In less than a decade, Genesis went from one rebadged Hyundai to a seven-car lineup with the most original styling on the market, impeccable interiors, dedicated dealerships, and a Le Mans racing team. All but two of its models were still in their first generation at the time of writing, and yet the quality and execution feel like Genesis has been around since Lexus, Infiniti, and Acura started in the 1980s.
Genesis GV70 Buying Guide: Cost, Reliability, and the Best Years to Buy
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The GV70, a compact two-row crossover, is one of four Genesis SUVs. It slots between the electric GV60 and the midsize GV80 and GV80 Coupe. It features turbocharged inline-four or V6 engines (along with an electric version), loads of technology, and fashionable colour schemes. The GV70 competes with the Acura RDX, Audi Q5, BMW X3, Lexus NX, Lincoln Corsair, and Mercedes-Benz GLC. At the time of writing, many used GV70 models are still covered by the Genesis Canada’s five-year/100,000-kilometre warranty.
Genesis GV70 Buying Guide: Cost, Reliability, and the Best Years to Buy
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Genesis GV70 Pros and Cons
- Genesis GV70 Generations
- Genesis GV70 First Generation (2022-Present)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Genesis GV70 years are the best?
The 2026 GV70 is the best model year to date. It has a revised suspension and steering that provide more agile handling and a full tech update with the latest infotainment on a 27-inch curved display.
Which Genesis GV70 years are the worst?
No model year of the GV70 is the worst. The powertrains and software have been reliable since the 2019 G70 debuted, so durability has not been a concern. However, to be extra careful, avoid the 2022 model year for potential first-year production issues.
Is a used Genesis GV70 a good deal?
Yes. There are plenty of three to four-year-old Genesis GV70s with reasonable kilometre counts listed at CarGurus.ca for $40,000 or less. For a vehicle that starts at $60,000 new without options, there is great value in buying a used GV70.
Genesis GV70 Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Stylish design
- Standard all-wheel drive
- Impressive technology
Cons:
- Low range on electric models
- No hybrid option
- Not as sporty a drive as the G70 sedan (pre-2026 models)
Genesis GV70 Generations
Genesis GV70 First Generation (2022-Present)
For a luxury SUV in its first and only generation, the Genesis GV70 has won plenty of praise from professional car reviewers who have tested generations of luxury SUVs from American, German, and Japanese brands — us included.
While Genesis is a subsidiary of Hyundai, the vehicle’s chassis, engines, design, and even parts down to the vanity mirror lights are exclusive to Genesis. The GV70 is based on a rear-wheel drive (RWD) architecture that was engineered specifically for Genesis and shares no core structure with front-wheel drive (FWD) Hyundai and Kia crossovers.
Every detail of the GV70 makes it unique: the double-bar headlights and turn signals, elaborate lattice pattern on the grille, double-bar taillights, and a swept-back, muscular profile. The interior is a mix of fine leathers, quilted stitching, soft lighting, elaborate colours, and a great tactility to the controls.
The 2022 GV70 launched with a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower, 311 pound-feet of torque, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive (AWD). A 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 with 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque was optional. Fuel economy was initially estimated by Natural Resources Canada at 10.7 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 8.4 on the highway, and 9.7 combined on 2.5T trims and 12.9 L/100 km city, 10.0 highway, and 11.6 combined on 3.5T trims. Ratings on the smaller engine went up slightly in later years to 11.8 L/100 km city, 9.0 highway, and 10.6 combined.
While the 2.5T is adequate, the 3.5T is explosive off the line and delivers a sporty, if not altogether balanced, driving experience. In our testing, we found the transmission programming to be either too lazy in the normal driving mode or revving too high in sport mode, while shift quality and reaction time were below the best of the segment. Also, the suspension allowed too much roll even with the 3.5T's standard adaptive dampers, and the steering was vague off-centre compared to the precise and confident G70 3.3T sedan. Still, the GV70's good ride and luxurious demeanour made it a worthy competitor, if not a true driver's SUV like the X3 and AMG versions of the GLC, for example. Headroom and legroom were ample for the compact class, along with 818 litres of cargo space (1,611 litres with the rear seat folded).
