2022 Genesis GV70 vs 2021 Honda CR-V

The 2021 Honda CR-V was often noted for its conventional appearance, blending seamlessly with the myriad of compact crossovers on the market. Its design was characterized by a few distinguishing features, such as the grille opening and some chromed plastic accents, but overall, it did not stand out in terms of exterior styling. The color palette offered by Honda included eight options, though many were variations of gray, black, and white, with more vibrant colors like Aegean Blue Metallic and Radiant Red Metallic being limited to higher trims. Inside, the CR-V offered a modern look with angular seat designs and options for black, gray, and ivory cloth or leather, depending on the trim level. However, competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson were often seen as having more distinctive styling, especially in mid-tier trims.

In contrast, the 2022 Genesis GV70 boasted a unique and striking design, borrowing some elements from other Genesis models but maintaining its individuality. The GV70 featured quad LED strips for headlights and taillights, a large shield-shaped grille, and a sloping roofline that added a fastback-like appearance. The Sport Prestige models further enhanced the GV70's character with unique styling elements, including a model-specific front fascia, 21-inch wheels with a web pattern, and dark-finished chrome trim. The interior of the GV70 was equally impressive, with an elliptical theme inspired by an airplane's wing, minimalistic design, and high-quality materials like Nappa leather upholstery. The GV70's interior color options were diverse, including bold choices like green and blue, adding to its luxurious appeal.

The 2021 Honda CR-V was equipped with a 190-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine across all nine trims, excluding the hybrid versions. It delivered smooth and steady acceleration, with a 0-60 mph time of approximately 7.8 seconds. While not the fastest in its class, it was competitive, with no significant advantage for rivals in terms of acceleration. The CR-V featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which provided a consistent driving experience but lacked the engagement of conventional automatic transmissions found in competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available as an option, similar to most competitors except the Subaru Forester, which offered AWD as standard. The CR-V's suspension setup included a MacPherson strut in the front and a multi-link suspension at the rear, providing decent handling and ride quality.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered two powerful engine options: a base 2.5-liter turbo-four producing 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 generating 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive, a feature not commonly found in competitors like the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, which had rear-wheel drive as standard. The GV70 also included a rear electronic limited-slip differential and launch control, emphasizing its sporty character. The Sport+ drive mode further enhanced performance by holding high revs and sharpening throttle response. However, the GV70's chassis felt heavy, lacking the sharpness of rivals like the Acura RDX and Porsche Macan. While the GV70 excelled in highway cruising, its firm ride and lack of precision in spirited driving were noted.

The 2021 Honda CR-V was designed with practicality in mind, offering 102.9 cubic feet of passenger volume, surpassing the Toyota RAV4 by four cubic feet. It also provided slightly more cargo space behind the second row compared to the RAV4. With the rear seats folded, the CR-V offered 75.8 cubic feet of total cargo volume, accommodating a significant amount of luggage. Depending on the trim, the CR-V featured different tailgate options, from manual to power-operated, with the Touring trim offering a hands-free version. Roof rails were standard only on the top-tier Touring trim, while competitors like Subaru offered them on most trims.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 provided mid-pack interior space for its segment, with front-seat headroom comparable to the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and back-seat headroom similar to the BMW X3. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 56.9 cubic feet with them folded, placing the GV70 in the middle range of its class. The interior design, while daring, compromised storage space, with a slim center console and thin door pockets. However, Genesis included a covered storage cubby with USB ports for convenience. The Sport Prestige test car featured heavily bolstered front seats with heating, ventilation, massage, and posture-assist functions, though some controls were less intuitive to access.

The 2021 Honda CR-V offered a basic 5-inch color screen with Bluetooth connectivity on the base LX trim, while other trims featured a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The audio system varied by trim, with the Touring trim offering a 300-watt system with a subwoofer and satellite navigation. Charging ports were abundant, with USB ports in the front and second rows, and a wireless phone charger available on the Touring trim.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 impressed with its tech offerings, featuring a standard 14.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The infotainment system's tile-based layout and crisp graphics were user-friendly, and the glass rotary controller added functionality. Higher trims offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 3D effect and a 12-inch head-up display. The GV70 also included a digital-key feature, a fingerprint scanner for starting the car, and a radar-based rear-seat monitor. Genesis Connected Services provided additional features like remote camera activation and cloud-based driver profiles.

The 2021 Honda CR-V excelled in safety, earning a five-star NHTSA overall crash test rating and an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. However, it did not achieve the highest IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating due to lower scores in headlight evaluation and the updated side crash test. The CR-V's Honda Sensing system included standard safety features like a multi-angle rearview camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and more. Blind spot monitoring was available from the EX trim onward.

The 2022 Genesis GV70, being a new model, did not have crash-test ratings from the IIHS or NHTSA at the time. However, it came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, blind-spot and forward collision-avoidance assist, and more. Optional features included Highway Driving Assist 2 with lane-change functionality and navigation-based adaptive cruise control. The GV70's Highway Driving Assist system provided smooth control inputs but had limitations in handling curves.