A Luxury SUV with Value in its DNA: The 2026 Genesis GV70

If you’ve watched our channel for any time, you know I like a luxury SUV that earns its keep. The refreshed 2026 Genesis GV70 does just that—style-forward, tech-forward, and still priced to make the Germans sweat. For the full walkaround and driving footage, catch the video on TXGarage; this writeup digs into everything I noticed living with a top-trim GV70 for a week.

First Impressions: Athletic Elegance, Texas Edition

Slide behind the wheel and the GV70 immediately feels like the right size for Texas life—easy to thread through a parking garage, substantial enough for highway runs between Dallas and just about anywhere. Genesis calls the design language Athletic Elegance; this update leans a little more athletic without losing the elegance. It still reads as a Genesis from a block away, which is part of the charm.

What’s New For 2026

Genesis didn’t reinvent it; they refined it. Up front is a reshaped G-Matrix Crest Grille and new two-line headlamps using micro-lens array tech for that jeweled signature. Inside is the big headline: a single-pane, 27-inch OLED that combines the instrument cluster and infotainment into one seamless sweep. There are also elevated convenience touches—Genesis Digital Key 2, improved over-the-air updates, a smarter voice assistant, new ambient lighting—and an available Bang & Olufsen system with Beosonic tuning. Subtle changes, meaningful results.

Trims & The One I’m Driving

The lineup breaks into four 2.5T trims (Base, Select, Advanced, Sport Prestige) and two 3.5T trims (Sport Advanced, Sport Prestige). All are AWD with an 8-speed automatic. The 2.5-liter turbo four posts 300 hp and 311 lb-ft; the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 brings 375 hp and 391 lb-ft plus the electronically controlled suspension with Road Preview.

My tester is the 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD—the range topper. Base for this trim is $71,095 before destination; as equipped, the Monroney reads $72,225. On the other end, a GV70 2.5T AWD starts at $48,985 before freight.

Outside The Lines

The GV70 wears its refresh well. The grille looks lower and wider, anchoring a front fascia that’s bolder but not brash. Those twin light bars—now MLA—deliver a crisp signature at night. The long hood with a proud Genesis badge still gives off grand-tourer vibes. In profile, the coupe-like roofline and 21-inch wheels on my tester fill the arches just right. Out back, the quad taillights remain the brand’s calling card, with a cleaner lower bumper and integrated exhaust finishers.

Open Sesame

Life hack I didn’t know I needed: stand behind the GV70 with the key in your pocket, pause, and the hatch will pop on its own. Inside is a practical, well-finished space with a low load floor and a wide opening. You get 28.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 56.9 cubic feet with the seats folded nearly flat. There’s hidden under-floor space for small items. It’s top-tier cargo for road trips, airport runs, and weekly grocery raids.

The Big Screen Scene

This is the first thing you notice: a seamless 27-inch OLED stretching corner to corner. Genesis and Hyundai have done wide panels before, but you could see the seam—two screens pretending to be one. Not here. Only the right side is touch-sensitive, which is exactly how it should be; you don’t need to poke your gauges. The rest is handled by a rotary controller and quick voice prompts. It looks premium in a way that makes some rivals feel dated.

Below the screen, climate and media controls move to touch-capacitive. I usually prefer physical buttons, but the response and layout are good enough that I didn’t miss them. The result is a clean, modern dash that still makes sense in daily use.

Seats That Think

My tester’s black interior with orange stitching and piping looks fantastic—sporty without shouting. The quilted front seats are heated and cooled, deeply comfortable, and then there’s the Ergo Motion party trick. Corner hard in Sport and the bolsters cinch you in. Drive a little too briskly and the seat will give you a supportive squeeze. It even ran what the screen called a quick posture check, gently pushing my lower back to reset my position. That’s a smart use of seat motors beyond a simple massage routine, and it worked.

Two nits from a week of use: the glossy trim around the shifter shows fingerprints like crazy, and if you’re obsessive you’ll keep a microfiber cloth handy. Otherwise, this cabin is close to flawless.

