2023 Genesis GV70 vs 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2023 Genesis GV70 was a striking blend of luxury and style, drawing inspiration from its sedan counterpart, the G70. Its design featured split-bar headlights and a distinctive chrome line that elegantly curved from behind the rear window, giving it a coupe-like appearance without sacrificing versatility. Inside, the GV70's cabin was a testament to luxury, with top-notch materials and a design that was both contemporary and classic. The climate controls were seamlessly integrated into a curving bezel, and the touchscreen rose organically from the dash, offering a user-friendly interface backed by a rotary dial and button controls.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a larger, more rugged-looking SUV, designed with practicality in mind. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with several other Toyota models, offering a spacious interior that was larger than most of its competitors. Its design was more conservative and blocky, reminiscent of the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride, with a trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights lending it a rugged appearance. Inside, the Grand Highlander offered a comfortable and well-built cabin, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room across all three rows, making it an ideal choice for families.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered two powertrains: a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine delivering 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, providing a refined and well-rounded driving experience. The Electrified GV70 featured a 77.4-kWh battery powering two electric motors, producing a combined 429 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, with a Boost Mode increasing output to 483 horsepower for short bursts. It offered a range of 383 kilometres and could charge from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes on a fast charger.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with three engine options: a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid with 245 combined net horsepower, and the Hybrid Max powertrain with 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. All models featured all-wheel drive, with the Hybrid Max offering impressive acceleration and a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. While the Grand Highlander was not designed for sporty performance, it provided adequate power for everyday driving, with solid brakes and a choice of drive modes to suit different driving conditions.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered 1,611 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 818 litres with the seats in use, making it competitive in the compact luxury SUV segment. It featured a hands-free power liftgate, large cupholders in the centre console, and a comfortable front seating area. However, rear legroom was tighter, requiring front-row occupants to adjust their seats for rear passenger comfort.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander boasted a spacious interior, with a total cargo capacity of 2,761 litres, surpassing many of its rivals. It offered 1,640 litres of space behind the second-row seats and 583 litres with all three rows up. The Grand Highlander provided ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in every row, ensuring comfort for all passengers, including those in the third row.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 featured a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. It included four USB ports, wireless device charging, and a nine-speaker stereo system, with options for a Lexicon 18-speaker audio system and Genesis digital key. The touchscreen was user-friendly, but the proximity of the rotary dial to the vehicle's shifter could cause confusion.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. An intelligent assistant and cloud-based navigation were available through a connected-services subscription. The Grand Highlander Limited and Platinum trims featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo, providing a balanced audio experience.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 was equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. It received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, highlighting its strong safety credentials.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard, featuring automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, and adaptive cruise control. While it had not yet been crash-tested, its extensive list of advanced driver assistance systems provided peace of mind for drivers.