2021 BMW X7 vs 2021 Genesis GV80

The 2021 Genesis GV80, as Genesis' first SUV, was a fresh design that managed to balance innovation with the brand's emerging signature style. It featured a long hood, short front overhang, and a distinctive grille with a diamond mesh pattern, complemented by the Quad Lamp LED headlight array. The interior was a testament to luxury, with a sleek dashboard, minimalistic controls, and high-quality materials like real wood, metal, and leather. The spacious cabin was designed with an emphasis on horizontal lines, enhancing the sense of width and openness. The GV80's design was a harmonious blend of elegance and modernity, with a focus on creating a unique identity for the Genesis brand.

In contrast, the 2021 BMW X7 was a testament to the brand's legacy of luxury and performance. It boasted a commanding presence on the road, with its massive kidney grille and traditional BMW design cues. The X7's interior was a showcase of opulence, featuring premium Merino leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped dashboard, and an Alcantara suede headliner. The SUV offered exceptional comfort, with heated front seats, armrests, and a steering wheel as standard. The second-row captain's chairs were equally comfortable, and the third-row seats were surprisingly accommodating for adults. The X7's interior was a blend of high-tech design, quality materials, and intuitive controls, making it a top contender in the luxury SUV segment.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 offered two engine options: a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, and a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. The V6 models came with standard all-wheel drive, while the four-cylinder models had rear-wheel drive with an optional all-wheel-drive system. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission featuring paddle shifters. The GV80's 2.5T models, weighing between 4,506 and 4,850 pounds, provided sufficient power for most driving situations, although the engine could feel a bit strained when pushed hard. The 3.5T models, weighing between 4,907 and 5,104 pounds, offered a smoother and more powerful driving experience, enhanced by active noise cancellation technology. The 2.5T models achieved an EPA fuel economy of 21 mpg city/25 mpg highway/23 mpg combined with RWD, and 21/25/22 with AWD. The 3.5T AWD was rated at 18 mpg city/23 mpg highway/20 mpg combined.

The 2021 BMW X7 xDrive40i featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with 335 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed sport automatic transmission and BMW's xDrive rear-biased all-wheel-drive system. The X7 also incorporated BMW's eBoost mild-hybrid technology, which included a 48-volt starter/generator and a second battery to improve fuel efficiency and responsiveness. Despite these enhancements, the 2021 X7 xDrive40i's EPA ratings were slightly lower than the previous year's model, with 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. The X7 could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, showcasing its powerful performance. The SUV's Dynamic Handling Package, which included features like Active Comfort Drive and Integral Active Steering, enhanced its driving dynamics, making it a pleasure to drive on highways and canyon roads. However, the X7's nearly 5,400-pound curb weight was noticeable, especially on narrow roads with tight curves.

The interior of the 2021 Genesis GV80 was a testament to the brand's commitment to luxury and innovation. The center console and stack featured a blend of technology, design, and ergonomics, with a rotary gear selector, a circular multimedia controller with a knurled metal finish, and capacitive touch buttons for the HVAC system. The GV80 offered a range of luxury features, including power second-row window shades, three-row climate control, and power rear-door closure. The third row of seats, available only on the 3.5T AWD Advanced+ models, increased passenger capacity to seven and featured a power-fold function with a 50/50 split.

The 2021 BMW X7's interior was a showcase of luxury and comfort, with front-seat comfort being particularly outstanding. The test vehicle was equipped with the Cold Weather Package, which included heated front seats, armrests, and a steering wheel. The second-row captain's chairs were exceptionally comfortable, and the available five-zone climate control system ensured that even third-row occupants had their own climate controls. The third-row seats were surprisingly spacious, accommodating adults with ease. The X7 offered 48.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row folded down, and a maximum of 90.4 cubic feet with the second row folded, although these figures were slightly less than some class leaders.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 featured the sixth-generation Genesis UX infotainment system, which was the heart of the modern luxury SUV. The system utilized a 14.5-inch high-definition LCD color widescreen display with user-configurable split-screen displays, supporting both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system was connected to the cloud and received over-the-air updates, allowing individual users to set up cloud profiles for personalized configurations. The GV80 also offered a near-field communication (NFC) digital key function for Android users, enabling them to replace the key fob with an app on their phone. The vehicle came with three years of complimentary Genesis Connected Services, which included features like automated collision notification, SOS emergency assistance, and remote start with climate control. Higher trim levels featured a 12.3-inch 3D digital instrument cluster with an infrared camera to track eye movement and display a 3D image to the driver.

In the 2021 BMW X7, the Live Cockpit Professional digital instrumentation was paired with the iDrive 7.0 infotainment system, both featuring 12.3-inch displays. The iDrive 7.0 system was fully featured, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay technology, enhanced SiriusXM 360L, wireless smartphone charging, and a natural voice-recognition system. The system also included gesture control, although it was noted to be inconsistent at times. The "Hey BMW" natural voice recognition was praised for its speed and accuracy. The iDrive system offered a user-friendly experience, especially for those familiar with modern tablets and smartphones. However, the head-up display was difficult to see for drivers wearing polarized sunglasses.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 had not yet been rated for crashworthiness by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). However, Genesis aimed for the GV80 to achieve an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and a high NHTSA rating. The SUV was equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including a vehicle stability management system, electronic stability control with traction control, anti-lock braking, brake assist, and various collision-avoidance assists. The GV80 also featured driver attention warning, safe-exit assist, and highway-driving assist, which helped maintain following distances and perform lane changes. The Remote Smart Parking Assist allowed for automated parking in both forward and reverse.

The 2021 BMW X7 came standard with a range of safety technologies, with additional features available in the optional Driving Assistance Professional Package and the Parking Assistance Package. The Driving Assistance Professional Package included Active Driving Assistant Pro, which offered features like evasive-steering assist, traffic-jam assist, lane-control assist, and emergency stop assist. The system was praised for its accuracy, smoothness, and trustworthiness, although some specific experiences with the lane-maintenance technology and automated lane-changing capability were noted as less than ideal. The Parking Assistance Package expanded the X7's technology offering with semi-automated parallel parking assist, a surround-view camera, and a drive recorder system.