2025 Genesis GV70

Crossovers continue their torrid sales pace here in the U.S. and Genesis, the luxury division of Hyundai Motor Group, continues making impressive inroads.  

Our tester this week, the Genesis GV70 checks in as the compact-size selection slotting below the mid-size GV80 crossover. Genesis also offers a third crossover in the form of the GV60 (the smallest of the bunch) marketed exclusively with all-electric EV underpinnings. The ‘GV’ prefix signifies crossover (or Versatile) within Genesis lore while vehicles with a standalone ‘G’ arrive with sedan body styles.  

All build from the ground up with composed and comfortable unibody structures, popular within sedans and coupes, providing a smooth glide rather than a heavier and bouncier experience found with body-on-frame compositions utilized by the pickup truck community. The GV70 stands proudly as the best-selling Genesis model in North America and arrives with all-wheel drive standard.  

Genesis offers GV70 circa 2026 with two distinct flavors, one featuring a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) and an ‘Electrified’ EV version. Both share similar exterior looks and build upon a similar frame with nearly identical dimensions. Genesis tosses around ‘Athletic Elegance’ to describe the eye-catching exterior shape and design. This review tracks and probes the internal combustion selection.  

 South Korea’s Genesis Luxury Brand officially launched in 2015 with sedan offerings. Beforehand, the Genesis name graced a rear-wheel drive four-door within the Hyundai brand starting in 2008. The GV70 continues sharing many underpinnings with the popular G70 sedan.  

Both Genesis and Hyundai continue promoting the consumer-friendly and value-added (no extra charge) 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, one of the longest within the American automotive sector and a key differentiator for both brands. 

A mid-cycle refresh adorns both GV70 versions in 2026 as the GV70 debuted back in the 2022 model year as the second crossover introduced by the relatively newly minted brand. The mid-size GV80 arrived one year prior circa 2021 when Genesis began pivoting towards crossovers. One of the most notable upgraded interior features includes the wide, flat, 27-inch single, narrow screen standing tall with a wall-like structure atop a multi-layer, padded dashboard. This structure combines a left-portion instrument panel display and right-side multi-function, multi-color display incorporating the sound system, navigation and information window.  

A redesigned G-Matrix upfront dual weave mesh grille flanks by a pair of narrow, rectangular two-line headlamps equipped with micro lens array (MLA) technology including 18 squarish bejeweled mini bulbs (two rows of nine) creating a distinct front-end stance ready to pounce. Lower air intake grills have a larger presence. The pair of narrow headlamps also repeat form in back along the liftgate as dual inline taillights and gently wrap around to rear fenders. A pair of inboard exhaust tips also adorn a new personality 

Above the grille, the winged Genesis medallion at the center front of the hood sandwiches between two center vertical creases extending up to the hood. Two additional curved creases start at the A-Pillar and meet up front at the outside edges of the grille. Strap light handles include pin-light illumination at night for easier access. Puddle lamps below the sideview mirrors project the winged Genesis logo to the pavement below. Wheel wells continue with a circular shape without black cladding.  

Genesis also tweaked steering and suspension in 2026 improving upon an already silky-smooth experience. The noticeably quiet interior adds to the upmarket experience especially with our tester including acoustic-treated rear-region glass. Ten exterior colors adorn the traditional ICE GV70 including a new Ceres Blue. The interior includes four Leather color options. 

Two engine choices carry over from the preceding year include a 2.5-liter inline turbocharged four cylinder cranking out and reaching 300 horsepower and a 3.5-liter, twin turbo V-6 generating 375 horsepower. Both team with a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission and require premium-grade fuel for optimal results when filling the sizeable 17.4-gallon tank. Both these engines power Genesis’ mid-sized GV80 crossover.  

Turbochargers run off recycled exhaust gases spinning a pinwheel-inspired turbine pumping higher air concentration into the engine resulting in additional horsepower. Twin turbos, employing two smaller yet faster spools, ensure quicker air pressure build-up, goosing up performance, while taming ‘turbo lag,’ a hesitation encountered periodically when aggressively summoning the accelerator pedal. 

Luxury and a limelight-like interior comfort take precedence over fuel economy with the V-6 turbo registering 18 miles per gallon city and 25 mpg highway. The inline four-cylinder adds more distance with 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.

The four-cylinder version arrives with four trim levels: Standard, Select, Advanced and Sport Prestige while the V-6 trims down to a pair: Advanced and Sport Prestige.  

Our V6 all-wheel drive turbo tester’s Sport Prestige trim arrived fully loaded with a $70,095 starting price. The sole factory extra arrived in the form of premium Mauna Red exterior paint ($650). After factoring in the $1,450 destination charge and $30 NFC key card, the bottom line landed at $72,225. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder Standard starts at a very competitive $48,985. 

The 3.5-liter Sport Prestige exclusively includes: heated second-row outboard seats, head-up windshield driver’s side display, row two climate controls, manual rear door shades, Nappa leather seating surfaces, microfiber suede headliner, acoustic rear door glass and electronic limited slip differential. 

Our interior combined a nifty Seville Red theme with Obsidian Black trim and hints of brushed aluminum. Seat cushions and backs featured a diamond pattern. Other interior color schemes include Obsidian Black as a solo flavor, Vanilla Beige with Obsidian Black trim, Havana Brown Ocean Waves, Frozen Gray with Urban Brown trim and a new Ultramarine Blue with Signature Orange stitching.  

