2023 Genesis GV70 vs 2023 Honda HR-V

Honda’s subcompact SUV gets a makeover inside and out. Previously based on the Fit, the new HR-V shares the global architecture that also underpins the Civic.

Honda continues to narrow trim options: There were once as many as five, but the Touring trim level got the axe after the 2022 model year. The three trims for 2023 are LX, Sport, and EX-L. We drove the top trim, EX-L, through a mountainous test course.

New styling plus the newly standard Honda Sensing suite of safety features put this latest HR-V back at the front of the pack it led when it debuted in 2016.

The definition of luxury has changed. No matter where you look in the various premium vehicle segments, there are entrants that you may not have seen decades ago. From performance SUVs to subcompact crossovers, there are new takes on upscale vehicles. But just as crucially is the entrance of new players. In 2015, the Genesis brand was officially spun off from Hyundai. And with the brand’s expansion into various segments, a compact SUV like the 2023 Genesis GV70 was a must. Competitors include the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Acura RDX, Porsche Macan, and others.

The GV70 was introduced for the 2022 model year and for 2023, an all-electric model joins the lineup. We evaluated the GV70 on the whole, but with a special focus on how effective the 2023 Genesis GV70 Electrified is for the Korean automaker as an EV and as a compact luxury crossover.