When talking about luxury crossover SUVs, the BMW X3, Audi Q5, and Mercedes-Benz GLC are usually top of mind. But I think that the 2026 Genesis GV70 is a luxury crossover SUV that provides more value for your money than the German rivals. Here’s how.
Performance
Engine – The Genesis GV70 is available with a couple of powertrains just like the German rivals. The base 2.5 L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine is more powerful than the equivalent 2.0L turbo engines in the German cars as it produces 300 hp & 311 lb-ft of torque (224 kW & 422 Nm). The optional engine is a 3.5L twin-turbocharged V6 which produces 375 hp & 391 lb-ft of torque (280 kW & 530 Nm). This optional engine is not as powerful as the X3 M50 or GLC 43 AMG, but it still packs a big enough punch to quickly motivate the GV70. The only drawback when it comes to optional engines in the Genesis GV70, is the lack of a plug-in hybrid option. The rivals have a PHEV option.
Motor – However, unlike some rivals, the 2026 Genesis GV70 is available as a battery electric vehicle. The Genesis GV70 Electric is powered by two electric motors which produce a combined output of 429 hp & 516 lb-ft of torque (320 kW & 700 Nm). That is, most of the time. When pressing the “Boost” button on the steering wheel, the GV70 Electric produces 483 hp (360 kw) for up to 10 seconds. The German rivals have electric versions too but the BMW & Mercedes options will only be available in 2026 while the electric Q5 is actually called the Q6 e-tron. This GV70 produces right around the same power as the Q6 and almost as much power as the SQ6 e-tron when activating Boost mode.
Fuel Economy – Unfortunately the engines that are available in the Genesis GV70 are not as efficient as those found under the hoods of the rivals. The 2.5L turbo is rated for 12 L/100km (19.6 MPG) in a city and 8.9 L/100km (26.4 MPG) on a highway while the TT V6 of my demo vehicle is rated for 13.1 L/100km (17.9 MPG) in a city and 9.4 L/100km (25 MPG) on a highway. I averaged 11.2 L/100km (21 MPG) during my time with the gasoline version. Unlike its rivals, the GV70’s engines do not have a mild-hybrid setup.
Battery, Range, & Charging – The electric version of the 2026 Genesis GV70 is rated to drive for up to 402 km (250 Miles). However, when fully recharging the 84 kWh battery pack, the car was estimating a driving range of almost 450 km. During my week with the GV70 Electric, I managed an efficiency rating of 19.3 kWh/100 km (3.22 Miles/kWh). The Electrified GV70 has an 800 Volt architecture which allows it to be recharged at a rate of up to 350 kW. At that speed, 10% to 80% takes just 19 minutes. From a 50 kW charger, the same state of charge takes approximately an hour and 10 minutes.
Transmission – Both the twin-turbocharged V6 engine and the 4-cylinder engine are paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. This transmission shifts gears very smoothly and it knows which gear to choose given the driving characteristics. It’s quick to react to driver inputs, particularly in the Sport+ drive mode, but it’s not quite as snappy as the ZF 8-speed in the BMW X3 M50.
As for the Electrified Genesis GV70, it has a 1-speed “transmission”, if it can even be called that. But you can make it feel as though it has an 8-speed automatic transmission. New for 2026 is the ability to “shift gears” in the electric GV70. It’s all done through programming as this car does not actually have an 8-speed transmission. It uses the same programming that makes the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N have an 8-speed automatic transmission. That means you can change gears with the paddle shifters, you can rev the engine and drive it much like the gasoline version.
Braking – Stopping the 2 tonne SUV are 4-piston front brake calipers and single piston rear calipers. The brake pedal can be set to two different modes; Normal and Sport. The latter makes the pedal overly assisted and sensitive for daily use on city streets. But it provides a lot of stopping force when driving more enthusiastically. For city driving, Normal is better as it allows for smooth stops.
