Genesis's 2025 GV70 is everything you'd want in a compact AWD SUV, and then some

​The 2025 Genesis GV70 compact AWD SUV has everything anyone would desire in a utility vehicle, and then some. 

Genesis is Hyundai’s top-tier luxury brand. And their GV70 is a stand-out in the compact market which is destined to be a top seller for the company. Genesis also has their larger GV80 mid-size AWD SUV that we reviewed, and it too is a winner in several ultra-luxury categories. 

The GV70 is sexy and chic looking outside and gorgeous inside. Its exterior profile gives it the appearance it’s moving 65 mph standing still. Its front end takes on the look of a Bentley and the back end, an Aston Martin. Pretty distinguished company I’d say. 

With LED headlights and taillights, a sloping roofline with integrated roof spoiler, 4.5-inch oval tailpipes and neat alloy wheels, GV70 is an eye-grabber. It’s offered in Standard, Select, Advanced and Sport Prestige trim levels, plus an all-electric version.  

Each trim level can be had with either a 2.5 turbo inline 4-cylinder, or potent 3.5-liter turbocharged V6. We were privileged to have tested the Sport Prestige model with 3.5-liter, turbocharged V6 that was loaded with every conceivable safety feature available today. 

GV70s interior is a stand-out. The best we’ve seen on any comparable SUV. Atop the dash is an expansive 14.5-inch infotainment screen that’s operable by certain voice commands and controller. It serves the audio, navigation, rearview camera with overhead, frontal and revolving views and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. And depending on the weather, the screen background shows clouds for a cloudy day, dismal for rain and snowflakes for snowy days. 

GV70s heated/cooled Nappa leather front seats have extended under thigh support and the front passenger seat reclines (as does the rear seat) allowing the passenger to take a nap on long trips. Their diamond-shaped seat insert design is stunning. The 16-way power driver’s seat also has a massage feature (Ergo Motion) that automatically adjusts the seat posture after a period of driving, or can be manually activated. But that’s not all. Front seat side bolsters automatically change with the driving mode selected. Or, can be overridden. In Sport and Sport Plus modes, the bolsters automatically close in against the torso to hug the body ever so snugly for spirited driving support.

As a segment first, there’s an airbag that deploys between the front seats to protect the front passengers from hitting the console, or one another.  

The console mounted multi-media controller for the infotainment screen shares the console with a rotary gear selector t that has a push button “P” in the middle for Park gear. That may take a little getting used to coming from a console mounted shift handle or a column shifter. But the acclimation period is short. One suggestion here for Genesis designers is that the controller should be smaller in diameter than the gear selector, as the shifter is the more important control. There’s also a vertically embedded cell charger on the console. 

Climate controls are digital with neat touch sensitive selections. And below them is a Drive Mode switch on the fore console that provides Snow, Comfort, Sport and Custom driving modes. When selecting a mode, the gauge changes color i.e... Comfort is white, Custom is orange, Snow is white, Sport is red. 

There’s also a steering assist feature (warns when not keeping at least one hand lightly on the wheel) that keeps the SUV between the highway lines, and Remote Smart Parking Assist that uses the keyfob to remotely park the GV70 into tight spots from outside the vehicle if you so desire. 

Over on the 8-inch digital gauge cluster, it includes a driver information display with alerts, functions and drive modes. 

Rear seats are equally as comfy as are the fronts with good leg and ample headroom for two adults. And behind the seats is a spacious cargo area. With the rear seats upright, there’s 28.9 cubic feet of cargo space that measures 38 inches deep, 40.5 wide and 28 high. Flip the rear seatbacks by pulling two handles and cargo space expands to 56.9 cubic feet for 70 inches of cargo loading depth. Lift-over onto the cargo floor is a low 29 inches with a hands-free liftgate.

While we previously tested the 2024 GV70 with the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder but the 3.5-liter turbo six was exceedingly more robust in standing stop acceleration and when passing 18 wheelers on the interstate. In Sport and Sport Plus modes, acceleration is head-snapping. And the 8-speed automatic transmission is quick shifting through the gear set. With this powertrain, the GV70 garnered EPA mileage estimates of 18 city, 24-highway mpg. 

With GV70s electronically-controlled suspension, GV70 rode superbly on 10-inch wide 255/40R21 Michelin tires. Serious road imperfections and unimproved railroad crossings were merely ripples. GV70 is also a quiet rider that had nimble handling and is easy to park with a 37.7 foot turning diameter. It remained planted in sharp turns with no discernible body lean. 

GV70 was loaded with a host of safety features like forward collision avoidance assist, lane keeping and following assist, blind spot collision avoidance, rear cross traffic collision avoidance, safe exit assist, and advanced rear occupant alert. 

On the options list was the Sport Advanced Package ($6,400) that added 21-inch sport wheels, suede headliner, premium Lexicon audio w/Lexus Digital Key, surround view mirror, blind spot monitors when activating the left and right turn signals, remote parking assist as mentioned, parking distance warning forward/reverse, parking collision avoidance assist and more. 

The last option was for the Sport Prestige Package ($3,200) that included the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, head-up display, heated rear seats, forward attention warning and a few more. Along with delivery ($1,350), the base price of $58,300 topped-out at $69,900. 

GV70 received a Top Safety Pick Plus by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and it earned a full 5-star overall safety score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

Additional accolades go to the GV70 for its best-in-the-business 5 year/60K mile new vehicle warranty plus five years of free roadside assistance w/unlimited mileage. Plus, for the first three years or 36K miles there's free scheduled maintenance. The powertrain itself is covered for 10 years or 100K miles. 

Like its larger brother, that we said was our midsize SUV of the year, the 2025 GV70 is our compact AWD SUV of the year. We liked it that much.