Built into both V-6 engine trims and the 2.5-liter Sport Prestige trim, a driver seat/backrest featuring ‘Ergo Motion,’ providing a massage-like experience targeting the lower back helping ease fatigue during extended drives. This automatically generates soothing lower back rolling messages after about 45 minutes of travel.  

Side mirror housing include, ‘blind spot view monitors’ feeding a live broadcast video of side activity temporarily into animated instrument panel orbs. Summon the left turn signal and driver’s side live-action activity gets fed into an IP’s left-side orb. Signal right and passenger side activity gets highlighted. Once the turn or lane change is complete, the orbs return to their respective speedometer/IP functions. This convenient safety visual comes standard in most trims sans four cylinder Standard and Select.  

A half-dozen on-road drive modes, that update animation within the all-digital instrument panel when selected from a tab between the front buckets, tag along with three terrain modes (sand, snow and mud), a wide selection of grips and tailored to the multi-seasoned Midwest climate.  

An electronic, elegant, jewel-like rotary-style gear shifter also resides between the buckets with reverse, neutral and drive selected by gently twisting the dial left or right and watching the corresponding red highlight atop pinpoint R, N or D. Park engages with a push of a top central button. This wrist-twist design diverges greatly from most other mechanical pull designs but it’s easily adaptable. 

To the right of these inline twist dials, two inline beverage holders capable of handling super-sized cups. It’s very important to distinguish this rotary circle from a second turn dial just ahead which interacts with the brightly colored multi-function screen. These two dials employ slightly different sizes and tactile feels, but their proximity to one another can cause confusion especially when eyes focus on the road and piloting activities ahead.  

The dial interacting with the flat multi-function screen resides near three small rectangular push buttons (Home, Menu, Back) all helping ease through screen tutorials. Press the menu button and rotates the dial to select from 19 main menu selections easily identified in a vertical picture-frame format identified via colorful pictures and words.  

 Below the long, Imax-like center screen portion one finds a pair of manually adjusting vertical air vents. Below the vents, eight push buttons interact with the screen above flanked by an on/off volume dial and tuning dial. The screen also works with finger touches and swipes if so desired. Functions such as ambient interior pen light trim selections (a dozen or so available hues) monitor through the touch screen’s ’vehicle’ sub menu found within the ‘Set Up’ main menu selection box. 

The HVAC control operate separate from the Infotainment screen (when desired) from a lower a plank connecting the central dash with the region between front buckets creating one continuous curved flow highlighted by eye-appealing carbon fiber pattern within the Sport Prestige trim. Two dials at each end of the plank monitor dual front temperature zones with touch-sensitive commands in between. Front and rear defroster buttons reside within this community as well. If so desired, HVAC commands also work through the touch screen main menu by selecting the ‘Climate’ box. The rather small circular electron start/stop push button locates to the left on the dashboard left of the power-operated steering column.  

Inside A Pillars drape with a suede-like soft-touch material adding to the elegance factor within the V-6 Sport Prestige trim. All remaining trims enjoy cloth fabric. The flat wireless charger resides just in front of the armrest/deep storage bin hinged at the back between the comfortable and supportive front buckets. The charger comes standard in all trim levels sans the ‘standard’ 2.5-liter four banger.  

Row two features decent head room but limited leg room thanks to the traditional vertical floor hump sectioning off the floor into two equal orbs. While marketed as a five-seater, two adults enjoy maximum comfort within its compact-sized frame.  

With the 60/40-split second row backrest prone, a usable and functional 29 cubic feet of cargo space awaits, enough for a golf bag, pet supplies, and a pair of mid-size carry-on luggage rollers. Four liftgate lift opening heights select through the touch screen’s ‘vehicle’ sub menu (with ‘full open’ the recommended choice). Peek under the flat cargo floor to find a temporary spare tire and accompanying jack. These once ubiquitous pair of emergency items no longer arrive standard in many vehicles.  

Worthy Eurasian competitors within the luxury compact crossover community include the Lexus RX, BMW X3 and Acura RDX. With starting price and ample starting features slotting in under $50,000, GV70 rates as the value-driven winner. 

As of the fall of 2025, Genesis counts close to 75 ‘Premier Showrooms’ scattered across America including six in the Chicagoland area. These ‘exclusive’ showrooms provide spacious access to all Genesis models with no Hyundai-branded vehicles in sight. The two newest Chicago-area stores, Genesis of Schaumburg and Genesis of Aurora, join four established franchises including: Genesis of Algonquin, Genesis of North Aurora, Genesis of Highland Park and Genesis of Elgin. In addition, several Hyundai franchises still promote Genesis products within their showroom footprint as the number of stand-alone Genesis Premier Showrooms scale up. The sooner this occurs, the better the odds Genesis and Hyundai view as distinct brands, although still under the same corporate umbrella.  

Peace of mind follows all Genesis purchases with an array of follow-up and get-to-know-you services. Besides the industry’s longest powertrain warranty (10 years or 100,000 miles), purchasers enjoy five years of roadside assistance and three years (or 36,000 miles) of complementary routine maintenance from an authorized dealership.  

At A Glance: 2026 Genesis GV70 
Price as tested: $72,225 
Engine: 3.5-liter V-6 turbo 
Horsepower: 375 
Wheelbase: 113.2 inches  
Length: 185.6 inches  
Height: 64.2 inches  
Width: 75.2 inches 
Fuel Economy: 18 mpg city/ 25mpg highway 
Curb weight: 4,738 pounds 
Powertrain warranty: 10 years/100,000 miles  
Assembly: Montgomery, Alabama