In the Electric GV70, it uses similar brakes but with the addition of regenerative braking. It has 4 different levels which can be adjusted through the steering wheel mounted paddles. Level 0 provides no regen braking while level 4 provides one-pedal driving. Genesis calls this the “i-pedal”. There’s also an Auto regen mode. This uses the built-in navigation system to let the car know where it is and it uses the front sensors to detect any vehicle ahead. If that vehicle is close to you, it will provide more regen braking. If it’s far away or there isn’t any vehicle ahead, it provides very little regen braking. I personally don’t like this mode because it always changes. I just leave it in level 3 or use the i-pedal.
Handling – Whether the GV70 is equipped with the 2.5L or 3.5L engine, it comes with AWD. This is a rear biased AWD system which gives the GV70 a sporty driving characteristic. This Sport trim comes equipped with an electronically controlled limited slip differential for better power control through corners and the AWD system can send 100% of the engine’s power to those rear wheels. Coupled with adaptive dampers, the 2026 Genesis GV70 feels athletic and planted on a twisty road. If you’re gentle with the throttle and steering inputs, the back end doesn’t step out of line and instead just grips out of a corner. Body roll is well controlled by the adaptive dampers in the Sport+ mode but without giving you a harsh ride.
With the addition of the big battery pack, the electrified Genesis GV70 is significantly heavier than the gasoline-only version. With that being said, the standard adaptive dampers do a great job of resisting body roll through corners while in Sport mode. In the other drive modes, there is noticeable roll through corners. Plus, regardless of which drive mode the car is in, you can feel that extra weight pulling the car to the outside of a corner. Push too hard into the twisties and this heavy SUV will understeer. Additionally, there is torque steer as the car exits a corner. That is, the front wheels slightly tugging to the left or right under hard acceleration thus dictating the car’s direction. It’s not too extreme like the 2000’s hot hatch, but you should be mindful of it. Overall, this version of the GV70 has lost some of the agility of the gasoline-only GV70.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – The adaptive dampers have an ace up their sleeves because they are paired with the forward facing camera to scan the road ahead and quickly adjust to any bumps or potholes the camera may detect. As a result, the ride is fantastic in Comfort mode.
Further aiding to the comfort are the seats in the front. The driver’s seat has a few more adjustments than the passenger which include thigh support and a body ergonomics feature. It’s like a massaging feature but it’s main purpose is to prevent your bum or lower back from feeling too numb or sore.
Interior Space – Like many other compact SUVs, the front occupants have plenty of space. Though headroom is a tiny bit less in the GV70 compared to its rivals. In the back seats, the GV70 has about the same amount of legroom as the BMW X3. That means, behind my tall driving position, my knees are squished and I have to keep my legs a bit more spread out. Headroom is pretty good with more being available if the back seats are fully reclined. Occupant space is that same between the gasoline and electric versions of the Genesis GV70.
In the trunk, the gasoline GV70 has a tiny bit more space at 818 L (28.9 cu-ft) vs 813 L (28.7 cu-ft) in the electric version. With the rear seats folded, cargo capacity increases to 1,611 L (56.9 cu-ft) & 1,601 L (56.5 cu-ft) respectively. Both versions have a bit of space under the trunk floor with the gasoline version having a spare wheel but the EV GV70 has a tire repair kit. Sadly, the 2026 GV70 Electric loses its frunk storage compartment.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – Thanks to the smooth ride and well insulated cabin, the GV70 provides a quiet and serene interior. Engine, wind, and tire noises are well subdued even on highways. But this being a more sporty version of the GV70, you can introduce some engine noises into the cabin through the stereo system. It sounds good but it is fake at the end of the day. Unfortunately the real engine noises are hard to hear thanks to the well insulated cabin.
One of the biggest benefits to an electric powertrain is the lack of engine noises & vibrations. For luxury cars, the transition to an EV powertrain is all the better. Manufacturers go to great lengths to isolate engine NVH but that’s not necessary in a battery electric vehicle. One thing that engineers do have to account for is road noise. Thankfully, the electric GV70’s cabin is well isolated from tire noise, both in a city and on highways. It is really quiet.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2026 Electrified Genesis GV70 starts at $78,500 CAD ($64,380 USD) which is around the same price as the Audi Q6 e-tron. This Prestige version has a price of $88,500 CAD ($75,350 USD).
