2022 Genesis GV70 vs 2021 Volvo XC90

The 2021 Volvo XC90 marked a significant shift in Volvo's design philosophy, maintaining its traditional styling while introducing a more modern and characterful appearance. The XC90 retained its boxy profile and rectangular grille, but with softer lines, increased chrome accents, and distinctive LED headlights featuring "Thor’s Hammer" daytime running lights. The Inscription trim, with its optional 21-inch alloy wheels, was the most visually striking, while the R-Design and Momentum trims offered sportier and more understated looks, respectively. Inside, the XC90 embraced "Swedish minimalism," with high-quality materials like matte-finish wood trim and optional wool upholstery, creating a refined yet understated cabin environment.

The 2022 Genesis GV70, while borrowing some styling cues from other Genesis models, presented a unique and bold design. It featured quad LED strips for headlights and taillights, a large shield-shaped grille, and a sloping roofline that gave it a fastback-like appearance. The Sport Prestige model added unique styling elements, including a model-specific front fascia, 21-inch wheels with a web pattern, and dark-finished chrome trim. The interior followed an elliptical theme inspired by an airplane wing, with a minimalistic design that included a perched touchscreen and hidden air vents. The GV70 offered a wide array of interior color options and luxurious materials, such as Nappa leather upholstery with suede inserts.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains, all centered around a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 model featured a turbocharged engine producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the T6 added a supercharger for a total of 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid, or Recharge, combined the T6 engine with electric motors for a total output of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft. The T5 came with front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive optional, while the T6 and T8 had standard AWD. Despite the impressive power figures, the XC90's small engine struggled with flexibility compared to competitors' larger engines, and the plug-in hybrid's electric-only mode was limited to low speeds. However, the XC90 excelled in ride quality and comfort, with an optional air-suspension system and a quiet cabin. It also offered a respectable towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 came with two engine options: a base 2.5-liter turbo-four producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 generating 375 hp and 391 lb-ft. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The GV70 included a rear electronic limited-slip differential and launch control, emphasizing its sporty intentions. The Sport+ drive mode sharpened throttle response and held high revs, but the GV70's chassis and steering lacked the precision of some competitors. The GV70 was more comfortable on highways, though the ride was firm with 21-inch wheels. Overall, the GV70 offered a sporty driving experience but fell short of being the gold standard for luxury driving.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 was available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations, with average headroom and legroom for the segment. The third row was tight for adults, and the seats lacked support. An optional power moonroof and the XC90's upright roof profile contributed to a spacious feel. The Inscription trim featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with massage, but storage space was limited. Cargo space was near the bottom of the segment, with 11.2 cubic feet with all seats in place, 34.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and 64.1 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. A hands-free power tailgate was available.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered mid-pack interior space for the segment, with adequate legroom and good rear-seat visibility. Cargo space was 28.9 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 56.9 cubic feet with the seats folded, placing it in the middle of the segment. The interior design compromised storage space, with a slim center console and thin door pockets. The front seats in the Sport Prestige trim were heavily bolstered, offering heating, ventilation, massage, and posture-assist functions. However, some controls were buried in touchscreen menus, and the posture assist activated unexpectedly.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system with a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The system was user-friendly, with a portrait-oriented touchscreen that allowed for easy navigation. However, the text and typeface made reading some menus difficult while driving. The XC90 also offered a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system and a head-up display. The wireless charging pad was a welcome addition, but it didn't fit most phones, and the lack of front USB-C ports was a drawback.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 came with a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The tile-based layout and crisp graphics made it easy to use, 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 featured a digital-key system, a fingerprint scanner for starting the car, and a cloud-based driver profile. Genesis Connected Services included remote camera activation, driver profiles, and last-mile guidance navigation, free for three years.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS for non-hybrid models, with top "Good" scores in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech. The NHTSA gave all XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and Volvo's Pilot Assist driver aid.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA. It came standard with a wide range of safety features, including lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, blind-spot and forward collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and Highway Driving Assist. The GV70 also had eight standard airbags, including a front-center airbag. Optional features included Highway Driving Assist 2 with lane-change functionality and navigation-based adaptive cruise control.