Safety is impressive. The GV70 has been awarded an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation for each model year, though only 2024 and later model years had structural improvements to the B-pillars, side sills, and front doors. For 2024 and later model years (built after November 2023) Genesis installed new rear seat belts for better crash protection, according to the IIHS. The GV70 scored five out of five stars in NHTSA crash tests, but only four out of five stars for the driver in a frontal crash.
A front-centre airbag is standard, which acts a side-impact airbag between the two front seats, along with forward emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane keep assist, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors, driver attention warning, safe exit assist, auto high beams, and semi-automated driving (Highway Driving Assist).
As of 2026, there are three Genesis GV70 trim levels in Canada. The 2.5T Advanced had a power hands-free liftgate that opened automatically when the proximity key was nearby, along with spec such as full LED headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, 19-inch wheels, a 12-way heated power driver's seat with four-way lumbar, an eight-way heated power passenger's seat, a heated steering wheel, leatherette vinyl upholstery, auto-dimming rearview mirror, a 27-inch colour display combining a digital instrument cluster and touchscreen infotainment system, a navigation system and over-the-air updates for five years, , a nine-speaker sound system with SiriusXM, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, a wireless phone charger, digital key technology, four USB ports, front and rear parking sensors, remote parking that allows the vehicle to be controlled from the outside using the key fob (known as Remote Smart Parking Assist), and five years of Genesis Connected Services (remote access via app, plus more).
The GV70 2.5T’s Advanced Technology Package adds 21-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats with memory, duplicate passenger seat controls on the upper backrest, power-folding mirrors with puddle lamps, power tilt/telescope steering wheel, aluminum trim, and safety features including a 360-degree surround-view monitor and blind spot cameras.
The 2.5T Prestige adds a more aggressive front and rear bumper, Nappa leather seating, a massaging driver's seat with power torso bolsters and cushion extension, heated outboard rear seats, and more.
The 3.5T Sport comes standard with everything on the 2.5T Prestige plus adaptive dampers with road preview (which used the front camera to detect road conditions and adjust the damper firmness), an electronic limited-slip rear differential with active torque vectoring, metal pedals, carbon fibre trim, a digital rear-view mirror, optional suede seat inserts, a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system, and more.
The GV70 can be ordered with four shades of matte paint including green and blue, and it offers 10 interior colours and upholstery options across the various trims including a navy blue with red seat belts, violet and grey, and other striking combinations.
For 2023, Genesis introduced the Electrified GV70. The solid grille sported a hidden charging port, while restyled front and rear bumpers and wheels were the only clues this GV70 had a 77.4-kWh battery with two electric motors. Total output was 429 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, with 483 hp available in 10-second bursts. The NRCan-estimated range was 380 to 402 kilometres depending on the model year. Two trims were available in Advanced and Prestige.
The 2026 GV70 comes with a new dash design that replaces the previous instrument binnacle and top-mounted touchscreen for a single 27-inch OLED display with new software, new steering wheel controls, new climate controls, upgraded headlights, new wheels, a different grille pattern, and enhancements to the steering and suspension. In our test drive of a 3.5T Sport, the 2026 GV70 felt more agile and controlled in the corners and the transmission shift quality was notably smoother and quicker. A larger battery increased range to 402 kilometres on the Electrified GV70.
Base prices for the 2026 GV70 range from $60,000 to $84,000 for gas trims and from $78,500 to $88,500 for the Electrified GV70. At CarGurus.ca, prices for a used Genesis GV70 range from roughly $30,000 for earlier base models to $70,000 for late-model Sport and Electrified GV70 models.
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by Clifford Atiyeh
Clifford Atiyeh has hosted, directed, and produced more than 300 series-length videos for CarGurus since 2016. He has reported and photographed for dozens of websites, magazines, and newspapers over 20 years, including The Boston Globe, Car and Driver, and Road & Track. Clifford runs CHA Creative, which provides industry analysis and brand marketing to automotive clients.
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