2024 Genesis GV70 vs 2025 Hyundai Kona

The 2024 Genesis GV70 distinguished itself within the Genesis lineup and its competitive set with its sleek design and luxury-car style. It featured signature Genesis styling elements like split headlights and a large shield-like grille, but with a sleeker profile than the larger GV80 and less quirkiness than the smaller GV60. Notable details included a hatchback-like rear window profile, large round exhaust outlets on the Sport trim, and distinctive 21-inch wheels. The GV70 struck a balance between SUV presence and luxury aesthetics, outperforming competitors like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC in terms of finesse and brand prestige. The Electrified GV70 maintained the same styling as its gasoline counterpart, with a unique grille housing the charge port for convenient charging. Inside, the GV70 offered a distinctive interior with luxury touches like quilted Nappa leather and a panoramic sunroof, complemented by unique design elements such as an elliptical pod for controls and a rotary infotainment controller.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona, while visually unchanged from the 2024 model, maintained a fresh and futuristic appearance with its flush, single-piece grille and ultra-slim LED light bars. The Kona's design, characterized by curves, bulges, and sharp angles, created a satisfactory visual impact. The newer model was significantly larger, offering more interior space and a more assertive stance, especially in the sportier N Line trim with body-coloured bumpers and cladding. The Kona's interior remained solid and airy, with a drive selector on the column and ample tech features. The Trend package added a sunroof and powered liftgate, enhancing the Kona's appeal. Overall, the Kona's design and features made it a standout in the crossover class.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered unchanged powertrain options, with a standard 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and an available 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 (AWD). 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 delivered strong straight-line acceleration, its chassis tuning didn't match the sportiness of rivals like the Acura RDX or Porsche Macan. The ride quality was competent but not exceptional, with a tendency to crash over bumps. The Electrified GV70 maintained similar dynamics despite its additional weight, offering adjustable regenerative braking for a customizable driving experience.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered a choice between a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with Hyundai's Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT), and a more powerful 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque in the N Line trim. The turbo engine provided a broader torque band, enhancing performance, although it could feel flat at low revs. AWD was available on the Essential and Preferred trims and standard on the N Line, offering active on-demand drive to the rear axle and a dedicated Snow mode. AWD models featured a multi-link rear suspension for improved ride and handling. The Kona prioritized competence over sportiness, delivering adequate performance for its class.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered competitive interior space, with slightly less headroom than rivals like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3 but more front-seat legroom than the BMW and Mercedes-Benz GLC. Second-row legroom was comparable, with a slight advantage over the X3. The GV70 provided 818 litres of cargo space with rear seats in place, surpassing the Mercedes but slightly less than the Audi. Folding the rear seats expanded cargo capacity to 1,611 litres. The Electrified GV70 maintained similar interior space, with minor reductions in legroom and headroom. The 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. Automatic side bolsters in the Electrified GV70's front seats added a sporty touch.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered 723 litres of cargo capacity with rear seats in place, expanding to 1,803 litres when folded, surpassing even larger vehicles like the Mercedes E-Class plug-in hybrid. Rear legroom measured 970 millimetres, with 972 mm of headroom, providing ample space for passengers. The front seats offered a generous range of movement, and the steering wheel was adjustable for reach and height. The drive selector's relocation to the column created additional storage space, complemented by numerous shelves and cubbies. The Kona's interior featured cloth upholstery in Essential and Preferred trims, with leatherette in the Trend package and Alcantara sport seats in the N Line. Heated front seats were standard in Canada, with a heated steering wheel available in the Preferred trim. Dual-zone automatic climate control was included in higher trims, with physical controls for ease of use.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 featured a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Lower trims had an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, while higher grades offered a 12.3-inch unit with a 3D effect. A 12-inch head-up display and a 16-speaker Lexicon audio system were available. The touchscreen had an intuitive layout, and a rotary controller on the centre console provided an alternative control method. A fingerprint scanner allowed for individual driver profiles, although digital key functionality was not yet available for the GV70 in Canada.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered a 12.3-inch central touchscreen infotainment display across all trims, with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard. The Preferred trim with the Trend package and the N Line trim included wireless smartphone charging and Hyundai's digital key. The N Line trim featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, providing more customization options. Audiophiles could upgrade to the N Line with the Ultimate package for an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system. Hyundai's Bluelink connectivity enabled over-the-air software updates, ensuring features remained up to date.

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

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its standard safety features, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, and Rear Cross-traffic Collision Avoidance Assist. The Preferred trim added enhanced Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, while the N Line with the Ultimate package included advanced features like Highway Driving Assist and Blind Spot View Monitor. All Konas featured six airbags, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Kona was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.