The luxury SUV that keeps stealing glances… and customers
Every time I review a vehicle for TheCarMagazine.com, I like to ask two different types of people what they think about the vehicle. First, I ask Chantale — my video review partner and resident “I know what looks good before the market does” expert. Then I ask random friends who couldn’t care less about torque curves, adaptive dampers, or Nürburgring lap times.
This time around, I asked four different friends what they thought about the Genesis GV70.
Not one of them owned one. Only one had even sat in one.
Yet every single one of them immediately responded with some variation of:
“Those things look amazing.”
That’s rare.
Most luxury SUVs get responses like “Yeah, they’re nice” or “I think my neighbour has one.” The GV70, however, gets instant recognition and approval from regular people. People who don’t spend their evenings comparing lease rates or debating German engineering philosophies on Reddit.
That’s a very good sign.
Even Chantale — who has seen literally hundreds of vehicles over the years — loved it. And a close friend of mine who has owned pretty much every premium badge between $80,000 and $125,000 told me his Genesis GV80 has been his favourite luxury SUV so far.
That says something.
Because Genesis isn’t trying to “join” the luxury SUV conversation anymore. They’re already sitting at the table — and in some cases, they’re stealing customers right out of the German section.
The powertrain: The smart engine choice
Let’s start with the best part of the GV70 Prestige AWD: the 2.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine.
This thing is excellent.
The engine delivers 300 horsepower and feels stronger than the numbers suggest. Around town, it’s smooth, quiet, and responsive. On the highway, it pulls confidently without sounding like it’s preparing for mechanical retirement.
There’s torque when you want it. There’s refinement when you don’t.
Honestly, unless you’re trying to drag race an Audi SQ5 at a red light while listening to motivational podcasts about dominance, I’m not entirely sure why most buyers would need the 3.5L twin-turbo V6.
The 2.5T is the sweet spot.
And apparently, I’m not alone in thinking that. I spoke with a couple of Leasing Specialists over at LeaseBusters who told me the 2.5T models are the stronger movers right now versus the hot-rod 3.5T versions.
That makes sense.
Luxury buyers today still want performance — but they also want a vehicle that doesn’t inhale premium fuel like it’s competing in an oil industry loyalty program.
The interior: Genesis understood the assignment
The GV70’s interior is where Genesis really flexes its muscles.
This cabin feels expensive.
Not “good for the money” expensive.
Actually expensive.
The leather is rich, the aluminum trim feels authentic, and the wood accents add warmth without looking like they were stolen from a dentist’s waiting room in 1998.
Genesis clearly understands something many luxury automakers are slowly forgetting:
People buying premium vehicles want the interior to feel special.
And the GV70 absolutely does.
The Prestige trim piles on the luxury toys as well. Advanced driver assistance systems, surround-view cameras, premium audio, upscale materials, beautiful displays — it’s all here.
There’s an undeniable sense that Genesis is serious about competing with BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz.
And frankly, they should be taken seriously.
But yes… there are a few frustrations
As strong as the GV70 is overall, nothing is perfect.
And yes, I know I’m beginning to sound like a broken record in some of my SUV reviews, but here we go again:
Rear seat space is tight.
Cargo space is merely “acceptable.”
I understand modern crossover design philosophy. Designers want dramatic rooflines, aggressive styling, sporty proportions, and athletic appearances.
That’s great.
But eventually somebody in the back seat would like to have functioning knees.
The GV70 prioritizes the front-seat experience heavily — and to be fair, that’s probably exactly what Genesis intended. Most buyers in this segment are commuting, driving clients around occasionally, or transporting a hockey bag and two overpriced coffees.
Still, if you regularly carry adults in the back seat, you’ll notice the compromise.
Fuel economy: Genesis needs to improve here
As my automotive experience grows, fuel economy matters more to me than it used to.
Maybe that’s wisdom.
Maybe it’s age.
Maybe it’s Canadian gas prices attacking my soul every time I visit a Petro-Canada station.
Either way, the GV70’s fuel economy could be better.
Especially in a world where hybrids are becoming increasingly common and EVs continue pushing past that stubborn 10% market penetration barrier.
