2026 Genesis GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD - Review by David Colman

An enthusiast's delight and a bargain, too!

David Colman

Photos and Story By David Colman
Special Correspondent
THE AUTO CHANNEL

Driving a different new vehicle every week affords me a unique perspective on value. There are two distinctly different ways to appraise the worth of a vehicle like this $72,225, 2026 Genesis GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige.. Most prospective SUV customers would agree that this sum represents a substantial investment in personal transportation. By the time you're done with taxes, license fees and insurance costs, you're looking at a purchase north of eighty grand. Genesis estimates a monthly lease payment of $845. Surely you can beat that steep deal in a number of ways. You can opt for any number of SUVs from Honda, Toyota or Mazda that will satisfy your family transport needs for $40-$50,000. Even Genesis offers a 7-model wide range of GV70s that start at $46,200 for the baseline four-cylinder turbocharged 2.5T AWD. But if you can afford the carrying costs, the top echelon GV70 that I drove this week will reward you with nuggets of satisfaction simply unavailable from lesser SUVs.

Let' start with the monster motor Genesis plants under the GV's sleek hood. This delicious engineering confection displaces just 3.5 liters (212 cubic inches), but manages to extract a whopping 375 hp and 391 lb.-ft of torque. The apparent discrepancy between modest displacement and unexpectedly fulsome output is due to the inclusion of twin intercooled turbochargers, double overhead camshafts actuating 24 valves, and both port and direct fuel injection. This exotic medley produces a barely muffled shriek when the loud pedal is pressed. Driving through a paddle-shiftable 8-speed automatic gearbox, the all-wheel-drive GV70 hooks up instantly when you prod the throttle. Although this sport utility weighs in at 4,584 pounds, it will scat through the standing start quarter mile in 13.5 seconds at 103mph, and post a 4.9 second 0-60mph time. Zero to 100 mph requires just 12.6 seconds, and in 25 seconds, the GV70 will reach 130mph. In other words this thing is a flat out rocket, and it still manages to return 25MPG on the highway, and 21MPG Overall.

But you certainly don't have to be a speed demon to appreciate the limitless benefits that Sport Prestige ownership bestows on its lucky owner. From the instant you swing open the driver's door, you're stunned by this GV70's show car interior. Vibrant orange stitching gives the glove soft Nappa leather seats an ethereal look. Generous swatches of carbon fiber adorn the center console and the facings of all four door armrests. Matching seams of orange stitching on the dash and doors coalesce to produce an artisan masterpiece. The vibrantly orchestrated combination of ultramarine leather is given a finishing touch by orange safety belts at every corner. The fat rimmed steering wheel is a pleasure to twirl, the aluminum throttle and brake pedals feature rubberized inserts, and the cabin's roof is covered with a plush microfiber suede headliner.

Handling of this SUV is commendable. In fact, with its relatively low profile roof line (64.2 inch height) contributing to a reduced center of gravity, the twin turbo proved to be something of a turn monster, devouring twisty backroads with aplomb. Genesis equips the Sport Prestige with an idiosyncratic set of 5-spoke "Sport Alloys" finished in gun metal gray, and adorned with subtle black twin hash marks at the base of each spoke. These 21-inch rims, which are unavailable on the aftermarket, mount Michelin Primacy Tour A/T rubber (255/40R21) with long-life expectancy thanks to a TW 540 rating. The AWD configuration churns all four Michelins through the turns, and I would put this Genesis up against any $100,000+ Porsche Macan or 5 Series BMW in a direct handling comparison. Again, while this Genesis may seem initially expensive, it proved to be rather a bargain considering the company it keeps (and beats).

However, one of the annoyances of owning this SUV is that its steering wheel mounted "in-cabin Camera" keeps strict track of you, the driver, according to a "Forward Attention Warning operation." Who empowered this camera to spy on you in your own vehicle? Genesis warns that this cam will perpetually alert you if "You are improperly positioned in your seat so that your face is not detected, or you are too tall or short, or the camera is blocked by your grip on the steering wheel." I wasn't able to determine whether this spycam can be deactivated, but I did succeed in turning off most of the other nannies designed to gum up your driving enjoyment. What a pleasure it was to bid farewell to an endless succession of "Driver Assistance" interventions . The only one I left operative was the ever useful Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

The 2026 Sport Prestige version of the 3.5T GV70 is truly an enthusiast's delight. And at the offered price, it's a comparative bargain in the marketplace.

2026 GENESIS GV70 3.5T SPORT PRESTIGE AWD

• ENGINE: 3.5 liter V6, turbocharged and intercooled, DOHC 24-valve, direct and port fuel injection
• HORSEPOWER: 375hp@5800rpm
• TORQUE: 391lb.-ft.@1300rpm
• FUEL CONSUMPTION: 18MPG City/25MPG Highway
• PRICE AS TESTED: $72,225

HYPES: Runs with $100K SUVs for 2/3 the Price

GRIPES: Tiny Edge Buttons on Keyfob

STAR RATING: 9 Stars out of 10

©2025 David E Colman