2024 Genesis GV70 vs 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2024 Genesis GV70 distinguished itself within the Genesis lineup and its competitive set with its sleek design and luxury-car style. It featured signature Genesis styling elements like split headlights and a large shield-like grille, but it was sleeker than the larger GV80 and avoided the quirkiness of the smaller GV60. Notable details included a hatchback-like rear window profile, large round exhaust outlets on the Sport Prestige trim, and distinctive 21-inch wheels. The GV70 struck a balance between SUV size and luxury-car style, offering a more refined look compared to competitors like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. The Electrified GV70 maintained the same styling as the gasoline models, with a shiny grille housing the charge port for convenient charging. Inside, the GV70's interior was distinctive, featuring quilted Nappa leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, and unique design elements like an elliptical pod for climate controls and a rotary infotainment controller.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan underwent a complete redesign, embracing sleek modernity inspired by VW's electric vehicles. The front end featured narrower headlights and a plastic trim element reminiscent of the ID.4 EV. The grille appeared larger, with smaller actual openings and prominent air intakes. The side profile showcased a sportier tapering hatch, enhanced by a black contrasting roof and dark-tinted windows. The rear featured a single bar taillight and an oversized plastic trim piece. Inside, the Tiguan's interior received a modernization, with a tablet-like infotainment display and a digital instrument panel. The dashboard adopted a minimalist design, with physical climate controls moved to the central touchscreen. The gear selector was relocated to the steering column, creating more storage space. Materials quality was average for the class, with soft-touch materials in key areas and durable plastics in the rear seats.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered a range of powertrain options. The gasoline GV70 came with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, while a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 delivered 375 hp and 391 lb-ft. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The Electrified GV70 featured front and rear electric motors producing a combined 429 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, with a "Boost Mode" providing 483 hp for short bursts. While the GV70 offered strong straight-line acceleration, its chassis tuning didn't match the sportiest rivals, feeling bigger and heavier through corners. The ride quality was reasonably comfortable but not exceptional, with the suspension tending to crash over bumps. The Electrified GV70 maintained similar driving characteristics, with adjustable regenerative braking and a 236-mile range.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 201 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission with front-wheel drive, while Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel drive was available on all models and standard on the top SEL R-Line trim. The Tiguan's acceleration was expected to be similar to its predecessor, reaching 60 mph in around 8.5 seconds. The drivetrain delivered power smoothly and linearly, with confident highway acceleration. The Tiguan's suspension favored comfort, smoothing over road imperfections while maintaining composure in corners. The cabin was quiet, with well-silenced tire and wind noise. While not sporty, the Tiguan was appropriately tuned for a balance of performance and comfort. A more powerful Turbo version was anticipated for 2026, offering increased output for spirited drivers.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered comparable interior space to its rivals, with slightly less headroom but more front-seat legroom than some competitors. The GV70 provided 28.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place, better than the Mercedes but slightly less than the Audi. Folding the rear seats increased cargo space to 56.9 cubic feet. The Electrified GV70 had minimal impact on interior space, with slight reductions in legroom and headroom. The stylish interior design came at the cost of small-item storage, but features like automatic side bolsters in Sport mode added to the luxury experience.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan returned without a third row, resulting in increased second-row legroom by 1.5 inches. Headroom remained sufficient for average-sized adults. The elimination of capacitive-touch buttons improved usability, with traditional controls on the steering wheel. The center console offered more storage, with cupholders, a smartphone slot, and a deep armrest bin. Cargo capacity was not finalized, but the new cargo area appeared smaller than before. The Tiguan featured remote seatback releases and a power liftgate on higher trims.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 featured a 14.5-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Lower trims had an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, while higher grades offered a 12.3-inch unit with a 3D effect. A 12-inch head-up display and a 16-speaker Lexicon audio system were available. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a rotary controller for alternative operation. Genesis included a fingerprint scanner for driver profiles and digital key functionality.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan came standard with a digital instrument panel and a 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen, with a 15-inch display available on higher trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a wireless phone charger. Capacitive-touch sliders adorned the infotainment screen, but a new volume knob improved usability. The Tiguan introduced the Atmospheres feature, combining ambient lighting and audio settings to enhance mood. A 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was available on the top trim.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 received the IIHS's Top Safety Pick+ award for both gasoline and Electrified models. NHTSA ratings for 2024 were incomplete, but the 2023 GV70 received a five-star overall rating. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and Highway Driving Assist. A more advanced Highway Driving Assist 2 system was available, adding automated 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 Volkswagen Tiguan's crash test results were not yet available. Standard safety features included frontal collision warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitor, lane-keep assist, and more. The Emergency Assist system could slow the vehicle to a stop if the driver was incapacitated. Higher trims added a head-up display, surround-view camera system, traffic sign reader, and semi-automated parking system. The safety and driver assist features functioned as expected, with no false alarms or over sensitivity issues.