Used 2022 Genesis GV70

The 2022 GV70 is the latest proof that the Genesis brand is a rising star in the luxury car universe. The GV70 is an SUV built to compete with smaller premium SUVs like the Acura RDX and Volvo XC60. But the GV70’s looks, features, and quality should also put pricier entries like the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 on notice.

Built atop the same rear-wheel-drive platform as Genesis’s G70 sedan, the GV70 has a sporting demeanor and stance. With turbocharged engines in 2.5-liter and 3.5-liter sizes, the GV70 shares its powertrain lineup with the larger GV80. But with less weight to haul around, the 2022 GV70 is currently the most thrilling SUV in the Genesis lineup.

KBB drove a 2022 Genesis GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige, a top model with luscious Savile Silver paint and an as-tested price of $64,045.

Our first impressions? Quite positive. This is a solid, quiet, and well-built compact SUV, and the muscularly aggressive styling is complemented nicely by a premium interior with beautifully stitched 2-tone leather, a suede headliner, a 3-dimensional digital instrument display, and a super-wide 14.5-inch infotainment/navigation screen.

And when it’s powered by the twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6, the new Genesis GV70 scoots. It’s a quick and quiet compact SUV, and there’s no long wait for turbo boost. The engine has broad torque, and the 8-speed automatic transmission is a model of smoothness in everyday driving, but responds with quick downshifts whenever necessary. The GV70 also has standard metal shift paddles.

Even with the Sport Prestige model’s 21-inch alloy wheels and low-profile tires, the ride quality of the new GV70 remains supple. The camera-based “Road Preview” adaptive suspension works seamlessly, and the GV70 body leans very little in corners — a good thing because this G70-based chassis relishes curvy roads, thanks to a rear-biased all-wheel-drive (AWD) system that can send all the power to the rear wheels if needed. And thanks to the electronic limited-slip rear differential, each of the GV70’s rear tires can receive up to 100 percent of the drive torque if necessary. Of note, a maximum of 50 percent of the drive torque can go to the front wheels.

Six drive modes are available (Snow, Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+, and Custom). We spent most of our time in Comfort and Sport, both refined settings that are aptly named. Sport+, it should be noted, borders on being too aggressive, with snappy responsiveness and a firm ride that are best appreciated on a track. Further underscoring the GV70’s sporting quotient is a Launch Control mode, available only in the Sport and Sport+ modes.

Further to that end, the GV70 seats are supportively bolstered but all-day comfortable, and there’s plenty of headroom and legroom in front for taller drivers. On the other hand, the back seat comes up short in legroom whenever the front has been adjusted all the way back.

The black leather-wrapped steering wheel has a thick rim with thumb pads, and its stout high-quality feel carries over to various other elements in the GV70 interior like the metal drive mode selector and the knurled volume and station wheels on the center console. The top-quality feel also extends to the metal shift paddles and prominent round control dials on the center console.

Of note, the round multimedia controller and the shift-by-wire rotary control knob (which features tempered glass and ambient lighting that changes color) are quite close to one another on the center console, so you may need to look down to make sure you’re operating the right one. The multimedia controller, for the record, is mounted just ahead of the electronic gear selector.

Complaints? Only a minor one: The 3-dimensional digital instrument panel conveys information very clearly, but for some reason, the speedometer and tachometer dials swing in opposite directions. While the speedo moves in the traditional clockwise direction, the tach moves counterclockwise from its resting spot at about 4 o’clock on the dial. During our drive, when we’d glance at the tach and see the needle pointing up and to the right, we’d think we were over-revving the engine. While that obviously wasn’t the case, this experience also serves as a testament to the utterly quiet nature of the G70’s interior.

“Gorgeous” is an appropriate description for the 2022 GV70’s interior. Inspired by the cross-section of an airplane wing, the cabin is filled with ellipse-shaped elements. Whatever the inspiration, the net effect is an interior that feels modern while avoiding gimmickry.

