Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs Genesis GV70

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, resulting in a similar traditional SUV styling. It featured a tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and an upright profile. The Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. The grille leaned forward slightly with laser-etched knurling, and the wheel centre caps had an acrylic glass covering to protect the “Wagoneer” logo. The vehicle's body-on-frame architecture allowed for independent front and rear suspension, with an aluminum hood and doors, and a composite tailgate to save weight.

Inside, the Grand Wagoneer shared styling features with the Wagoneer, such as an integrated infotainment touchscreen, a large rotary shift knob, and a two-spoke steering wheel. However, it offered more convenience features and higher-quality materials, including 24-way power front seats with memory, massage, lumbar support, and four-way power headrests. Standard heated first- and second-row seats, a heated steering wheel, and optional ventilated second-row seats were available. Nappa leather upholstery was standard, with higher-grade Palermo leather, aluminum, and American Walnut wood trim as options. Other interior differences included seat controls placed high on the doors and “Grand Wagoneer” spelled out on the dashboard.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 drew styling connections to the G70 compact luxury sedan, particularly above the belt-line. Its split-bar headlights and strong chrome line visually connected it to its sedan counterpart, creating a coupe-like SUV appearance without sacrificing versatility. The GV70's interior was a testament to Genesis's luxury credentials, featuring top-notch materials and excellent fit and finish. The design was both contemporary and classic, with climate controls integrated into a curving bezel and a touchscreen that rose organically from the dash.

The GV70's dash included a full touchscreen backed by a rotary dial and button controls in the centre console. While it lacked traditional volume and tuning dials, it featured helpful rollers on the centre console and steering wheel, reminiscent of older Mercedes-Benz models. The GV70 was available in five trims in Canada, divided between two powertrains: the 2.5T or 3.5T. The Electrified GV70 was offered as a separate model. The base GV70 2.5T Advanced was well-equipped, with features like power-adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a panoramic sunroof, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims added more luxury features, including a Lexicon premium audio system, head-up display, and Nappa leather seating.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, producing 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. It featured cylinder deactivation for improved fuel efficiency and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Grand Wagoneer could accelerate from zero to 100 kilometres per hour in approximately six seconds, despite its weight of around 2,900 kilograms. It came standard with four-wheel drive, including the Quadra-Drive II system with a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. The Quadra-Lift air suspension system was also standard, offering adjustable height for off-roading or improved aerodynamics on highways.

The Grand Wagoneer boasted 25.4 centimetres of ground clearance, a 25-degree approach angle, a 24-degree departure angle, and a 22-degree breakover angle. It could ford up to 60 centimetres of water and was equipped with skid plates for protection. The cabin was quiet, and the air suspension absorbed bumps well. However, the vehicle felt ungainly at higher speeds, with bouncy rides and imprecise steering. While it performed well off-road, its size limited its trail capabilities, and it did not receive Jeep's "Trail Rated" badge.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 2.5T featured a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. The 3.5T variant was powered by a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The turbo-four provided ample power for most driving situations, while the V6 offered extra grunt and a throaty engine note. The GV70 balanced comfort and sharp handling, allowing for confident cornering and a smooth ride.

The Electrified GV70 used a 77.4-kWh battery pack, powering two electric motors in an AWD setup. It produced a combined 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, with a Boost Mode increasing output to 483 horsepower for up to 10 seconds. The electric GV70 had a range of 383 kilometres and could charge from 10 to 80 percent in 18 minutes on a fast charger. It emitted an external "engine noise" and offered several cabin sound options. The Electrified GV70 prioritized comfort over sportiness, with well-rounded handling.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offered seating for seven with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It provided more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and Infiniti QX80. However, space in the front row was more limited compared to the Escalade and Navigator. The Grand Wagoneer offered 775 litres of cargo space with all three rows in place and 2,007 litres with the third row stowed. With all rear seats folded, it provided 2,667 litres of cargo space, less than its rivals.

The Grand Wagoneer had a maximum towing capacity of 4,472 kilograms, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. It featured a standard sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins. The hoods of both the Grand Wagoneer and Wagoneer limited forward visibility, but the Grand Wagoneer’s standard 360-degree camera system helped mitigate this issue.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 provided 1,611 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded, which was average for the compact luxury SUV segment. With the rear seats in use, it offered 818 litres, above average for its class. The GV70 came standard with a hands-free power liftgate. Up front, it featured decently large cupholders in the centre console, though the in-door cupholders couldn’t accommodate larger water bottles. The centre console included a helpful tray with a retractable lid and a typical console bin.

Drivers and front-seat passengers could easily find a comfortable seating position, but rear-seat legroom was tighter, requiring front-row occupants to slide their seats forward. The rear bench reclined, allowing for a more comfortable seating position.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a standard infotainment system with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a McIntosh audio system, and a 4G-LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch centre console touchscreen for climate control, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer had a larger touchscreen than the standard Wagoneer and a second screen for seat massagers. A row of buttons separated the screens for quick access to functions.

The Grand Wagoneer used the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, featuring an Android-based operating system and over-the-air software updates. While the screen was slow to respond, the head-up display was clear and legible.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 came with a 14.5-inch touchscreen setup with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The touchscreen was user-friendly, with large icons and logical menu navigation. Genesis provided helpful buttons in the centre console and a rotary dial for scrolling and selecting, though it was located next to the vehicle’s rotary shifter, which could cause confusion.

The GV70 included four USB ports, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a nine-speaker stereo system. Available features included ambient lighting, a digital instrument panel, a Lexicon 18-speaker audio system, and the Genesis digital key.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not yet received crash-test ratings from the IIHS or NHTSA. Standard safety features included a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included intersection collision assist, driver-attention monitor, night vision, traffic-sign recognition, and two levels of driver-assistance systems. The Active Lane Management System combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centring, requiring drivers to keep their hands on the wheel.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and highway driving assist with lane-keeping assist. The 2.5T Advance Plus added a blind-spot camera system and a 360-degree parking camera system, while reverse automatic emergency braking was part of the Prestige grade. The Electrified GV70 included much of this equipment as standard. The GV70 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.