Genesis has successfully updated its popular model for the 2026 lineup, which is now available at dealerships. The 2026 Genesis GV70 offers a distinctive combination of opulence and athletic driving dynamics within an SUV format, likely attracting a broad range of consumers.
I went on a journey to Houston to test-drive the high-end 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD model of the latest GV70. I had the chance to view various exterior and interior color options firsthand and drove the car through urban areas, rural backroads, and highways. Additionally, I put it to use navigating congested city traffic as well as open stretches on winding country routes.
In short: If you desire an everyday luxury SUV that exudes a sporty vibe along with distinctive exterior and interior color choices, consider the 2026 Genesis GV70. The comfortable seating unfortunately does not offer top-tier amenities beyond what’s available to the driver. Generally speaking, this car serves as a pleasant environment for relaxation and journeys, though passengers in the back row might feel cramped if they have longer limbs.
2026 Genesis GV70 3.5T Sports Prestige AWD
(Photo/Bryon Dorr)
Specifications
- Drivetrain: 3.5-liter bi-turbo V6 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission
- Power: 375 horsepower, 391 lb.-ft.
- Dimensions: 185.6" Length x 75.2" Height x 75.2" Width, with a wheelbase of 113.2"
- Curb weight: 4,738 lbs.
- Load capacity: 1,071 lbs.
- Towing capacity: 3,500 pounds (when equipped with trailer brakes)
- Ground clearance: 7.3"
- Fuel capacity: 17.43 gal.
- Fuel economy (EPA): 18 city / 25 hwy / 21 combined
- MSRP: $70,095 (plus $1,450 for freight and handling charges), totaling $72,225 as tested
Pros
- Distinctive design both within and outside
- Super comfortable driver's seat
- Peppy powertrain
- Impressive driver aids
Cons
- More pronounced than anticipated road & wind noise
- Lack of rear passenger legroom
- The front passenger seat does not have the massage function and lacks a leg bolster.
In 2026, the Genesis GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD getsReviewed
In 2024, every third Genesis car purchased in the U.S. is likely to be a GV70. This includes nearly 27,000 gasoline variants and an additional approximately 2,500 electric editions. Since its debut in June 2021, the GV70 has been instrumental in significantly expanding the presence of the Genesis brand over recent years.
“The GV70 has become our best-selling model in North America within just three brief years, with more than 85,000 customers joining the GV70 lineup,” stated Claudia Márquez, chief operating officer at Genesis Motor North America. “Both the refreshed GV70 and the new Electrified GV70 provide all the practicality and luxurious interiors expected from an outstanding SUV while maintaining the engaging driving experience that defines Genesis vehicles.”
Genesis’s core pillars when designing the GV70 were: an “Athletic Elegance” design philosophy, effortless through technology, and “Son-Nim” (meaning honored guest in Korean) hospitality. What that boils down to is that the vehicle needs to have muscular yet smooth flowing lines, the latest tech needs to make the vehicle easy to drive, and the materials, design, and tech in the vehicle need to make every passenger feel comfortable and like they’re having a special experience.
Primarily, Genesis has excelled based on these fundamental principles. However, the emphasis remains firmly on the driver. The car frequently overlooks the comfort of other occupants—more details to follow on this point.
Tech Forward
The majority of the improvements for the GV70 in 2026 are beneath the surface. Advanced technology has been introduced to enhance comfort and convenience for both drivers and passengers. The auditory elements, such as parking warnings, now feature distinct and agreeable sounds. Additionally, customizable internal ambient lighting assists in establishing an ambiance.
The standout technology feature within the 2026 GV70 is undoubtedly the expansive 27-inch OLED display. On one side of this large screen lies a touch-sensitive area, whereas the opposite end remains non-touch-enabled. This extensive, sharp, and thoughtfully crafted entertainment interface reacts swiftly to commands and naturally includes support for both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionalities.
I genuinely appreciate how activating a turn signal displays a circular video feed on the adjacent side of the screen, showing a three-quarter front view from the side mirror. It’s incredibly useful for parking and preventing curb hits during turns.
Also available is a heads-up display (HUD). This feature is vibrant, customizable, and significantly aids drivers in keeping their focus elevated and on the roadway in front of them.
A recently introduced three-zone automatic HVAC system featuring updated controls makes it simple to maintain a comfortable temperature inside the car for every occupant.
