2024 Genesis GV70 vs 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Genesis GV70 distinguished itself within the Genesis lineup and its competitive set with its sleek design. It retained certain Genesis styling features like split headlights and a large shield-like grille for brand recognition. However, it was sleeker than the larger GV80 and avoided the quirkiness of the smaller GV60. Notable details included a hatchback-like rear window profile, large round exhaust outlets on the gasoline-powered Sport trim, and distinctive designs for the available 21-inch wheels. The GV70 struck a balance between SUV size and luxury-car style, offering a more refined look compared to competitors like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Porsche Macan, and Mercedes-Benz GLC. The Electrified GV70, recognized as the 2024 Canadian Electric Utility Vehicle of the Year, maintained the same styling as its gasoline counterpart, with a shiny grille housing the charge port for convenient charging.

The interior of the GV70 was one of the most distinctive among new vehicles, featuring traditional luxury touches like quilted Nappa leather upholstery and a panoramic sunroof. However, it was the unique details that made it memorable. The climate controls and other buttons were housed in an elliptical pod, and the infotainment system featured a rotary controller with a design reminiscent of a lesser-known alien species from Star Trek. The dashboard had a rounded cross-section, similar to an airplane wing. These subjective design choices showcased Genesis's effort to offer something different.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, available in three trims—XRT, Luxury, and Ultimate Calligraphy—debuted its fifth generation in 2024, maintaining its chunky, boxy design with a long wheelbase, flat hood, and snub nose. The pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps aligned with Hyundai's design aesthetic, and the brand offered vibrant colours like Terracotta Orange and Atlantis Blue. However, the rear design suffered from mismatched proportions, with the pixelated H-shaped LED taillights positioned lower than desired. Each trim had specific wheel designs, ranging from 18 inches on the XRT to 21 inches on the Ultimate Calligraphy. The XRT trim added chrome and black trim, along with black roof rails for an off-road-focused look.

Inside, the Santa Fe offered seating for seven, except for the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, which featured captain's chairs in the second row. Depending on the trim, upholstery options included leatherette, leather, or Nappa leather. While the fit and finish appeared good, some squeaks and rattles were noticeable during testing. The inclusion of physical dials for HVAC temperature was appreciated, but the fan speed buttons were less user-friendly, requiring precise pressing of flat icons.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 retained its powertrain options, offering a standard 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. An available 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 produced 375 hp and 391 lb-ft. Both gasoline 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 77.4-kilowatt-hour battery pack. A "Boost Mode" provided 483 hp for short bursts. While the GV70 offered vigorous straight-line acceleration, its chassis tuning didn't match the sportiest rivals, feeling bigger and heavier through corners. The suspension tended to crash on bumps rather than float over them, offering reasonable comfort but not excelling in ride quality. The Electrified GV70 maintained similar characteristics, with handy steering-wheel paddles for adjusting regenerative braking.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a standard 2.5-litre turbocharged engine with 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard AWD. The Santa Fe Hybrid combined a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, producing 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque, also with AWD. The Santa Fe felt stable in corners with firm brake feel and responsive steering, but noticeable turbo lag and occasional transmission delays were observed. The gear selector, located on a stalk on the steering column, required some adjustment. The XRT trim included 30-inch all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance, enhancing off-road capabilities. However, the Santa Fe wasn't designed for rugged rock crawling, performing well on graded dirt roads with small obstacles.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered comparable interior space to its rivals, with slightly less headroom than the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC due to its streamlined roofline. It provided a fraction more front-seat legroom than the BMW and Mercedes, and slightly less than the Audi. Second-row legroom differences were minimal, with the GV70 offering a bit more than the X3 and slightly less than the Q5 and GLC. The GV70's cargo space of 818 litres with rear seats in place was better than the Mercedes' 620 litres, slightly better than the BMW's 812 litres, but less than the Audi's 835 litres. Folding the rear seats provided 1,611 litres, less than its German competitors. The Electrified GV70 maintained similar interior space, with minor reductions in legroom and headroom. The stylish interior design limited small-item storage, but a dedicated phone storage nook and rear-seat climate controls were included. Automatic side bolsters in the front seats provided added support during strong acceleration or cornering.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in interior space, offering the most third-row legroom in its class. The second-row seats had an adjustable cushion angle, and both the second and third rows could be folded with a button in the rear cargo area. Folding the third row provided 1,148 litres of space, while folding the second row expanded it to 2,267 litres. With all three rows occupied, there was still 413 litres of space. The Santa Fe's rear opening was widened to 127.5 cm, with a height of 81 cm, facilitating easy loading of large items. Most trims could tow 1,587 kilograms, with the XRT trim capable of towing 2,040 kilograms.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 featured a 14.5-inch touchscreen 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 option. A fingerprint scanner allowed for individual driver profiles, but digital key functionality was not available for the GV70 in Canada.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment and a digital gauge cluster of the same size. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with clear graphics and quick response times. Navigation was included in the Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, but standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available. Multiple USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad accommodated charging needs. The digital key feature allowed unlocking and starting the car with a phone or Apple watch, with the ability to share the key with up to three people. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim offered a digital rearview mirror and a head-up display. Bluelink app connectivity provided remote control features, and over-the-air updates ensured up-to-date software.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 received the IIHS's highest Top Safety Pick+ award for both gasoline and Electrified models. The NHTSA published four-star frontal and rollover crash-test ratings for gasoline models, with the identical 2023 GV70 receiving a five-star overall safety rating. All GV70 models came with standard safety features, including 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. A safe exit assist function and a radar-based rear occupant alert system were also included.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision avoidance assist. Additional features like rear parking collision avoidance assist and Highway Drive Assist were available on higher trims. The Highway Drive Assist feature combined adaptive cruise control and lane following assist, although it occasionally exhibited abrupt braking and acceleration in heavy traffic. The top trim included a blind spot avoidance feature and a Blind View Monitor. The NHTSA gave the Santa Fe a four-star overall safety rating, while the IIHS rated it "Good" in most categories, with "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and LATCH.