2024 Genesis GV80 vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its rugged yet refined appearance, with the Wilderness trim receiving a subtle update featuring a new front fascia and LED fog lights. The dark grey cladding provided a striking contrast to the Autumn Green Metallic paint of the Premier XT model, which was described as a "green-tinged dark khaki." This colour choice was surprisingly appealing, offering a fresh take on the typical champagne-beige hues. The Outback's various trims showcased different levels of black and chrome exterior fittings, with the Premier XT trim featuring the most chrome, which was tastefully executed. Wheel designs varied across trims, with the Wilderness trim sporting matte black 17-inch alloy wheels, while the Onyx trim upgraded to 18-inch wheels in basic black, and the Limited and Premier XT trims added a machine finish.

Inside, the top-trim Outback impressed with its upscale interior, a pleasant surprise from a brand known more for capability than luxury. The Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery was both attractive and supple, elevating the cabin's ambiance. The Limited trims featured standard leather seating, while the Onyx and Wilderness trims used Subaru's StarTex synthetic leather. The Convenience and Touring trims came with cloth seats. Overall, the interior of the Outback was a testament to Subaru's ability to blend functionality with a touch of luxury.

The 2024 Genesis GV80 exuded luxury with its choice of two engine options: the 2.5T turbocharged four-cylinder and the 3.5T twin-turbocharged V6. In Canada, both engines were available with the Advanced trim, while the Prestige trim was exclusive to the V6. The GV80's pricing ranged from $76,000 to $92,500, with all-inclusive, no-haggle pricing that included five years of scheduled maintenance and at-home concierge service. The Prestige trim offered six exterior colours and a variety of stylish 22-inch wheel designs. Inside, the GV80 featured diamond-stitched Nappa leather, a suede headliner, and metallic-finish accents, creating an opulent atmosphere. Ambient lighting, a 3D digital instrument cluster, and a wide touchscreen display for the infotainment system underscored the GV80's status as a flagship luxury SUV.

The GV80's luxurious design was unmistakable, and while the Prestige Signature trim was exclusive to the U.S. market, the regular Prestige trim offered a compelling package. The GV80's interior was a showcase of luxury, with features like a suede headliner and metallic-finish accents. The ambient lighting and 3D digital instrument cluster added to the sense of opulence, making the GV80 a standout in the luxury SUV segment.

The 2024 Subaru Outback continued to deliver its signature performance with a "Boxer" horizontally opposed engine. The standard engine was a 2.5-litre flat-four, producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. However, the XT trims, including the Wilderness trim, were equipped with a more powerful 2.4-litre turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine, generating 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This turbo setup increased the towing capacity from 1,225 to 1,587 kilograms (2,700 to 3,500 lbs). Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) were standard across the lineup.

The Premier XT test car featured the more powerful engine, which proved to be a good fit for the vehicle. The CVT effectively mimicked the sound and feel of eight distinct gears, which could be managed via paddle shifters on the steering wheel. The brake pedal, aided by an electronic booster, provided a reassuring feel. While the steering was adequate, the Outback prioritized comfort over sportiness, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a comfortable ride. The Outback's ground clearance was impressive, with the base model offering 22 centimetres and the Wilderness trim increasing it to 24.1 centimetres. The Wilderness trim also came with all-terrain tires and an advanced dual-function version of Subaru's X-Mode, featuring selectable Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes.

The 2024 Genesis GV80 offered two engine options, starting with the 2.5T turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. This engine outperformed some larger V6 engines in rival models like the Acura MDX and Infiniti QX60. The 3.5T test vehicle featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. While this powertrain provided satisfying performance, it was thirsty on the road, with observed fuel consumption of 13.7 L/100 km compared to the official rating of 10.5 L/100 km.

Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a standard all-wheel-drive system. The GV80 offered five driving modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport, Custom, and Snow. With 20.5 centimetres of ground clearance and a towing capacity of up to 2,720 kilograms (6,000 pounds), the GV80 was a capable performer. The 3.5T model featured upgraded front brakes and an adaptive damping suspension, enhancing its driving dynamics.

The GV80 3.5T delivered a rewarding driving experience, combining luxury with a sporty feel. It offered swift acceleration for highway merging and passing, while the adaptive damping suspension and larger front brakes contributed to its athleticism. The steering, though unremarkable, didn't detract from the overall driving experience. The two-spoke steering wheel design added a touch of retro luxury, and the GV80's road manners made it a great choice for long-distance drives.