As for the gasoline version, the 2026 GV70 with the 4-cylinder engine starts at $60,000 CAD ($48,985 USD) which is a little bit more expensive than the equivalent German rivals. But a fully loaded GV70 will cost you $84,000 CAD ($71,095 USD, Sport Prestige) which is less than an equivalently equipped German rival.
Gadgets – So what do you get for your money? A lot of stuff. Of course the GV70 has the same luxury features that you’d expect from an SUV costing this much. Navigation, heated & ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, panoramic sunroof, power liftgate, head-up display, microfiber suede headliner, surround view cameras, 3-zone automatic climate control, ambient lighting system, and so on.
Unique features to the GV70 include a fingerprint scanner that will allow you to lock your driver profile and valet mode. There’s also highway driving assist which is similar to GM’s SuperCruise but you can only take your hands off the steering wheel for brief periods. An interesting feature with the HDA is the ability to adjust the characteristics of the adaptive cruise control. You can have it accelerate more quickly or more smoothly up to speed. Another cool feature is the remote parking which allows you to get out of the SUV and move it forwards or backwards into a tight parking spot with just the key fob.
New for the 2026 model year is the single piece of screen display which integrates the infotainment system and the driver instrumentation. The infotainment system can also be controlled through a rotary dial on the center console should you want to keep the screen free of fingerprints. The system is exactly the same as you’d find in other Genesis vehicles with the EV version having an EV pane. There you can see EV related information such as battery charge, nearest charging stations, and charging schedule among others. This system is capable of displaying Apple CarPlay & Android Auto both of which are wireless to connect.
Interior Design – As a company, Genesis has not existed for very long. But in that time, they have managed to produce one of the nicest interiors among luxury vehicles. The quilted leather is soft to the touch, there are real portions of aluminum (or carbon fiber depending on the trim), and nearly all of the materials exude a premium feel. Plus, who doesn’t like orange seat belts? Genesis has kept a few physical controls but others are integrated into a separate touchscreen. For example, the climate temperature can be changed by the knobs but the heated seat controls or the air direction are controlled in the small touchscreen between each temperature knob.
Exterior Design – The most significant change to the 2026 Genesis GV70 is its exterior styling. The front and rear fascias have been given a different style from the previous model years. Sadly, the rear of the GV70 no longer has the unique exhaust pipes that one could easily distinguish the 4-cylinder engine from the V6. Now, it’s only the V6 that flaunts the exhaust pipes while the 4-cylinder version has hidden exhaust pipes. To the side, the GV70 receives some updated wheels with two stripes next to each spoke. Overall, the Genesis GV70 still has an elegant yet sporty design.
Safety – There is nothing that this car is missing when it comes to driver & safety aids. Everything from automatic emergency braking to blind spot sensors to rear cross traffic emergency braking and everything in between, this car has it all.
Warranty – Unlike the German rivals, the 2026 Genesis GV70 is covered by a 5 year / 100,000 km new vehicle and powertrain warranty in Canada. In the United States, the new vehicle warranty is 5 years / 60,000 miles but the powertrain warranty is 10 years / 100,000 miles. Better yet, Genesis vehicles come with a valet service. So when it’s time to take the car for a service, Genesis will pick it up for you and provide a vehicle for you until your car has had its service done. For more information on Canadian warranty, click here. For information on USA warranty, click here.
Conclusion – So how does the 2026 Genesis GV70 stack up against the established luxury offerings? Very well. Not only does it offer the same gadgets, same engine options (sans a PHEV option), an electric version, and the same level of comfort, but the Genesis GV70 is also less expensive when compared feature for feature. As a result, I think it’s a better value for your money.
Thank you to Genesis Canada for providing the 2026 GV70 Sport and 2026 Electrified GV70. www.Genesis.com
2026 Genesis GV70 Sport Gallery
2026 Genesis GV70 Electrified Gallery