Second Row & Everyday Usability

Rear seat space is generous, with easy entry and a comfortable rake to the cushion. Passengers get a fold-down armrest with cupholders and—nice touch—buttons on the side of the front passenger seat so the person behind can gain legroom. Visibility is good, and there’s enough width for two car seats without acrobatics. Between the quiet cabin and the compliant ride, it’s a relaxing place to burn highway miles.

On The Road

This SUV drives the way you want a luxury SUV to drive. Road noise is negligible, tire noise is basically a non-issue, and the Ride Preview suspension earns its name—scan, adjust, smooth, repeat. In Comfort mode the GV70 floats over North Texas concrete seams without feeling woolly; in Sport it tightens enough to feel buttoned down without going harsh. Steering is light in town and steady on the highway. Does a BMW X3 still feel sharper at the limit? Yes. Do I prefer the GV70’s calm-confidence tuning for daily driving? Also yes.

The Numbers You Asked For

The 3.5T V6 is rated at 375 hp and 391 lb-ft, routed through an 8-speed automatic to standard AWD. The 2.5T four makes 300 hp and 311 lb-ft with the same drivetrain layout. EPA for the 3.5T AWD is 18 mpg city, 25 highway, 21 combined. The 2.5T does 20/28/23 on 19-inch wheels and 20/26/22 on 21s. Passenger volume is 103.6 cubic feet; the fuel tank is 17.43 gallons. Curb weight ranges from the low 4,300s in a 2.5T to the mid-4,600s in a 3.5T.

Translation: the four-cylinder is the efficiency pick; the V6 is the everything-else pick.

Tech, Safety, Sound

Beyond the big screen, you get the things that make daily life easier: wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot, fingerprint authentication tied to your profile, and Genesis Digital Key 2 so your phone can be the key. The available Bang & Olufsen system with Beosonic profiles is worth a listen; cinema mode is a fun flex.

Driver aids are comprehensive: Highway Driving Assist, smart cruise with stop-and-go, surround-view and blind-spot view monitors, rear cross-traffic assist, lane keeping and following, forward attention and driver attention alerts, and more. It’s all the stuff you expect at this price point, included the way you hope it will be.

Price & Value

This is where Genesis keeps poking the bear. A GV70 2.5T AWD starts at $48,985 before the $1,450 freight. My 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD lands at $72,225 as equipped, and that’s essentially the cap for a gas GV70. Spec a BMW X3, Audi Q5, or Mercedes-Benz GLC to match the GV70’s equipment—ventilated seats, premium audio, 360 cameras, ambient lighting, big screen—and you’ll typically end up three to eight grand higher. That’s the value story, and it’s real.

Cross-Shop Reality

The X3 remains the sharp-handler of the class. The GLC brings the plushest cabin vibe and MBUX glamor. The Q5 is the quiet overachiever with quattro confidence. The GV70? It’s the one that looks the most interesting, feels the most modern inside, and arrives with the most you want already included. If you’re shopping with your head and your eyes, it’s hard to ignore.

The Electrified Connection

Last time I reviewed a GV70 it was the Electrified, and that experience still colors my take. The EV’s immediate torque and serenity were addicting, and it framed Genesis as luxury-first, not “EV-first trying to be luxury.” The 2026 gas GV70 carries that baton—same refinement, now with a next-gen screen and a quieter, more composed ride. You don’t get the instant punch of electrons here, but the V6 has real pace and a more traditional feel that some buyers will prefer.

Who It’s For

If you want a compact luxury SUV that looks expensive, feels expensive, and doesn’t require a graduate course in option packages to spec correctly, this is it. Families will appreciate the space and serenity; commuters will appreciate the way it shrugs off rough pavement; enthusiasts will appreciate that the V6 wakes up when asked.

Final Take

The 2026 Genesis GV70 threads a tough needle: bolder on the outside, smarter and more premium on the inside, and as composed as ever on the road—while still undercutting the Germans by thousands at comparable equipment. The new OLED screen finally makes the “one pane” idea feel truly seamless, the seats are clever and comfortable, and the cargo space is what you want for real life. The glossy trim’s fingerprint habit is my lone gripe. Everything else? That’s how you do a refresh.

For more visual context—screen animations, Ergo Motion in action, highway ride, and cargo demos—watch the full video on TXGarage. And if you’re deciding between 2.5T efficiency and 3.5T punch, I cover both angles there.