Lexus NX Hybrid vs Genesis GV70

The 2026 Genesis GV70 showcased Hyundai's luxury arm's prowess in crafting premium vehicles, embodying the brand's "Athletic Elegance" design philosophy. Its refined style was marked by a strong grille, a sleek profile, and a distinctive roofline. The GV70 was available in eight colours in Canada, including four matte hues and a new Ceres Blue, inspired by the first dwarf planet discovered by humanity. The car's front was sharpened with a redrawn crest-shaped grille, flanked by two-line headlamps with micro lens array lighting elements. The bold skid plate at the bottom of the front fascia added to its polished and attractive design, making it stand out on the road.

Inside, the 2026 GV70 featured significant changes, including a 27-inch OLED screen dominating the dashboard. While the screen's wide, squared-off design contrasted with the oval-shaped elements on the dash and door panels, the overall look remained luxurious. Redesigned interior lighting elements added a techy glow to the cabin. The GV70 Sport model offered a unique look with dark chrome moulding, 21-inch wheels, and carbon fibre trim. Flashy interior colours, such as deep blue with orange contrast stitching or bright red paired with black, were available, while more traditional black and beige options catered to those seeking a mellow luxury experience.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid, specifically the NX 350h F Sport 3, was characterized by its over-stylized design, featuring a large, intricately patterned spindle grille and squinting LED headlights. The aggressive and complex front design was complemented by a sporty yet less extroverted profile, with rounded edges and body-coloured fender flares. F Sport elements included dark trim on mirrors, window surrounds, rocker panels, and roof rails, along with dark 20-inch wheels. The fastback roof shape echoed coupe-like crossovers, adding to its sporty appeal.

Inside, the NX Hybrid combined a sporty look with modern technology, featuring a digital instrument cluster and a large touchscreen angled toward the driver for a cockpit-like feel. The F Sport 3 model boasted dark graphite aluminum trim, metal pedals, and Circuit Red synthetic leather upholstery on sport bucket seats. Lexus's NuLuxe textile convincingly mimicked real leather, enhancing the upscale feel with soft-touch surfaces adorning the door panels, dash, and centre console.

The 2026 Genesis GV70 offered a robust performance with its base 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was standard across the lineup. The 3.5-litre turbocharged V6 in the 3.5T Sport trim provided 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque, ensuring exhilarating performance. The GV70 featured Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ driving modes, along with a new Terrain Mode for Snow, Mud, and Sand settings. Hydro bushings and Highway Body Motion Control enhanced ride comfort, while the Road Preview feature used forward-facing cameras to improve suspension control.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid, specifically the NX 350h F Sport 3, was less sporty than its name suggested. It featured adaptive dampers with Normal and Sport settings and a firmer suspension, but its handling was more controlled than agile. The hybrid powertrain combined a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with three electric motors for standard AWD, producing 240 horsepower. The NX Hybrid's power delivery was not particularly exhilarating, with a 0 to 96 km/h time of 7.2 seconds. The drivetrain felt slushy, and the engine droned under hard acceleration. Steering wheel paddles allowed for simulated downshifts, but they didn't mimic regular automatic transmission gear ratios.

The 2026 Genesis GV70 provided ample space for tall drivers in the front seats, with most controls easily accessible. However, the 27-inch OLED screen was partially blocked by the steering wheel, necessitating a good driving position for optimal visibility. The wide centre console featured a rotary shifter and infotainment dial, which could be confusing during quick gear changes. Rear seats offered adequate headroom, elbow room, and shoulder room, but rear legroom was not the car's strong suit. The sloping rear roofline contributed to a cramped feel, and cargo space was less than competitors like the BMW X3.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid's F Sport 3 model offered well-bolstered front seats with ample room for tall adults. Power seat and steering wheel adjustments ensured comfort, complemented by heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The rear seats provided enough space for average-sized adults, though legroom could be tight for taller passengers. The NX Hybrid's cargo space was relatively low for its class, with 643 litres behind the rear seats and 1,328 litres with seats folded down. The coupe-like roof shape limited cargo capacity compared to rivals like the Acura RDX and Volvo XC60.

The 2026 Genesis GV70 featured a new 27-inch OLED touchscreen infotainment system with over-the-air updates, customizable themes, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The screen displayed various camera angles, including a 360-degree Surround View Monitor. A customizable digital gauge cluster offered map views, ADAS readouts, and phone projection. Additional voice commands allowed control of climate, infotainment, and windows, though some features required future updates. The GV70 included Genesis Digital Key and a fingerprint authentication system for keyless entry and start.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid came standard with a 9.8-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14-inch touchscreen, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM compatibility, and an optional 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. A three-year Remote Connect subscription provided remote starting, door lock/unlock, and vehicle status alerts. The instrument cluster displayed trip fuel economy, head-up display information, and phone or audio details. The touchscreen was angled toward the driver for easy access, with quick response times and embedded temperature controls.

The 2026 Genesis GV70 offered a comprehensive suite of advanced driver safety features, including forward collision avoidance assist, lane keeping assist, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, and more. The Genesis Highway Driving Assist II technology detected hands on the steering wheel and proved reliable during testing. Although the 2026 model hadn't been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, previous versions received high safety ratings, suggesting the refreshed model would perform similarly well.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid earned the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and received four stars in the frontal crash test and five stars in the side crash test from the NHTSA. The NX 350h came standard with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite, including blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. Optional features included automatic parking and a surround-view camera system. All systems performed well during testing, though the adaptive cruise control was slightly complicated to set.