2022 Genesis GV70 vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2022 Genesis GV70 stood out with its distinctive styling, a hallmark of Korean automotive brands. It diverged from the rest of the Genesis lineup, featuring the brand’s signature two-line lighting that created an illusion of a contiguous circle around the vehicle. The GV70’s design was unique, with a shoulder line and accent lines that set it apart from other Genesis models. The Sport and Sport Plus grades, equipped with a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6, featured a sculpted hood aligning with the Genesis crest-shaped logo, and dark chrome finishes that emphasized its sporty intent. Customers could choose from over 100 colour combinations, with exclusive options for the Sport grades, enhancing the vehicle’s personalized appeal.

Inside, the GV70’s cabin was designed with an elliptical theme inspired by airplane wings. The Sport trims offered genuine carbon fibre inserts, and a backlit graphic design was available in some interiors. The premium grades boasted quilted leather seats and door panels, while the overall interior quality was high, with minimal use of plastic. The GV70’s interior was both luxurious and functional, with a focus on driver-centric ergonomics.

The 2023 Ford Escape, meanwhile, adopted a more European design language, moving away from the blocky exterior of its predecessors. The 2023 refresh introduced a traditional front end with a stylish LED light bar and the Ford blue oval logo. The Escape, one of the smallest vehicles in Ford’s lineup, offered a sleek design with body-colour mirror caps and wheel-arch cladding, giving it an upscale appearance akin to a Mazda CX-5. The ST-Line Elite trim featured 19-inch wheels, enhancing its aesthetic appeal.

Inside, the Escape’s ST-Line Elite trim showcased diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable and supportive, with a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat. The interior was practical, with well-positioned armrests and a head-up display for easy adjustment. However, the Escape’s interior was dominated by plastic, which felt cost-cutting in some areas, though the centre console had a nice textured appearance.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered two engine options. The 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder produced 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, while the 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 delivered 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. The V6 engine positioned the GV70 against mid-level performance competitors, with power figures surpassing several German counterparts. Fuel consumption for the V6 was estimated at 11.6 L/100 km combined, with real-world testing showing slightly lower figures. The GV70 featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada, with a rear-axle torque bias. The Sport Plus grade included an electronic limited-slip differential, enhancing performance. The GV70 offered Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ drive modes, with Sport+ delivering aggressive throttle response and partial traction control disabling. The electronically controlled suspension system balanced road feel and comfort, and the GV70’s turning radius was notably tight.

The 2023 Ford Escape differentiated itself with multiple powertrain options. The 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine produced 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in FWD or AWD. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with AWD. Despite the four-cylinder’s output, the Escape was not a performance crossover, with a soft suspension and no paddle shifters. The brakes offered predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding twitchy inputs common in the segment.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 prioritized driver-centric design, with a tall centre console separating the driver from the front passenger. Intuitive button and dial controls, including a dial-based gear selector, were within easy reach. The infotainment system was controlled by a raised dial, providing a pleasant user experience. Climate controls were configured under a single pane, offering haptic feedback. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, with ventilated front seats and heated rear seats available. The rear passenger could adjust the front passenger seat for legroom, and a panoramic sunroof added natural light. Cargo volume was 819 litres behind the second row, expanding to 1,610 litres with seats folded. The GV70’s ergonomics and functionality were above average, despite some minor steering wheel function issues.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered comfortable seating and excellent ergonomics. The steering wheel felt great to hold, and armrests were well-positioned. The head-up display was easy to adjust for different drivers. Cargo space was 1,061 litres behind the second row, expanding to 1,851 litres with seats folded, though it fell short of segment leaders. Passenger space was slightly less than competitors, but rear-seat headroom was impressive. The front-seat backs were padded and scalloped, maximizing space for tall passengers.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 excelled in technology, featuring a 14.5-inch high-definition LCD infotainment screen with high-resolution graphics. The system allowed for a split-screen layout, integrating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The premium Sport Plus grade included a 3D digital instrument cluster, enhancing the display with layered graphics. The Blind View Monitor system projected camera views onto the instrument cluster, and a fingerprint recognition system allowed keyless vehicle start. A nine-speaker audio system was standard, with an 18-speaker Lexicon surround sound system on top grades. USB ports were available for both front and rear passengers.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with Sync 4 technology. Lower trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen, while higher trims had a 13.2-inch screen. Sync 4 was well-organized, with tiles for navigation, music, and Bluetooth. The system allowed easy navigation between Android Auto and native navigation. A wi-fi hotspot was available with a subscription. Sync 4 had a static “Home” button for easy access to various applications. The system was slightly slow to respond, and the volume knob’s placement was inconvenient. A six-speaker sound system was standard, with a Bang & Olufsen system optional on higher trims.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 included ten standard safety features, such as blind spot collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and forward collision avoidance assist. A new rear occupant alert system used radar to detect movement in the second row. The Highway Driving Assist system offered lane centring and automatic lane changing, though it required hands-on operation. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal- and side-crash tests and four stars in the rollover test. The IIHS did not award a Top Safety Pick designation, noting a Marginal score in the side-impact test. The Escape featured Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, and lane-centring technology, along with a surround-view camera.