The convenience enhancements feature improved voice recognition capabilities, enabling you to manage car functionalities such as window controls, climate settings, and audio systems through your vocal commands. Additionally, Digital Key 2 is now standard equipment, permitting the utilization of a smartphone or smartwatch for locking/unlocking the vehicle and granting key access to others from afar.
The latest Bang & Olufsen 16-speaker, 10-level surround sound system is genuinely remarkable. It stands among the top offerings from rival companies.
The vehicle includes terrain settings for hypothetical off-roading scenarios such as snow, mud, and sand. In practice, this car probably won’t venture far from paved roads, though the snow setting could be useful when driving to your neighborhood ski slope.
The driver assistance features in this newest GV70 are more sophisticated compared to what I've encountered in most cars so far. Although the lane-keeping assist can be quite assertive, it operates smoothly—unlike other systems that tend to bounce you around between lanes.
The highway driving assistance feature truly stood out for me. Although you still need to keep one hand on the steering wheel to enable automated lane changes via a turn signal—thanks to an updated touch-sensitive rather than torque-detecting steering wheel—the overall system functions almost like a hands-off setup. It does require you to maintain visual focus on the roadway; otherwise, it will alert you vocally, though these alerts are notably less intense compared to those of numerous other cars.
What Makes It Go
Beneath the hood of my high-end test car lies a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, exclusive to the Sport trim level. This powerhouse generates 375 horsepower along with an impressive 391 pound-feet of torque. With such robust power at your disposal, accelerating swiftly up to triple-digit speeds becomes effortless—though naturally, one wouldn’t consider doing so regularly—or merging onto highways and overtaking vehicles become straightforward tasks.
Definitely present is some throttle delay, probably due to both fuel efficiency targets and turbo lag; however, this level of lag remains lower compared to numerous contemporary cars.
The power is handled via an eight-speed automatic transmission equipped with paddle shifters, along with an electronic limited-slip differential. Additionally, it features launch control, something you typically wouldn't find in a luxury car of this caliber.
The audio from the twin-turbo V6 is prominently featured, yet it still manages to sound quite impressive. While driving through a tunnel and using the paddle shifters for several downshifts with the windows open, I noticed that the car remained surprisingly silent compared to the robust sounds being played through the speakers.
A 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine is available, along with an optional plug-in hybrid system. However, I have not personally driven either of these options yet, so I am unable to provide insights into their performance or characteristics.
Ride & Handling
As expected with substantial horsepower, bringing the large body of this luxurious SUV down from top velocities requires robust stopping capabilities. The Sport versions of the GV70 now feature massive monoblock braking systems.
The sensation when pressing the brake pedal varies with different driving modes; however, regardless of the mode chosen, there’s significant resistance at the beginning of the pedal stroke. Although it may take some time to get used to, these updated braking systems prove to be highly efficient.
The vehicle features two types of steering weights: comfort and sport, which have noticeable differences. The comfort setting is probably preferable for regular use due to its lighter feel, whereas the sport mode is heavier yet offers slightly greater precision.
Every Sport model of the 2026 GV70 comes equipped with an electronically controlled suspension featuring both Preview ECS and Highway Motion Control systems. ThisPreview ECS utilizes a camera to scan the road ahead and fine-tunes the damper settings to minimize vibrations felt inside the vehicle.
The Highway Motion Control (HBC/HAS) is designed to reduce body roll, dive, and front-end lifting when performing maneuvers such as lane changing, hard braking, and rapid acceleration.
The new hydraulic bushings for the vehicle’s body and suspension linkages assist in absorbing shocks to the frame through their internal fluid resistance mechanism. This reduction in stiffness enhances overall comfort by minimizing roughness and significantly cutting down on cabin vibrations.
Passenger Comfort
This is a high-end automobile, with enhancements such as improved cup holders and a repositioned wireless charging station—each update aimed at making your experience within this SUV smoother and more pleasant.
The standout comfort feature in the GV70 is the seats. The driver seat, in particular, is very comfortable and adjustable. It has an adjustable leg support bolster, adjustable side bolsters, and even massage. What Genesis missed, though, is not giving any of those features to any of the other passengers in the vehicle. The other seats are comfortable, but lacking in these great features.
The heating function for both front seats works immediately, whereas the ventilation feature requires a short activation time. Despite this delay, the venting mechanism proves to be highly effective and possibly the most silent one I have encountered so far.
