2026 Genesis GV70 Pros and Cons Review: It Must Be Tiring Being This Good

We’ve reviewed this compact luxury SUV here before, and every single time it’s passed with flying colors and earned top marks. The 2026 Genesis GV70 I recently tested won’t be the exception. That said, over the course of my test, I put it through enough scenarios that a few less-favorable qualities eventually shone through.

Still, those were so few and far between and, in some ways, so niche that it shouldn’t be much of an issue for the average buyer.

Cons

• The infotainment controls can be a bit cumbersome, and, as in the GV80, the placement of two large knobs together is confusing. I often ended up using the top one to shift and the shifter to select a menu on the infotainment screen.
• Sport+ driving mode feels too overkill. It just comes off as too artificial, especially the wheel heft and the amped engine sounds.
• When pushed really hard on a twisty road, the GV70’s overall handling falls apart, revealing a lack of poise and balance. (I want to clarify that this type of driving is outside the car’s scope, so no major demerit here.)
• Start/Stop can feel a bit jolty at times, and the initial sound that seeps into the cabin isn’t too pleasant.
• At $72k, my tester’s price is steep.

Pros

• Phenomenal interior design. It looks and feels great.
• Excellent ride quality under most circumstances. Plush but not overly so, like the GV80. Good balance.
• Drivetrain is versatile; it can offer an efficient, chill driving experience when wanted, and something with more gusto when desired.
• Despite being an older design (2021), the GV70 still looks sporty, luxe, and unique.
• For what it’s worth, you’ll get extra points for buying a GV70 and not the usual de facto German SUV.
• There’s an all-encompassing sense that everything inside and outside of the GV70 is there for a reason and isn’t just ornamental or for the sake of conveying luxury. There’s a good “vibe” to this thing that’s not quantifiable but felt.

Verdict

Collectively, The Drive‘s staff is running out of things to say about Genesis products. Regardless of who’s written it, which model they drove, or the circumstances for the test, basically every review can be narrowed down to this: “Phenomenal design, great driving experience, some quirky little things, but Genesis is running circles around the Germans.”

Yah, this one isn’t any different, dawg.

Genesis provided The Drive with a four-day loan of this vehicle for the purpose of writing this review.

2026 Genesis GV70 Specs

Email the author at jerry@thedrive.com