2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vs 2023 Genesis GV70

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid borrowed styling elements from Toyota's Tacoma pickup, notably its trapezoidal grille and upright fascia, giving it a rugged look popular among midsized SUVs. However, the design softened on the sides with a character line swooping over the rear wheel arch, a flourish also seen on the Toyota Supra and Sienna. This added visual weight, making the Highlander appear somewhat bloated. The rear echoed the trapezoidal grille, but the overall design felt disjointed compared to more cohesive competitors like the Kia Telluride and Honda Pilot. Inside, the Highlander's unconventional asymmetrical dash featured a metallic styling element that spanned the passenger side, creating a storage tray and breaking up monotony. The infotainment touchscreen was positioned high on the dash for easy visibility. The Bronze Edition introduced 18-inch bronze alloy wheels and light grey fabric upholstery with a triangle motif, which seemed more suited to paper towels than car interiors. The Softex synthetic leather substitute felt more like vinyl, and genuine leather was only available on higher trims.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 shared styling cues with the G70 compact luxury sedan, particularly above the belt-line, with split-bar headlights and a strong chrome line that suggested a coupe-like SUV without sacrificing versatility. Inside, the GV70's cabin was a testament to luxury, with top-notch materials and excellent fit and finish. The design was both contemporary and classic, with climate controls integrated into a curving bezel and a touchscreen that rose organically from the dash. The GV70's dash featured a full touchscreen backed by a rotary dial and button controls, offering a tactile experience superior to touch capacitive controls. In Canada, the GV70 was available in five trims with two powertrains, the 2.5T or 3.5T, and an Electrified GV70 model. The base 2.5T Advanced trim was well-equipped, while higher trims added features like a Lexicon premium audio system, head-up display, and Nappa leather seating. The Electrified GV70 impressed with its luxury credentials, featuring cream-coloured seats with quilt stitching and a high-contrast design.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and hybrid system, producing 243 horsepower. It featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive (AWD) in Canada, with an electric motor powering the rear axle for initial acceleration or additional traction. Toyota estimated a 0-100 km/h time of just over eight seconds, slightly slower than gasoline-only SUVs in its class. The hybrid powertrain provided a quick but tepid response from a standstill, with the gasoline engine supplying more power as needed. The engine hum was subtle under light acceleration but became a drone under heavy load. Braking was traditional, with a soft pedal feel and seamless transition from regenerative to physical brakes. The Highlander Hybrid offered a soft ride quality, smoothing over road imperfections while maintaining adequate cornering confidence. The cabin remained quiet on the highway, provided the engine wasn't pushed too hard.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 2.5T featured a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, while the 3.5T boasted a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 with 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both engines used an eight-speed automatic transmission and AWD. The turbo-four provided ample power for most situations, while the V6 appealed to performance enthusiasts with its extra grunt and throaty engine note. The GV70 balanced comfort and sharp handling, offering a refined driving experience. The Electrified GV70 used a 77.4-kWh battery pack with dual electric motors, producing 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. A Boost button increased output to 483 horsepower for short bursts. The electric GV70 had a range of 383 km and could fast charge from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes. It emitted an external "engine noise" and offered various cabin sound options. The Electrified GV70 prioritized comfort over sportiness, with handling comparable to its gas-powered counterparts.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid offered well-cushioned front seats with ample adjustments for drivers of all sizes. However, the driver's door armrest was awkwardly positioned, leaving the elbow unsupported. Storage was plentiful, with a deep tray under the infotainment screen, a small shelf in front of the passenger, and a large centre armrest bin. The second-row seats were spacious, accommodating tall passengers with ease, and featured sliding and reclining captain's chairs. A second-row bench was available as a no-cost option, increasing passenger capacity to eight. The third row was less accommodating, suitable for children or small adults on short trips. Cargo space behind the third row was 453 litres, expanding to 1,370 litres with the seats folded, and 2,387 litres with the second row stowed.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 provided 1,611 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 818 litres with the seats in use, above average for the compact luxury SUV segment. It featured a hands-free power liftgate. Up front, the GV70 had large cupholders in the centre console, though in-door cupholders couldn't accommodate larger bottles. A tray with a retractable lid and a centre console bin offered additional storage. The front seats were easily adjustable for comfort, but rear legroom was tighter, requiring front-row occupants to slide their seats forward. The rear bench reclined for added comfort.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard, with a 12.3-inch option available on top trims. The system was responsive, with logically organized menus and physical shortcut buttons for common features. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless charging on Limited and Platinum trims. Navigation and an 11-speaker JBL audio system were also standard on higher trims.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 came with a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The touchscreen was user-friendly, with large icons and logical menus. A rotary dial and buttons in the centre console provided additional control, though the dial was close to the rotary shifter, potentially causing confusion. The GV70 included four USB ports, wireless charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a nine-speaker stereo. Optional features included ambient lighting, a digital instrument panel, a Lexicon 18-speaker audio system, and the Genesis digital key.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with four stars for frontal collision and rollover protection. The IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick+. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. A surround view camera and head-up display were available on the Platinum trim. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist systems required some fine-tuning.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and highway driving assist. The 2.5T Advance Plus added a blind-spot camera and 360-degree parking camera, while reverse automatic emergency braking was part of the Prestige grade. The Electrified GV70 included most safety equipment as standard. The GV70 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.