Though smaller than its GV80 sibling, the GV70’s rear quarters accommodate average-sized adults with respectable clearance. Cargo space is similarly workable. The cabin’s functional qualities are elevated emotionally with a range of interior color themes. In addition to black and beige, there are beautiful red and blue themes available.

At some point, the GV70’s driver might confuse its round gear selector for the similarly shaped infotainment controller positioned nearby. We also suspect some buyers might prefer a volume knob to Genesis’s volume roller. But overall, the interior’s indulgent quality and style are hard to deny.

The exterior styling of the GV70 incorporates all the themes found elsewhere in the Genesis lineup. But the brand’s diamond-pattern grille and twin light-bar motif look extra lovely when applied to a smaller SUV.

In person, the 2022 GV70 has presence. It looks muscular, fun, and expressive. Choose the Sport model to add a darkened grille, 21-inch wheels, dark chrome trim, and unique front and rear fascias. One gripe, though: While it looks good from a distance, the rear fascia’s grille-like trim looks fake and plasticky up close.

On a note of praise, Genesis offers the GV70 is a vast array of colors. Beyond the expected gray, silver, and black paints, you can also choose red, blue, or green plus four matte hues, including a lovely Barossa Burgundy (aka purple) we think Prince would’ve adored.

REMOTE SMART PARKING ASSIST
Yes, you can get this same feature on a Hyundai Sonata, but it’s still cool. Using the key fob, remote smart parking assist lets you motor the GV70 into tight parking spots while standing outside the vehicle.

3D GAUGE CLUSTER
By sending unique imagery to the driver’s left and right eye, the GV70’s optional 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster creates a 3D effect. We’re dubious on the functional benefits but viewing the gauges in 3D is undeniably dazzling.

The GV70 is the rare vehicle where the cheapest model could easily satisfy most buyers’ needs. Even the most basic version comes with full LED lighting, heated front seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, a navigation system, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, and a 12-way power driver seat.

Genesis has also fitted the GV70 with a standard array of active driver-assist technology. Among those features are full-speed dynamic cruise control, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, forward-collision avoidance assist, and blind-spot collision avoidance assist.

Choose among the higher GV70 trims, and you’ll find delights like a 360-degree camera system, leather seats, remote smart parking assist, and a panoramic sunroof.

We’re also partial to the Sport trims. In addition to extra optional goodies and racier styling, the GV70 Sport variants get a 3-spoke steering wheel, which we greatly prefer to the standard 2-spoke wheel.

The $5,000 Sport Advanced Package on the GV70 that KBB drove includes quilted Nappa interior leather, a leatherette material on the dash and upper door panels, a suede headliner, a heated steering wheel, the Genesis Digital Key, a surround-view camera/monitor, Remote Smart Parking Assist, rear collision avoidance, and a 16-speaker Lexicon premium audio system.

Our GV70 also was equipped with the $4,900 Sport Prestige Package. In addition to 21-inch alloy wheels and the electronic limited-slip rear differential, the Sport Prestige Package comes with Nappa leather seat upholstery with suede inserts, carbon-fiber interior trim, 3-zone climate control, heated 2nd-row seats, manual rear sunshades, a 12.3-inch 3D digital instrument cluster, and a head-up display.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 shares its turbocharged engine lineup with its larger GV80 kin. That lineup includes a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder and a 3.5-liter V6. The base engine is plenty powerful for most drivers, but we can attest to the accelerative joys of that V6.

From either engine, power is directed to a competent 8-speed automatic transmission. From there, the GV70’s standard all-wheel-drive system apportions power to the appropriate tire as traction demands, though during sedate commutes, most of that thrust is directed to the rear wheels.

2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4
300 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
311 lb-ft of torque @ 1,650 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/28 mpg (19/26 mpg w/Sport Package)

3.5-liter turbocharged V6
375 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
391 lb-ft of torque @ 1,300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/25 mpg