2024 Genesis GV70 vs 2023 Subaru Forester

The 2023 Subaru Forester, despite its familiar and somewhat unremarkable exterior, offered a practical and functional design. Its Cascade Green Silica paint was reminiscent of many Foresters seen over the years, contributing to its classic, utilitarian appearance. The Premier trim, which was the focus of our evaluation, featured 18-inch alloy wheels and satin chrome exterior trim, enhancing its visual appeal. The Forester's design was characterized by its two-box shape, flared fenders, and distinctive lighting, though it wasn't particularly striking. Inside, the Forester Premier boasted brown leather upholstery, metallic accents, and a traditional Subaru layout with analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen. While hard plastics were prevalent, they contributed to the cabin's easy maintenance. The interior's busy design, with a mix of grey and silver cladding, was complemented by a user-friendly control layout, emphasizing practicality over aesthetics.

In contrast, the 2024 Genesis GV70 stood out with its sleek and stylish design, setting it apart within the Genesis lineup and its competitive segment. The GV70 retained signature Genesis styling elements like split headlights and a large grille, but its streamlined profile and distinctive details, such as the hatchback-like rear window and large exhaust outlets, added a touch of sophistication. The GV70's design struck a balance between SUV presence and luxury-car elegance, surpassing competitors like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3 in finesse. The Electrified GV70 maintained the same stylish exterior, with a shiny grille housing the charge port. Inside, the GV70's interior was a standout, featuring quilted Nappa leather, a panoramic sunroof, and unique design elements like an elliptical pod for controls and a rotary infotainment controller. The dashboard's rounded cross-section added a touch of innovation, making the GV70's interior both luxurious and distinctive.

The 2023 Subaru Forester was equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. This power was transmitted to all four wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with eight programmed ratios, enhancing the driving experience. The Forester featured Subaru's Intelligent Drive SI-Drive system, offering a Sport mode for improved responsiveness. Additionally, the X-Mode off-road traction control system, with hill descent control, was standard across all trims, with Deep Snow and Mud settings available from the Sport trim onwards. The Forester Wilderness trim further enhanced off-road capabilities with all-terrain tires and modifications. During testing, the Forester Premier demonstrated its prowess in adverse weather conditions, navigating flooded roads and muddy trails with ease. While the engine's performance was adequate, the Forester's driving dynamics, including its light steering, responsive brakes, and excellent suspension tuning, contributed to a comfortable and engaging ride. However, the Forester's fuel economy fell short of expectations, prompting a desire for a turbocharged engine or hybrid option.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered a range of powertrain options, including a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 with 375 hp and 391 lb-ft. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The Electrified GV70 featured front and rear electric motors, delivering a combined 429 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, with a Boost Mode providing 483 hp for short bursts. While the GV70 offered impressive straight-line acceleration, its chassis tuning didn't match the sportiness of rivals like the Acura RDX or BMW X3. The GV70's suspension, though comfortable, tended to crash over bumps, and its ride quality was average for its class. The Electrified GV70 maintained similar dynamics, with steering-wheel paddles for regenerative braking adjustment. Despite its weight, the Electrified model didn't feel more cumbersome than its gasoline counterpart, offering a competent but not sporty driving experience.

The 2023 Subaru Forester prioritized function over form, offering a practical and user-friendly interior. The Touring trim provided features like a panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. Higher trims offered StarTex artificial leather or genuine leather upholstery, along with dual-zone climate control and heated rear seats. The Forester's high seating position and large windows provided excellent visibility, making it easy to drive and park. However, the panoramic sunroof's lack of tinting led to excessive solar heating, and the rear seats lacked comfort for taller passengers. The Forester's doors were well-sealed, and interior storage was plentiful, with creative solutions for stashing items. The cargo area offered 762 litres of space, expandable to 1,957 litres with the rear seats folded, providing ample room for luggage and gear.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered competitive interior space, with slightly less headroom than some rivals but more front-seat legroom than the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. The GV70's cargo space of 818 litres with the rear seats up was better than the Mercedes but slightly less than the Audi Q5. Folding the rear seats provided 1,611 litres of cargo space. The Electrified GV70's interior space was minimally impacted by the battery pack, with slight reductions in legroom and headroom. The GV70's stylish interior design, featuring an orb-like infotainment controller and rotary shifter, limited small-item storage but included a dedicated phone storage nook and rear-seat climate controls. The Electrified GV70 also offered automatic side bolsters for the front seats, enhancing support during spirited driving.

The 2023 Subaru Forester's technology, while appearing outdated, offered practical features. The Base trim included a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and Starlink connected services. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system was available on higher trims. The Forester's user interface, with separate climate controls and easy-to-use knobs, was straightforward and appealing. However, the voice-recognition system was unreliable, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto preferable for navigation and other tasks.

The 2024 Genesis GV70's infotainment system, though simpler than rivals, was user-friendly. It featured a 14.5-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an 8-inch digital instrument cluster on lower trims, and a 12.3-inch unit with a 3D effect on higher trims. A 12-inch head-up display and a 16-speaker Lexicon audio system were also available. The touchscreen's intuitive layout and the high-quality rotary controller made operation easy. The GV70 included a fingerprint scanner for driver profiles, though digital key functionality was not yet available in Canada.

The 2023 Subaru Forester featured the next-generation EyeSight system, with updated software and cameras for improved performance. Adaptive cruise control was standard, and higher trims included Automatic Emergency Steering, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Rear Automatic Braking system, though occasionally overly sensitive, was standard on most trims. The DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System, available on higher trims, monitored driver attention and offered gesture control for climate settings. The Forester earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with some areas for improvement in side-impact and frontal-impact tests. The NHTSA awarded the Forester five-star crash-test ratings, with a four-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 received the IIHS's Top Safety Pick+ award for both gasoline and Electrified models. While complete NHTSA ratings were unavailable, the gasoline GV70 received four-star frontal and rollover crash-test ratings, with the 2023 model earning a five-star overall rating. The GV70 included standard safety features like lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Highway Driving Assist. The Highway Driving Assist 2 system added automated lane-change capability and blind-spot monitoring. The GV70 also offered a safe exit assist function and a radar-based rear occupant alert system.