First Drive: 2022 Genesis GV70 Sport Plus

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Rarely has a brand had so much riding on a single vehicle as Genesis has on the all-new GV70.

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Genesis, an off-shoot luxury brand of Hyundai Motor Group established five years ago, launched somewhat quietly with a full slate of sedans. Last year saw its first SUV land, the three-row GV80, which gave the brand more momentum.

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First Drive: 2022 Genesis GV70 Sport Plus Back to video

Now, Genesis finally enters the compact SUV segment, Canada’s automotive Goliath. With the launch of the GV70, the brand expects its sales in this country to double. But that’s provided it can capture attention in a segment already stuffed with competition.

Can the upstart GV70 possibly hold its own against the likes of the BMW X3 , Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Audi Q5? In fact, it might. With respectable performance, a high degree of customizability for its price, and extremely flashy tech, the GV70 has stepped right over the luxury gateway competition and put the Germans directly in its crosshairs.

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The 2022 Genesis GV70 will be sold in six grade levels. Four will be packaged with the smaller, 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with pricing starting at $49,000 in Canada. This engine is on par with the entry-level grades found in the German brands: the BMW X3 xDrive30i, Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 , and the entry-level Audi Q5. The smaller engine will be available for review later this summer.

Two more grades will come with the larger 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6, including the Sport Plus grade we took for a spin, which tops the pricing at $75,500. These grades are meant to go toe-to-toe with mid-performance German competition, including the X3 M40i, AMG GLC 43, and SQ5. The GV70’s exterior styling aligns with this sportier positioning with dark chrome finishes on the grille and other exterior elements, larger air intakes, and a pair of cylindrical exhausts. Performance grades also see a cross-hatched matrix pattern as a recurring theme around the vehicle, including on the 21-inch wheels that are standard with this engine.

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The Genesis trademark two-lines lighting signature is featured here, though the circle isn’t quite as contiguous as on the GV80 since there are no turn signal repeaters on the front quarter panels. Sport grades also get a sculpted hood with an indentation that aligns with the wings on the crest-shaped logo. The parabolic shoulder line is distinct from other Genesis designs, as are the thick, dramatic accent lines surrounding the side windows.

Between its 12 exterior paint options and nine different interiors, Genesis says the GV70 can be ordered in more than 100 different colour combinations, though some are exclusive to specific trims such as the matte paints offered on Sport and Sport Plus. Our test unit features the red exterior with the ultramarine blue interior, a navy leather finished with red accent stitching and piping, quilting on the seats, and carbon fibre elliptical inserts. To dig into the GV70’s interior in much more detail, be sure to check out our Ministry of Interior Affairs feature .

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The V6 engine we tested produces 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque that peaks between 1,300 to 4,500 rpm, the latter figure being higher than what’s found in several of those aforementioned German competitors. Natural Resources Canada estimates fuel consumption for this engine at 11.6 L/100 km combined, and our early figures trended lower despite varied testing.

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This is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and, in Canada, standard all-wheel drive. This system is rear-wheel drive based and keeps nearly all available torque going to the rear axle until traction is needed at the front, at which point up to 50 per cent of available torque will be transferred forward. With the electronic limited-slip differential included with the Sport Plus grade, up to 100 per cent of available torque can be sent to a single rear wheel on demand.

The V6 grades also include an electronically controlled suspension system that uses the forward camera to detect and respond to changes in road surface. The system doesn’t numb the driver’s feel of the road but instead retains a good amount of feedback while smoothing out some surfaces and keeping pitch and roll at bay. On top of that, the GV70’s turning radius is tighter than average, which is helpful in urban environments.

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Multiple drive and terrain modes can be selected, including Eco, Comfort, Sport and Sport+, along with terrain modes selections for mud, sand, and snow. Unsurprisingly, Sport+ mode is tuned in the German style with aggressive throttle response, gears that hold tenaciously, and traction control partially disabled by default. Put it under pressure in this mode and the GV70 can take it, but it’s hard to picture many Canadians having much call for it in a compact SUV. Sport mode is just right, providing a clear step up in performance and responsiveness from Comfort mode, complete with graphics to match.

Genesis includes 10 safety features as standard equipment on all grades, including blind spot collision avoidance assist, automatic high beams, and an updated rear occupant alert system. This latter system now uses radar to detect movement in the second row rather than relying on the door sensor, and it will notify an exiting driver with escalating graphics and audible alerts.

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Highway Driving Assist is also standard, which includes lane centring and automatic lane changing functions. This is sort of interesting and a little unnerving. It’s not designed to be hands-free, so the driver’s hands need to stay on the wheel, and the feature will disengage if it detects unexpected steering inputs. So, while this previews a self-driving future in a sense, it’s currently best thought of as an advanced blind spot warning system.

That said, it does go a step beyond the Mercedes system by projecting graphics onto the head-up display that show other vehicles surrounding yours. It looks a bit like a 1980s video game, but it will certainly impress your friends.

The 3D instrument cluster that separates its display into layers of graphics falls into the same category: it doesn’t perform a meaningful function per se, but it definitely ups the cool factor. It also allows for the Blind View Monitor system to be included, which projects a camera view of each side’s blind spot onto the corresponding instrument when each turn signal is activated.

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In practice, the standard 14.5-inch infotainment screen is impressive and features high-resolution graphics, though it is a touch slow to respond. Its wide layout allows for helpful functions like a split screen that shares real estate between in-car functions and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. This raised dial is more pleasant to use than the flat one found in the GV80: it’s easier to grab and turn while driving without having to look down to find it. Other than the fact that the functions on the steering wheel feel less intuitive to me than the rest of the inputs — and it may just be that they take some getting used to — the GV70’s ergonomics and functionality are generally above average.

The cherry on top of this is the Genesis model of all-in, no-haggle pricing, the ability to purchase entirely online and perform test drives and delivery at your home, and complimentary scheduled maintenance included for five years or 100,000 km.

Genesis has packed in a whole lot of interesting features and personalization into the 2022 Genesis GV70 at a very competitive price point. It’s still in need of some brand recognition, but this intentionally disruptive offering enters the market in a strong position. It wouldn’t be the least bit surprising to see these become plentiful on Canadian roads in the coming months.