For those of you who are resistant to a 4-cylinder SUV and want some luxury and a really engaging drive, I may have the perfect fit for you in this 2026 Genesis GV70. If you listen to the Car Pro Show, you know I love what Genesis is doing with a sharp exterior, and a luxurious interior. Genesis is also known for fantastic infotainment systems with some unique features.
What's New For 2026
A lot has changed for 2026, such as: The Genesis GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige gets a refreshed front fascia with a redesigned grille and updated exhaust outlets, plus new 21-inch wheels. Inside, it gains a massive 27-inch curved OLED display that merges the digital gauge cluster and infotainment system, now with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The climate controls have been relocated for a cleaner look, and the cabin features upgraded materials, ambient lighting, and an improved voice assistant. Mechanical updates include revised suspension bushings and a new Highway Body Motion Control system for a quieter, smoother ride. Driver-assist tech is enhanced with a capacitive steering wheel sensor and improved remote parking, and there’s a new Terrain Mode for off-road settings. In short, many improvements were made to an already exceptional SUV.
Exterior
I love the exterior looks of this SUV. The 21” alloy wheels look fantastic, the restyled grill, a large spoiler that should have the rear wiper tucked it, and this color is fantastic. It is called Mauna Red and it really pops. The GV70 is sleek and sporty and will turn a lot of heads.
Performance
Under the hood, there is a 3.5-liter V6 with twin-turbos putting out a strong 375-horses, and even better, 391 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to an 8-speed automatic that has shift paddles. My tester is all-wheel drive, but rear-wheel drive biased, and that is the only way the 3.5T comes. The big twin- turbo V6 will tow 3,500 pounds, it’ll do 0-to-60 in 4.9 seconds, and it tops out at 150-miles per hour. We’re talking X3 and Macan numbers here.
Cool Feature
Coolness abounds in the GV70 starting with the key fob. You can hit the hold button on the fob, then move the SUV forward and backward remotely without anyone being behind the wheel.
Interior
When you enter the cabin, you get a sense you are in a truly luxurious SUV, and you are. Nappa Diamond pleated seats are beautiful, leather materials are everywhere, there is carbon fiber across the dash, on the door panels, and surrounding the center console.
Heavy stitching is all around, and the steering wheel itself is stunning. As you sit behind that beautiful two-tone heated, power tilt leather steering wheel, there is a vibrant driver display that is highly configurable.
New for 2026 as I told you above, is a huge 27” continuous screen that you can use as a touchscreen or there is a controller on the center console if you prefer. The screen is colorful and easy to operate, it is lightning fast, and it is greatly improved from the last version that looked a bit like an afterthought, just sitting up on the dash.
On the gauge cluster, when you turn on your blinker to change lanes, you get a camera view from the left or right side of the dash to make sure it is safe to change lanes. The head-up display also shows you if it is safe to change lanes, and last, you can glance into the side exterior mirrors as well. I am a huge fan of blind-spot monitoring systems and Genesis takes to a new level.
On the right side of the big screen are page after page of different operations, including: The navigation system, the 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, the 3-zone climate control, the power heated, cooled, and ergo-motion massaging seats with a power thigh bolster, the 360-degree camera, Bluetooth, Amazon music, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, quiet mode to turn the rear speakers off.
The center console houses a rotary shifter as well as drive modes featuring snow, eco, comfort, sport mode, sport+, and you can mix and match in the My mode. There is an auto hold button which is a feature I truly love. Also on the console is a button to turn off the start/stop, choose your camera views, activate the self-parking feature, and another button to lock-in the all-wheel drive. There is a wireless cell charger, and USB and USB-C ports. Above that are all the climate control settings with actual knobs.
Second row passengers will enjoy a power outlet, rear air vents, climate controls, a phone charger, manual window shades, and heated seats. The rear seats recline, but do not slide, and they are setup in a 60/40 configuration. Back seat headroom and legroom were surprisingly good, a rarity in a compact SUV.
Utility
This GV70 is a five-passenger and without a third-row seat, there is a huge amount of cargo area and even more when you use the levers in the cargo area to fold down the second row seats.
You get 29-cubic feet of cargo behind the back seat and fold them down flat and it grows to 57-cubic feet. The rear tailgate is hands-free activated, power from the key fob or the dash. There is lighting and a 12-volt power outlet in the back area.
Standard Features and Options
This is a luxury SUV, so it comes super loaded, with all the latest safety features including forward collision avoidance assist, lane keep assist, driver attention alert, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, safe exit assist, advanced rear seat alert, front and rear sensors, and cross-traffic alert.
There are no options except the paint ($650), so you get the Nappa leather seats, Alcantara headliner, a power panoramic moon roof with power shade, power tilt wheel, adaptive cruise control, highway driving assist (self-driving), head-up display, floor mats, a rearview camera mirror, and ambient lighting.
Ride and Drive
The ride and drive of this SUV is wonderful, it’s super quiet inside, and handling is good. Electronically controlled adaptive suspension gives you a truly smooth ride and the feeling of a luxury SUV but go to Sport+ and it is a very different experience with shifter shifts. The GV70’s steering is very linear and overall, this SUV is incredibly well-balanced no matter which drive mode you choose.
MPG and What You'll Pay
Fuel economy for a luxury all-wheel SUV is good at 18 in town and 25 on the highway, and 21 overall. My loaded test vehicle comes in at an MSRP of $72,225 which I consider to be a good buy especially considering the 10-year/100,000 mile warranty, 3-years of free maintenance, and the concierge service for pickup and delivery when you need service, not to mention horsepower and driving dynamics.
Verdict
If you don’t need something larger, put this one on your shopping list.
2026 Genesis GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige
- What I liked most: The beautiful looks, great interior, and fantastic upgrades for 2026.
- What I would change: Hide the wiper under the spoiler, otherwise this GV70 is perfect.
- MSRP: Base price $70,095 as equipped $72,225 with transportation.
- Fuel Economy: 18 city/25 highway/21 overall.
- Official Color: Mauna Red with Sevilla Red interior.
- Odometer reading when tested: 2,900 miles.
- Weight: 4,584 pounds/5,500 GVWR.
- Spare Tire: Compact temporary.
- Length-Width-Height: 185.6” long/75.2” wide with mirrors folded in/ 64.2” high.
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 17.4 gallons with filler on the driver’s side.
- Towing Capacity: 3,500 pounds
- 2026 Genesis GV70 in a few words: Genesis took an outstanding SUV and raised the bar with the upgrades to this 2026 model.
- Warranty: 5-year/60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper, 10-year/100,000 mile power train warranty, 3-years of free maintenance, and concierge service for pickup and delivery.
- Final Assembly Location: Montgomery, AL.
- Manufacturers website: Genesis
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