The 2024 Subaru Outback managed to maintain its interior space despite its sleeker proportions. It offered more headroom up front (992 mm) compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V (970 mm) and Toyota RAV4 (958 mm). While it fell slightly short of the RAV4 in rear-seat headroom, it surpassed the CR-V. The Outback also provided more front-row legroom than both rivals and bested the RAV4 in rear-seat legroom. The cargo area measured 923 litres with all seats in place and expanded to 2,141 litres with the rear seats folded. While the RAV4 and CR-V offered more cargo space with all seats occupied, the Outback excelled when the rear seats were folded.

In terms of features, the Outback offered dual-zone climate control on all but the base Convenience trim. Heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a power-adjustable driver's seat were standard in Canada, with heated rear seats available from the Onyx trim. The Limited trim added a powered front passenger seat, while ventilation was exclusive to the Premier XT trim. The hands-free power liftgate and power moonroof were standard from the Touring trim, and the Outback's raised roof rails with retractable cross bars added practicality.

The 2024 Genesis GV80 3.5T Prestige was the only model to offer a third-row seat. Depending on the trim, the GV80 featured real or Nappa leather upholstery. Standard features included heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a panoramic sunroof, triple-zone climate control, and a power hands-free liftgate. The Prestige trim added rear seat ventilation and power-operated side window shades.

While the GV80's features promised comfort, the seats themselves were less impressive. The diamond-stitched surfaces felt like bubble wrap, and the driver's cushion became uncomfortable on long trips. The rear seats didn't recline far enough for a truly relaxing ride, and legroom in the second row was limited. However, the GV80 offered commendable cabin storage space, with 988 litres of cargo space behind the second row and up to 2,378 litres with the rear seats folded.

The 2024 Subaru Outback Premier XT catered to those who appreciated old-school features, as it was the only trim to include a CD player. Subaru hedged its bets on technology by offering both USB-C and USB-A ports across all trims. The top-trim test car featured an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen, while the base Convenience trim retained a dual-7-inch-screen system. The Subaru Starlink multimedia platform, though reminiscent of a pre-Y2K era, included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, which became wireless starting with the Touring trim.

The Outback's climate controls were a mix of hard buttons and touchscreen functions, with the climate menu anchored at the bottom of the screen for easy access. Bluetooth and SiriusXM connectivity were standard, and most trims featured a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, except for the Convenience and Touring models, which had four and six speakers, respectively.

The 2024 Genesis GV80 offered a blend of traditional and modern technology. While analog gauges were still available, the Prestige trim featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument display with a subtle 3D appearance. All GV80 models came with a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display, though its placement encouraged the use of the centre console's control dial.

The standard infotainment package included a navigation system, SiriusXM satellite radio, and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Genesis Connected Services and wireless smartphone charging were also standard. The voice-recognition system was user-friendly, and the infotainment display's graphics were pleasing, with minimal glare. The GV80 also featured a digital key system, allowing smartphone access to the vehicle. Prestige trim models boasted a Lexicon premium sound system, with a head-up display (HUD) standard in Canada.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), though it fell short of the previous year's Top Safety Pick+ designation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded both the 2023 and 2024 models five stars overall. The 2024 Outback saw improvements in safety features, with reverse automatic braking standard from the Touring trim. The EyeSight suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies remained standard, including adaptive cruise control with lane-centring, automatic pre-collision braking, and lane-keep assist. The Touring trim also added automatic emergency steering, blind-spot monitoring with lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. A wide-angle camera improved cyclist and pedestrian detection, and the Premier XT trim featured a digital rearview mirror and driver-attention monitor.

The 2024 Genesis GV80 came equipped with a comprehensive suite of advanced driving-assistance systems (ADAS) and safety features. Highlights included a camera-based Blind-Spot View Monitor, Remote Smart Parking Assist, and Highway Driving Assist (HDA), which combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centring and lane-change assist. HDA worked well in light or slow-moving traffic but was less desirable in moderate to heavy traffic at higher speeds. The Blind-Spot View Monitor displayed video feeds within the digital instrument panel, enhancing safety during lane changes.

The GV80's Remote Smart Parking Assist allowed the vehicle to park itself, even with the driver standing outside. The GV80 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though the frontal-impact test earned four stars for both the driver and passenger seating positions.