2024 Genesis GV70 vs 2025 Honda Pilot

The 2024 Genesis GV70 distinguished itself with a sleek design that balanced brand recognition and unique styling. It featured split headlights and a large grille, while maintaining a streamlined profile compared to its larger sibling, the GV80. The GV70's design included standout elements like a hatchback-like rear window and distinctive wheel designs. It successfully combined SUV presence with luxury-car style, offering a more refined look than competitors like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. The Electrified GV70 retained the same styling, with a unique grille housing the charge port, making it convenient for charging.

Inside, the GV70 boasted a distinctive interior with luxury touches such as quilted Nappa leather and a panoramic sunroof. The design was memorable, with climate controls housed in an elliptical pod and a rotary infotainment controller that added a unique flair. The dashboard's rounded cross-section added to the vehicle's distinctiveness, showcasing Genesis' effort to stand out in the luxury SUV market.

The 2025 Honda Pilot, particularly in the Black Edition trim, offered a rugged yet suburban-friendly appearance. It featured black wheels, blacked-out trim, and red accents in the interior, creating a custom look. The Pilot's design aimed for a more rugged appearance since its 2023 redesign, with the TrailSport trim enhancing off-road capabilities. However, the Black Edition was more suited for urban environments.

Inside, the Pilot provided thoughtful design and quality materials, though it lacked a significant "wow factor." The interior featured practical storage solutions and comfortable seating, but the digital displays appeared dated compared to rivals. The Black Edition included exclusive features like red ambient lighting and embossed head restraints, but the overall technology and design felt more utilitarian than luxurious.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered two gasoline engine options: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 300 horsepower and a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 with 375 horsepower. Both engines came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The Electrified GV70 featured front and rear electric motors producing 429 horsepower, with a Boost Mode providing 483 horsepower for short bursts. Despite impressive specs, the GV70's chassis tuning didn't match its sporty rivals, feeling heavier and less agile through corners. The ride quality was comfortable but not exceptional, with the suspension tending to crash over bumps.

The 2025 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, generating 285 horsepower. It offered various driving modes, including Normal, Econ, and Sport. The Pilot's AWD system featured torque vectoring and hill descent control, enhancing its off-road capabilities. While the V6 provided good acceleration, the transmission occasionally felt slow to downshift. Fuel economy was a concern, with the Pilot averaging 20 mpg, below its EPA rating. The suspension provided a soft ride, but handling remained predictable and secure.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered competitive interior space, with slightly less headroom than some rivals but more front-seat legroom than the BMW and Mercedes. Cargo space was 28.9 cubic feet with rear seats up, expanding to 56.9 cubic feet when folded. The Electrified GV70 had minimal impact on interior space, with slight reductions in legroom and headroom. The stylish interior design limited small-item storage, but features like automatic side bolsters in Sport mode added to its appeal.

The 2025 Honda Pilot excelled in form and function, with three rows of comfortable seating and thoughtful storage solutions. The Black Edition's front row had a potential drawback with limited passenger seat adjustments. The second-row seats were roomy, with a removable center section for easy access to the third row. The third row was suitable for adults for short trips. The Pilot offered 18.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 86.5 cubic feet with all seats folded.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 featured a 14.5-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12-inch head-up display. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a rotary controller and fingerprint scanner for driver profiles. The digital key functionality allowed phone-based access and control.

The 2025 Honda Pilot's technology appeared dated, with a 10.2-inch digital gauge panel and a 9-inch touchscreen. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the wireless CarPlay function had issues. The voice recognition system was inconsistent, and the Bose audio system was adequate but not exceptional. The Pilot's CabinTalk feature allowed communication with rear passengers, and a small head-up display was included.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award for both gasoline and electrified models. It featured standard safety equipment like lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, and Highway Driving Assist. The more advanced Highway Driving Assist 2 added lane-change capability and blind-spot monitoring. Genesis also offered high-tech safety features like safe exit assist and a radar-based rear occupant alert system.

The 2025 Honda Pilot came with standard Honda Sensing safety features, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Black Edition had parking sensors and a multi-view camera system with TrailWatch. However, the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems had issues, affecting driver confidence. The Pilot earned high marks in crash tests, with a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.