The rear occupants can relax in comfortably heated seats with plenty of space for their heads and shoulders. Accessing the backseat is convenient thanks to the high doorway. Nonetheless, legspace is somewhat restricted; however, the contoured backs of the front seats do provide more kneeroom.
I find the cabin could be quieter since the level of wind and road noise exceeds my expectations for such a high-end luxury car. Despite this, it remains quite silent thanks to technologies like ANC-R (Active Noise Control - Road). This system employs accelerometers and internal microphones to identify road-generated sounds invading the cabin and counters these noises with speaker outputs.
Also, noise dampeners in the tailgate and hollow resonators inside the new 21-inch hollow wheels reduce noise and vibrations. The new steering wheel is also said to be stronger, safer, and has a much larger damper on it, which helps to reduce road vibrations from transmitting to the driver.
Style, Inside & Out
If a 2025 or 2026 GV70 cruises past, spotting the changes would require a keen eye. While there are modifications, they're quite understated. The redesigned G-Matrix Crest Grille stands out the most; however, the revised bumpers, front air intakes, wheel designs, dual exhaust tips, rear spoilers, sleeker hood emblems, and enhanced MLA headlights have also been refreshed.
The distinctive two-line design of the front and rear exterior lights along with the updated wheel styling make this car stand out among its competitors. Personally, I really enjoy the striped pattern on the new 21-inch wheels included in the Sport version I tried. Additionally, the Sport variants come equipped with side trim pieces as well as modified dual exhaust systems, whereas the rest of the GV70 lineup has concealed exhaust tips.
The 2026 Genesis GV70 offers six different trims, which combined with various exterior and interior choices provide approximately 185 distinct configurations of the vehicle. Unique color options such as the fresh Ceres Blue paint along with Nappa leather interiors, similar to the striking Ultramarine Blue, contribute to making this luxurious SUV stand out among rivals.
The color palette available on this vehicle is pretty spectacular, inside and out. I particularly like the orange seat belt and contrast stitching available with some Sport interior options.
The Sport Prestige variant I evaluated features a distinctive carbon fiber trim, whereas the Sport Advanced edition includes brushed aluminum accents, and both the Standard and Select editions boast glossy black trims. Personally, I find the design of the carbon fiber trim somewhat peculiar and slightly off-putting; however, it does lend a distinctively sporty character to the car.
Pricing & Availability
The production of 2026 Genesis GV70 models for the U.S. market primarily takes place in Montgomery, Alabama; however, some units are imported from South Korea as well. Future adjustments to this distribution will likely be influenced by new tariff regulations.
2026 Genesis GV70 Pricing
- GV70 2.5T AWD MSRP: $49,435
- GV70 2.5T SELECT AWD MSRP: $52,335
- GV70 2.5T ADVANCED AWD MSRP: $56,885
- GV70 2.5T Sport Prestige AWD MSRP: $60,245
- GV70 3.5T Sport Advanced AWD MSRP: $64,865
- GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD MSRP: $71,545
All prices listed here encompass the required $1,450 for shipping and processing.
The 2026 Genesis Electrified GV70 has a base price of approximately $66k and can go up to about $76k. Many purchasers will find the additional expense justified.
At the end of March, gas models started trickling into U.S. dealers — while dealers are still selling down 2025 model year vehicles off their lots. Electrified models should be shipping soon to dealers, but in even more limited quantities.
2026 Genesis GV70 Review: Concluding Thoughts
While pricing for the 2026 Genesis GV70 Starts below $50K for a four-cylinder standard version; however, the V6 Sport Prestige model I tested came with a sticker price of $72,225. The only additional features were Mauna Red paint costing $650 and an NFC key card adding another $30. Despite this higher base cost, it remains competitive compared to similar models such as the Lexus RX , Porsche Cayenne , and Mercedes GLC .
Although it hasn't been officially revealed yet, everyone anticipates that a Magma variant will arrive shortly. The current Sport edition of the 2026 Genesis GV70 offers plenty of orange highlights and exudes a sporty vibe. However, I am eagerly looking forward to seeing what features the Magma version might introduce. Let’s hope it strikes a balance between performance and daily drivability better than theBMW M Competition SUVs I've experienced, which seemed to prioritize one over the other.
Posting Komentar
Posting Komentar