel this thing around, I’ll be sure to share my thoughts.
