2023 Genesis GV70 vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2023 Genesis GV70 was a striking blend of luxury and style, drawing clear design inspiration from its sedan sibling, the G70. Its split-bar headlights and a distinctive chrome line that elegantly curved from behind the rear window were standout features, giving it a coupe-like SUV appearance without sacrificing versatility. Inside, the GV70's cabin was a testament to Genesis's luxury credentials, featuring top-notch materials and a design that was both contemporary and classic. The dashboard was equipped with a full touchscreen, complemented by a rotary dial and button controls, offering a user-friendly interface. The GV70's interior was a harmonious blend of aesthetics and functionality, with thoughtful touches like physical rollers for volume control, a feature that outshone the touch capacitive controls found in some competitors.

In contrast, the 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its rugged charm with a few updates, such as a new front fascia and LED fog lights for the Wilderness trim. The Outback's exterior was tastefully adorned with varying levels of black and chrome fittings, with the Premier XT trim showcasing the most chrome. The interior of the Outback, particularly in the Premier XT trim, was surprisingly upscale, featuring Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery that was both handsome and supple. The Outback's interior was designed with practicality in mind, offering a range of materials from StarTex synthetic leather to standard leather seating surfaces, depending on the trim. The Outback's design was a testament to Subaru's commitment to combining capability with a touch of luxury.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered a choice between two powerful engines. The 2.5T model was equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. For those seeking more power, the 3.5T variant featured a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, providing a balanced blend of power and handling. The GV70's performance was further enhanced by its well-rounded driving experience, offering both comfort and sharp handling. The Electrified GV70, with its 77.4-kWh battery and dual electric motors, delivered a combined 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, with a Boost Mode that temporarily increased output to 483 horsepower. Despite its impressive performance, the electric GV70 had a range of 383 kilometres, which was on the shorter side for modern EVs.

The 2024 Subaru Outback, true to its brand, was powered by a "Boxer" horizontally opposed engine. The base model featured a 2.5-litre flat-four engine, producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The XT trims, including the Wilderness, were equipped with a 2.4-litre turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine, offering 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This turbo setup also increased the towing capacity to 1,587 kilograms. The Outback's performance was complemented by Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission, which mimicked the feel of eight distinct gears. The Outback's ride was comfortable, thanks to its well-engineered suspension and substantial side walls. With a ground clearance of 22 centimetres, the Outback was ready for off-road adventures, and the Wilderness trim offered even more clearance at 24.1 centimetres.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 provided a practical amount of cargo space, with 1,611 litres available when the rear seats were folded, and 818 litres with the seats in use. This was complemented by a hands-free power liftgate, making loading and unloading a breeze. The GV70's interior was thoughtfully designed, with large cupholders in the centre console and a helpful tray with a retractable lid. While the front seats offered ample comfort and adjustability, the rear seats were a bit tighter on legroom, requiring some compromise from front-row occupants.

The 2024 Subaru Outback, despite its sleek design, did not compromise on interior space. It offered more headroom up front compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, and provided ample legroom in both the front and rear seats. The Outback's cargo area measured 923 litres with all seats in place and expanded to 2,141 litres with the rear seats folded. The Outback was well-equipped with features, including dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The hands-free power liftgate and power moonroof were standard from the Touring trim, and the Outback's roof rails with retractable cross bars added to its practicality.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 featured a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system was user-friendly, with large icons and logical menu navigation. Genesis also included a rotary dial and helpful buttons in the centre console, although the proximity of the rotary dial to the vehicle's rotary shifter could lead to confusion. The GV70 was equipped with four USB ports, wireless device charging, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. An 18-speaker Lexicon audio system and ambient lighting were available as options.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered a mix of old-school and modern technology. The Premier XT trim was the only one to feature a CD player, and Subaru included both USB-C and USB-A ports across all trims. The top-trim Outback boasted an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen, while the base Convenience trim retained a dual-7-inch-screen system. The Subaru Starlink multimedia platform, though dated in appearance, offered standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, with wireless functionality starting from the Touring trim. The Outback's climate controls were integrated into the touchscreen, with hard buttons for essential functions. A 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was standard on most trims, providing a premium audio experience.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 was equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and blind-spot monitoring. The 2.5T Advanced Plus trim added a blind-spot camera system and a 360-degree parking camera system, while reverse automatic emergency braking was available on the Prestige grade. The Electrified GV70 came standard with much of this equipment. The GV70 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, highlighting its strong safety credentials.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS, a slight step down from the previous year's Top Safety Pick+ designation. However, the NHTSA awarded both the 2023 and 2024 models five stars overall. The Outback's safety features included the EyeSight suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies, with adaptive cruise control, automatic pre-collision braking, and lane-keep assist as standard. The Touring trim added reverse automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Premier XT trim featured a digital rearview mirror and a driver-attention monitor, enhancing safety further.