The GV70 has only been on the market for around 4 years, yet it feels ubiquitous on the roads around these parts. That’s because it has usurped mainstays in the segment like the Volvo XC60, Acura RDX and even the Porsche Macan in short order. And because Genesis has seemingly hit a home run with the GV70, they’ve stayed the course with minimal but meaningful changes throughout its short life.

The compact luxury SUV landscape is a tough one, but Genesis continues making inroads by over-engineering their vehicles and offering them at a price point lower than similarly equipped competitors. The 2026 Genesis GV70 3.5T Sport confidently continues down the same path.

Still a looker

I have a bit of a ritual with press cars. Once I get one, I let my toddler know I’m going to be picking him up in a new car after daycare; something he gets excited about. He’s a car guy through and through and at age three, can name every car brand out there and never gets them wrong, even from a distance (humble dad brag). When I showed up in the GV70 he ran out and said, “It’s a Bentley!” Sorry kid, not a Bentley, but kudos on seeing the resemblance, since the lead designer was originally poached from that very brand.

And if a toddler can see it, you can too. The GV70 looks way more expensive than it is, and the changes throughout the years have only added to the look, with more athletic wheel designs, new Micro Lens Array (MLA) headlights that look even more bejewelled than they already were, and revisions to the front bumper design. Genesis has always had a premium colour palette at their patron’s disposal, and our tester’s $1,700 Ceres Blue matte paint looks striking from any angle. 

I’ve previously called the Genesis GV70 an athlete in a tuxedo, and I stand by it, even if the logical side of my brain keeps telling me the GV70 is getting long-in-the-tooth. Fact is though, real world evidence shows it has aged exceptionally well. Don’t fix what ain’t broke. 

The right interior

As most manufacturers continue to remove physical controls in favour of singular screen setups, Genesis has soldiered on with proper controls for the most commonly used functions. They also feel premium and satisfying to use, with knurled knobs and textured rotary dials all lending to a very premium feel throughout the cabin. The resistance to all screens all the time is commendable, even as they’ve moved to a single 27” widescreen OLED panel for 2026 (RIP 3D gauge cluster). The software is snappy and easy to use, with Genesis offering loads of customizability.

Materials throughout the cabin continue to be top notch, with supple ultramarine blue leather contrasted with lovely orange stitching and bright orange seatbelts which serve as unique foreshadowing for their upcoming Magma performance brand. It’s luxury done right.

The ambient lighting is nicely balanced as well, with a soft but bright glow throughout the cabin, and in places you wouldn't expect, like around the rotary shifter (which cleverly changes hue when you’re in reverse). The unique carbon fibre-like trim helps add some visual gloss to the otherwise restrained cabin. The 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system also adds to the panache, with satin silver speaker grilles proliferated throughout the cabin. The system itself is solid, but falls short of the best from the likes of Volvo’s collaboration with Bowers or Mercedes’ Burmester units.

It’s a clever, purposeful designed interior, and hasn’t been hit with the cost-cutting, all-screen pandemic we’ve seen from other more longstanding luxury manufacturers.

Tech & infotainment

Genesis rests its hat on tech from a value quotient perspective, and the 2026 updates to the GV70 keep that going. The aforementioned 27” OLED panel is a treat, and things like a wireless phone integration are now standard across all trims. The new 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system seems like a sidestep from the previous Lexicon unit, but new is new. They’ve even updated the graphics on the secondary climate screen, something most people wouldn’t even notice. And lastly, a quality of life upgrade comes with the use of ultra-wide-band (UWB) technology, allowing the Genesis GV70 to welcome you with lighting and unlock your vehicle as you approach it, instead of trying to clumsily tap your phone against the door sensor.

Drive assistance tech has seen subtle enhancements as well, like better automatic lane changing from the adaptive cruise control and a switch to a capacitive steering wheel sensor, meaning you don’t have to tug the steering wheel to tell the GV70 your hands are on the wheel. They even upgraded the rear occupant alert from ultra sonic sensors to radar. It’s small stuff on paper but big impacts in the real world. 

On the road

The GV70 continues to balance sport and luxury as a compact luxury SUV should. It’s athletic feeling without being overly stiff, and the new Highway Body Motion Control system updates the electronic dampers to better react to sudden braking and acceleration. Exactly how much it has enhanced the GV70 I can’t say, but it never feels boaty, and my pregnant wife never complained of any motion sickness, which she often does in less well-tuned SUVs. There’s updates to the AWD system as well, but I drove it on dry pavement the entire time, so can’t comment much on the effectiveness.

What hasn’t changed is the 3.5L twin-turbocharged V6, which churns out 375 horsepower at 5,800 RPM, and a robust 391 lb-ft of torque at an almost-idle 1,300 RPM. Power is transmitted to all four wheels via a responsive eight speed automatic transmission. I’m surprised it hasn’t gotten the 48-volt electric supercharger from the GV80, but I guess they need to reserve some things for the top dog. And I’m not complaining, the GV70 feels plenty powerful, and does so with a velvety smoothness that is oh so satisfying.

Money & Wrap it up

We’ve jumped up to $85,700 for the top spec Genesis GV70 3.5T Sport in 2026, up from $77,500 just three years ago. Mind you, the entire industry has seen some rather egregious price increases, so the GV70 continues to fall within its luxury value quotient, and I can’t help but continue to recommend it as a top pick in the segment, even against more newly revised competitors.