The 2.5T engine performs beautifully, but Genesis still has room to improve efficiency. Buyers in this segment are becoming more conscious of operating costs — particularly when monthly lease payments are already hovering around the $1,000 mark.
And speaking of the 3.5L V6 models…
Those buyers should probably just apply directly for a Shell rewards card at the dealership.
The infotainment system: Too clever for its own good?
Now let’s talk about my biggest frustration with the GV70.
The infotainment system.
Visually, it looks premium. The screen is beautiful. The graphics are crisp. The technology is impressive.
But sometimes luxury automakers overcomplicate things, trying to appear futuristic.
I spent more time than I should have trying to find simple functions like satellite radio and traditional radio stations. And yes, before the younger generation emails me — some of us still like traffic reports and live radio during vehicle reviews.
I don’t want to open six menus, rotate three dials, and accidentally access meditation sounds from a Korean rainforest just to find FM radio.
Luxury technology should feel intuitive.
Genesis is close, but not quite there yet.
There’s also a slight learning curve to the layered menus and controller system. Once you figure it out, it works reasonably well — but some competitors make the process easier and more playful.
I think Genesis could inject a little more personality and simplicity into the user experience.
The GV70 lineup
Genesis keeps the GV70 lineup relatively clean and straightforward:
- 2.5T Advanced AWD — $60,000
- 2.5T Advanced Technology Package AWD — $67,500
- 2.5T Prestige AWD — $73,000 (my tester)
- 3.5T Sport Quilting AWD — $84,000
- 3.5T Sport Suede AWD — $84,000
Pricing and packaging information courtesy of my friends at CarCostCanada
Now, the interesting part about the two Sport models is the interior treatment.
The “Quilting” version features beautifully stitched quilted leather seating surfaces that deliver a more traditional luxury feel — elegant, upscale, and very premium.
The “Suede” version leans sportier, incorporating suede-like inserts and darker, more performance-oriented interior materials. Think luxury athlete versus luxury executive.
Same performance. Different personality.
Genesis is doing something unusual with pricing
Here’s something CarCostCanada made me aware of that genuinely surprised me:
Genesis includes Freight and Destination charges directly within the advertised MSRP pricing.
That’s unusual.
In fact, as far as I can tell, Genesis is currently the only major OEM in Canada doing this consistently.
Normally, automakers advertise a base price and then quietly add freight charges later — often between $2,000 and $3,000 — right before your enthusiasm and bank account begin arguing.
Genesis appears to be pursuing pricing transparency and simplicity.
Honestly, I respect it.
It removes one of the annoying “gotcha” moments consumers experience when building vehicles online.
The competition: Germany should probably pay attention
The GV70 competes directly against some very serious luxury SUVs:
- 2026 BMW X3 M50 — starting around $77,900
- 2026 Audi Q5 Technik Quattro — starting around $67,350
- 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4Matic — starting around $60,450
And here’s the interesting part.
Once similarly equipped using CarCostCanada’s build-and-price tools, they all end up remarkably close in price to the GV70 Prestige.
That’s important because Genesis no longer wins simply by being “cheaper.”
Now they’re winning because people genuinely want them.
That’s a massive shift.
In Summation
The 2026 Genesis GV70 2.5T Prestige AWD is one of the most complete luxury SUVs on the market today.
It looks fantastic, drives beautifully, feels genuinely premium, and delivers enough power to satisfy almost anyone shopping in this segment.
Yes, the rear seat is a little tight. Yes, fuel economy could improve. And yes, the infotainment system occasionally feels like it was designed by a committee of engineers who believe simplicity is overrated.
But overall?
The GV70 is excellent.
And perhaps the biggest compliment I can give Genesis is this:
People who know nothing about cars love it immediately.
That’s hard to accomplish.
Luxury brands spend billions trying to create emotional reactions. Genesis seems to be doing it naturally.
And based on the reaction I received from literally everyone I asked about the GV70, the market is paying attention.
James Matthews is the President, General Manager and Co-Founder of LeaseBusters. James launched LeaseBusters in 1990 and is considered one of Canada’s leading experts on new-vehicle leases, lease takeovers, and vehicle lease (re)marketing. James can be reached directly at jmatthews at leasebusters.com