Some of us who are rapidly approaching a certain age will clearly recall when Lexus (and Infiniti, to a lesser extent) first showed up on the luxury car scene and promptly took the establishment to school. Fast forward 30+ years and we find an upstart Korean brand attempting the same thing – and being largely successful.
The GV70 plugged an important hole in the Genesis lineup, given the perpetual thirst of Americans for crossovers and SUVs. Its unique lighting treatments might be a love-it-or-leave-it affair, but there’s no denying this thing brings the goods to a cutthroat segment.
Selecting the entry-level $41,500 trim means one will be in charge of a turbocharged four-banger making 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. This is lashed to a proper 8-speed automatic and not some sad-sack CVT. All-wheel drive is part of the deal, a corporate decision that surely pushed the Genesis GV70’s base price northward but is a smart move for this type of car. Upgrading to the $53,100 six-cylinder model brings a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 good for 375 ponies and 391 lb-ft of twist. It gets an 8-speed auto as well.
Telling the two apart in traffic (or on the lot) is easy thanks to a sufficiently different front valence and a spear of blacked-out trim which skewers the doors of a V6 model. A panoramic sunroof and bigger base wheels are also part of the V6 happy meal. Overall dimensions are identical, as one might expect. Adding one of three optional packages to the four-banger can upgrade it almost to par with its bigger-engined brother, bringing items like 21-inch wheels and leather seats. A power-operated liftgate, wireless device charging, and a 14.5-inch premium navigation system are standard equipment on all trims.
There are a few features not available on the I-4 at any price but do appear in V6 trims. If your backseat peanut gallery is a tad fussy, they will not be able to enjoy their own heated seats or their own climate control settings, for example, nor can the driver take advantage of a heads-up display or the trick 12.3-inch 3D-style digital gauge cluster. And, yes – after using such a screen in a Genesis sedan your author can confidently say it is a superfluous but neat party trick.
If one is content with the four-cylinder engine (and 300 horses are hardly a sum at which to sneeze), the $4,000 Select package is worth considering if you’re hell-bent on having features like a panoramic sunroof and an 18-speaker sound system. Beyond that, however, the additional packages start to encroach on the V6’s price territory. Since the 3.5T includes a vast majority of features for which one is paying extra on the 2.5T, that might be the smarter play.
Still, there’s a lot to like in the $41,500 trim. If this were an Ace of Base post, we’d be dusting off the trophy.
Please note the prices listed here are in American dollars and are currently accurate for base prices exclusive of any fees, taxes, or rebates. Your dealer may (and should) sell for less (obscene market conditions notwithstanding). Keep your foot down, bone up on available rebates, and bargain hard.
[Images: Genesis]
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No Iron Duke-sounding two point oh tee is worth spending this money on. Either electric or a number of cylinders other than four. The six is the only right spec.
Just realized this is actually a two point five tee but the point doesn’t change.
dal20402 – to your point, wasn’t the mighty Iron Duke a 2.5 liter???
Indeed. Although GM also had an equally unpleasant OHV 2.0L engine which it put in the first J-bodies.
A modern high-$$$ I-4 does not, in any way, sound like an Iron Duke. They’ve kinda figured out how to quite ’em down over the last 40+ years.
Sound is subjective. I grew up with four cylinders meaning cheap and slow, and I can’t get over the perception no matter how many E350s and A4 2.0Ts I get the chance to drive. The engines perform fine but I just hate the four-cylinder sound and won’t spend money for it, at least not without an electric motor or two also in the mix.
Base V6 in red for $53,675.
As long as you get the red interior as well. I like the all-blue interior – even the dash is matched.
“Unique lighting treatments”? Is the author referring to driving around at night without turning your lights on? Or not having automatic headlights/tail lights on a $40k + automobile?
At least it’s not the QX60 with those beyond-obnoxious Erin Andrews commercials YouTube keeps throwing at me!
Love that green color
I really like it …but it is a little small on interior room..a loaded Telluride or Palisade is a better choice and come with a V6
True, but the V6 in the Tellusade is not a turbo and actually puts out less power than either of the two the turbocharged engines in the GV70.
Totally different segments – that’s why there is the larger GV80 and the upcoming even larger GV90 (which would be the comparable to the Telluride/Palisade).
Even with the soon to arrive GV70 EV, Genesis needs to bring the supercharged MHEV T6 to the Sport version of the GV70 and at least add a 48V system to the T4.
On the Smoking Tire, Lieberman really liked the GV70 (said it was a lot of fun to drive).
“The Right Spec” might have to be whatever’s available on the lot.
And as for 4 vs 6 – Which has better fuel econ?
Nice dash, except for that protruding screen.
i like the divided taillight and headlight treatment and wonder why nobody considered it before. kinda reminds me of the impala/caprice 2 or 3 taillight signifier, except this just means genesis
This is competitively priced and offers a lot for the money. As for turbo 4s many crossovers including luxury one are offering turbo 4s but at least for now you can upgrade to a V6. Hyundai will gain more market share once they produce more of their chips. They have a winner.
Top trim Mazda CX-5 vs. base GV70…..hmmmm….decisions……
I see two really good looking small SUV’s with 2.5t and AWD. Both have good driving dynamics. Genesis gets the nod for a tad nicer interior but it is also a bit more expensive. The CX-5 interior wears well over time. I see older Genesis interiors looking beat down after lease turn in. Kinda like Infiniti interiors get sad looking after a few years.
If I was leasing might as well get a Mercedes GLC instead of the Genesis. If I was looking to own CX-5 would get the vote.
Doesn’t seem like much of a power gain for the up-spec motor.
What’s with all of these big grills that look like they’d be at home on the head of an electric shaver?
Why are you making this thread political, Lou?
The 2.5T is such a gem of an engine. Really powerful and honestly all you would ever need. Wish you could get it on the G70. Genesis knocked it out of the park with the GV70.