The 2026 Genesis GV70 Just Does Everything Right: Review
The 2026 Genesis GV70 is a collection of attitudes and aesthetics. It's sporty by modern luxury-SUV standards, yet elegant. It's new enough to still feel special, yet reminiscent of a more experienced automaker. The Genesis logo—a diamond-quilted crest with wings—isn't just a badge, it's a fundamental part of the vehicle's design.
Every Genesis model has a certain array of ingredients that all blend perfectly to create the final product. In this case, that's the
GV70
—the brand's smallest and cheapest gas-powered SUV.
Quick Specs
2026 Genesis GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD
Engine
Twin-Turbocharged 3.5-Liter V-6
Output
375 Horsepower / 391 Pound-Feet
Transmission
Eight-Speed Automatic
Base Price
$71,145
Photo by: Alanis King / Motor1
The GV70 is Genesis' top-selling model in America, with about 30,000 sold in the US last year. And it makes sense. The GV70 is the cheapest
Genesis
SUV at $49,435 for the 2026 model year, and because Genesis' SUV lineup is like a big, luxurious set of Russian Nesting dolls, the base GV70 doesn't look or feel cheap next to the top-of-the-line models. It's an entry-level Genesis without the entry-level feel.
I drove the new GV70 at a launch event in Houston, where Genesis lined a showroom with gray, blue, and red versions of the SUV. The red one pulled me in immediately, and when I looked in the window, I saw an iconic color combination: red on red. Red paint. Red seats. I had to drive it.
(If red-on-red isn't you, Genesis has a dark 'Ultramarine' blue interior with reddish-orange accents that reminds me of a $300,000 Bentley I drove once.)
Photo by: Alanis King / Motor1
Pros: Well-Styled & Upholstered, Lovely Interior, Excellent Driver-Assistance Features
Like all Genesis models, I love the way the GV70 looks. The 'two-line' design—as seen in the split headlights and taillights—represents the brand, and it works. The diamond-quilted grille is tastefully large, and in a fun Easter egg, the headlights branch out from it like wings to mirror the Genesis logo. Around back, the GV70's roof has a sharp-enough slope to make buyers feel like they're getting something sporty.
For 2026, all GV70 models have all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. There are two engine options, starting with a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four with 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The four-cylinder is available in four trims, starting at $49,435 (including freight charges), and gets between 26 and 28 miles per gallon combined.
Photo by: Alanis King / Motor1
Photo by: Alanis King / Motor1
Photo by: Alanis King / Motor1
There's also a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 with 375 hp and 391 pound-feet. It starts at $64,865, and it gets 25 mpg combined. In nearly 225 miles of driving in the V-6, I got 21.8 mpg combined. I wish that number were higher.
This year, there are a bunch of small changes to the GV70, including: a new, 27.0-inch display showing the driver-instrument cluster and infotainment screen; a new front bumper with extended air intakes; redesigned dual exhaust tips; a D-cut steering wheel on sport trims; a new layout for interior lighting, which brings one of the light strips up near the top of the doors; nine exterior colors, most of which are white, gray, and blue; and more.
Photo by: Alanis King / Motor1
Cons: Slow Pedal Response, Just-Okay Fuel Economy
Inside the GV70, the 27.0-inch screen is big but not overwhelming. It slots into the styling well, and the information isn't superfluous—it shows you what you need to know, crisply, like a laptop screen. The rest of the interior is just as harmonious; red upholstery blends to black with red stitching, and every seat in my tester gets leather quilting. The panoramic glass roof also makes the car feel bigger than it is.
The GV70 drives as elegantly as it looks. Wind noise is almost nonexistent, road noise is well-isolated, and body roll in corners is noticeable but not a nuisance. The GV70 has technology that senses upcoming changes in elevation and adjusts the suspension for a smoother ride, as well as noise-cancellation tech integrated into the speaker system to drown out exterior sounds.
Acceleration from the V-6 isn't stomach-dropping, but it's quick enough to get up to speed. It's also powerful enough to lightly pin your passengers in their seats when a stoplight turns green, even without the use of launch control. If you floor the car while moving, there's about a 'one Mississippi' delay in throttle response. It takes the GV70 a second to drop a gear and go, but for most buyers, that's an acceptable sacrifice for the style and comfort the car provides.
Photo by: Alanis King / Motor1
Photo by: Alanis King / Motor1
But my favorite part of the GV70's driving experience doesn't have to do with my inputs. It's that the SUV now has capacitive steering-wheel technology, which is similar to capacitive dashboard buttons: You just tap the surface, not press it. That means the GV70's steering wheel can sense your hands touching it without you applying pressure.
This is huge for driver-assistance tech like adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist, which, together, make road trips feel half as long as they are. The car handles most of the tedious acceleration and steering inputs on long highway drives, even if the driver has to pay attention to the road and be ready to take over at any moment. Every couple of minutes, the car notifies the driver to confirm their hands are still on the wheel. You usually have to apply pressure to get the car to recognize your hands, which means you end up squeezing the wheel like a stress ball for hours on end.
The capacitive touch in the GV70's steering wheel removes that task. I let the system run for about an hour in Houston traffic on my drive, and all I had to do was rest my thumb on the wheel. It's a massive upgrade over the squeeze-release-squeeze routine.
Photo by: Alanis King / Motor1
I also let the system run on country roads. It can't make every turn—tight curves and sweepers are usually too big of an ask, and the car is carrying so much speed that you'll need to intervene as a driver. But it handles most turns, removing the dull work from you as the driver.
The 2026 Genesis GV70 isn't the sportiest SUV out there, nor is it the most luxurious. But it is a great blend of both, with a starting MSRP that mirrors the average price of a new car in America. And if Americans are spending that much anyway, why not consider a car with so much to offer?
Competitors
Acura RDX
Audi Q5
BMW X3
Lexus RX
Mercedes-Benz GLC
Volvo XC60
Competitor Reviews
The 2025 BMW X3 M50 Is All About the Engine: Review
The 2025 Lexus RX Is Subtle Luxury Done Right: Review
2026 Genesis GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD
Engine
Twin-Turbocharged 3.5-Liter V-6
Output
375 horsepower / 391 pound-feet
Transmission
Eight-Speed Automatic
Weight
4,738 Pounds
Efficiency
18 City / 25 Highway / 21 Combined
Seating Capacity
5
Cargo Volume
28.9 / 56.9 Cubic Feet
Towing
3,500 Pounds
Base Price
$71,145
On Sale
Now
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