2023 Genesis GV70 vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2023 Genesis GV70 exhibited a design that drew inspiration from its sedan counterpart, the G70, particularly above the belt-line. Its split-bar headlights and a distinctive chrome line that curved from behind the rear window were stylistic elements that connected it to the G70. This chrome bar cleverly suggested a coupe-like SUV design without compromising versatility. Inside, the GV70's cabin was a testament to luxury, featuring top-notch materials and an impressive fit and finish. The interior design was a harmonious blend of contemporary and classic aesthetics, with climate controls integrated into a curving bezel and a touchscreen that seamlessly emerged from the dash. The GV70's dash was equipped with a full touchscreen, complemented by a rotary dial and button controls on the center console. The physical rollers on the steering wheel and center console were a nod to practicality, offering a tactile experience superior to touch capacitive controls.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a bold departure from its predecessors, embracing a boxy design that prioritized storage capacity. This design choice was a nod to Hyundai's commitment to forward-looking technology and efficiency, even as it diverged from the sleek, futuristic aesthetics of the Ioniq models. The Santa Fe's exterior featured a palette of sophisticated colors, including matte options, and anodized-finish badging. The XRT trim level added dark chrome and black cladding, enhancing its upscale appearance. Inside, the Santa Fe offered premium styling, with the XRT and Calligraphy trims showcasing a mix of soft and hard materials. The headliner fabric was particularly luxurious, adding a touch of decadence to the interior. The Santa Fe's design was a testament to Hyundai's ability to create an elegant and premium-looking vehicle, even with a boxy silhouette.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered a choice between two gas-powered engines and an electrified version. The 2.5T model was equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The 3.5T variant featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The GV70's turbo-four engine provided ample power for most driving situations, while the V6 catered to performance enthusiasts with its extra grunt and throaty engine note. The GV70's driving experience was a balanced blend of comfort and sharp handling, making it a refined and well-rounded luxury SUV.

The electrified version of the GV70 utilized a 77.4-kWh battery pack, powering two electric motors in an all-wheel-drive setup. These dual motors generated a combined 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, with a Boost Mode that temporarily increased output to 483 horsepower. The electric GV70 offered a range of 236 miles, with the ability to fast charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 18 minutes. The GV70 Electrified prioritized comfort over sportiness, providing a smooth and confident driving experience. In comparison, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe's base powertrain featured a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive optional. The Santa Fe offered Normal, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with the XRT trim adding off-road capabilities. Later in the model year, a hybrid version with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine was introduced, delivering 231 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. The Santa Fe's fuel economy varied by trim, with the base FWD model achieving 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. The XRT trim, with its extra ground clearance and all-terrain tires, offered a towing capacity of 4,500 pounds. On the road, the Santa Fe Calligraphy provided a smooth and stable driving experience, with notable body roll through turns. The XRT trim excelled in off-road conditions, comparable to other rugged SUVs in its class.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered 56.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, which was about average for the compact luxury SUV segment. With the rear seats in use, it provided 28.9 cubic feet, which was above average in its class. The GV70 came standard with a hands-free power liftgate, making loading and unloading cargo convenient. Up front, the GV70 featured decently large cupholders in the center console, though the in-door cupholders couldn't accommodate larger water bottles. The center console included a helpful tray with a retractable lid and a typical center console bin. While the front seats were easy to adjust for comfort, the rear seats had tighter legroom, requiring front-row occupants to slide their seats forward. The rear bench did recline, allowing passengers to find a more comfortable seating position.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe embraced a boxy design that prioritized cargo space. Compared to its predecessor, it featured a wheelbase about two inches longer, with a body that was two inches longer and taller. Hyundai dedicated most of this extra space to the cargo area, inspired by the concept of "chabak," which emphasized car camping and tailgating. The Santa Fe's cargo area offered 14.6 cubic feet of space, expanding to 40.5 and 79.6 cubic feet with the third and second rows folded, respectively. The optional roof rails could support 220 pounds, and a new grab handle facilitated loading cargo. Inside, the Santa Fe's first and second rows were spacious and welcoming, with a choice of bench or reclining captain's chairs. The third row was snug, suitable for occasional use. Depending on the trim, the Santa Fe featured stain-resistant cloth, synthetic leather, real leather, or plush quilted Nappa leather upholstery. Heated front seats were standard on all but the base SE trim, with ventilation available on higher trims. The Santa Fe's interior design emphasized a calm, well-organized, and relaxing space.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 featured a standard 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The touchscreen was user-friendly, with large icons and logical menu navigation. Genesis also provided a series of helpful buttons in the center console, along with a rotary dial for scrolling and selecting. However, the rotary dial was located adjacent to the vehicle's rotary shifter, which could lead to confusion. The GV70 came equipped with four USB ports, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a nine-speaker stereo system. Additional features included ambient lighting, a digital instrument panel, and the Genesis digital key.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe's cabin was highlighted by a curved panoramic display that swept behind the steering wheel and flowed elegantly above the center console. This feature was available on XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy trims, adding a touch of decadence to the interior. The touchscreen display was intuitive, with easy access to controls, crisp graphics, and camera views. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard across the lineup, along with a 12-speaker Bose stereo, dynamic voice recognition, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The SE and SEL trims featured a simpler 12.3-inch touchscreen display, while higher trims offered wireless charging and Hyundai's BlueLink system for vehicle access and information. The Calligraphy trim introduced Hyundai Pay, a system for secure payments at partnered vendors, and a biometric fingerprint scanner for valet mode control.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 came equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance technologies, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The 2.5T model's Advance Package added a blind-spot camera system, reverse automatic emergency braking, and a 360-degree parking camera system. On the 3.5T, these features were included in the Sport Advance package. The Genesis GV70 Electrified offered most of these features as standard, with the head-up display available in the Prestige trim.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe had not yet been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, but Hyundai's vehicles typically performed well in these evaluations. The Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of advanced safety and driver-assistance features as standard. The base SE trim included a reversing camera, stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, forward collision-avoidance assist, intersection assist, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic emergency braking, safe-exit assist, lane-keep assist, lane-following assist, driver-attention monitoring, and a rear-occupant reminder system. Higher trims added features such as a 360-degree camera system, blind-spot view monitor, rain-sensing windshield wipers, parking sensors, reverse parking collision assist, remote automatic parking, and a sanitizing compartment in the glovebox. The Santa Fe also introduced driver monitoring, combining an infrared camera and capacitive sensors to track alertness and detect hands on the wheel.