2022 Genesis GV70 vs 2022 Ford Explorer

The 2022 Genesis GV70 had a distinctive design that set it apart from other models in the Genesis lineup, despite sharing some styling elements. It featured quad LED strips for headlights and taillights, a large shield-shaped grille, and a sloping roofline that gave it a fastback appearance. The ribbed detailing added a muscular touch, combining the visual bulk of an SUV with sleek, car-like elements. The Sport Prestige models further enhanced the GV70's character with unique styling features, including a model-specific front fascia, 21-inch wheels with a web pattern, and dark-finished chrome trim. Inside, the GV70's interior was inspired by an airplane wing's cross-section, with an elliptical theme and minimalistic design. The touchscreen was perched atop the dashboard, and the rotary gear selector and infotainment controller added a baroque spaceship feel. The interior offered a variety of color options and luxurious materials, although base models had leatherette seats.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered a wide range of models, including the rugged Timberline and luxurious King Ranch trims. Our test vehicle, the King Ranch, featured 4WD, Rapid Red paint, and a Premium Technology package. Visually, the King Ranch was distinguished by its emblems, shiny 20-inch wheels, and quad exhaust outlets. The Explorer's design was based on a rear-drive platform, resulting in a long and tall hood, rakish roofline, and tapering greenhouse for an athletic appearance. Inside, the King Ranch featured exclusive Del Rio leather seating with lasso-perforated inserts and King Ranch branding. The cabin exhibited a mix of quality and questionable materials, with some elements reflecting the Explorer's base trim. Despite this, the King Ranch's interior was mostly worthy of its price point, offering comfort and luxury.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered two powertrains: a base 2.5-liter turbo-four engine with 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet 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 (AWD). The GV70 included features like a rear electronic limited-slip differential and launch control, emphasizing its sporty nature. The Sport+ drive mode enhanced throttle response and transmission behavior for spirited driving. However, the GV70's chassis felt big and heavy, lacking the sharpness of competitors like the Acura RDX, BMW X3, or Porsche Macan. The steering was adequate but not precise enough for spirited driving, and the exhaust sound was not pleasant. The GV70 excelled in highway cruising but had a firm ride, even in Comfort mode, and lacked the solidity expected from a true luxury vehicle.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered three powertrains. The base, XLT, ST-Line, Limited, and Timberline trims came with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive (RWD), with four-wheel drive (4WD) available. The Explorer's maximum towing capacity was 5,300 pounds, and it achieved up to 24 mpg in combined driving. An efficient hybrid drivetrain was available for the Limited trim, offering 318 horsepower and 322 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs and up to 27 mpg in combined driving. The twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, standard on ST, Platinum, and King Ranch trims, produced 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of 5,600 lbs. The King Ranch 4WD test vehicle averaged 20.6 mpg. The Explorer's ride was robust, handling off-road terrain with ease, and it felt athletic in daily driving. The sport-tuned Explorer ST offered enhanced performance features for driving enthusiasts.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered mid-pack interior space for its segment. Despite its car-like roofline, it provided front-seat headroom comparable to a Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and back-seat headroom similar to a BMW X3. Legroom in both rows was adequate, and rear-seat visibility was good. The GV70's cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 56.9 cubic feet with them folded, placing it in the middle ground of the segment. The interior design compromised storage space, with a slim center console and thin door pockets. However, it included a covered storage cubby with USB ports for phones, and rear-seat passengers had their own climate controls. The front seats in the Sport Prestige test car were heavily bolstered, offering heating, ventilation, massage, and posture-assist functions, although some controls were buried in touchscreen menus.

The 2022 Ford Explorer provided ample comfort for families of four, with the option to carry five people with a second-row bench seat. However, the third-row seat was best suited for children due to limited space. The King Ranch model featured triple-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row captain's chairs. Massaging front seats were standard, with 14-way power adjustment for drivers and eight-way for front passengers. The second-row seats were comfortable, but the third-row seat was difficult for adults to access. The Explorer's cabin lacked practical storage space, with missed opportunities for additional storage solutions. The King Ranch test vehicle had a hands-free power liftgate, revealing 18.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat, expandable to 87.8 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered a comprehensive suite of technology features. The standard infotainment system included a 14.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The screen's tile-based layout and crisp graphics were user-friendly, and the glass rotary controller added functionality. Higher trim levels offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12-inch head-up display with a 3D effect. The GV70 featured a digital-key system, allowing drivers to use a smartphone instead of a key fob, and a fingerprint scanner for starting the car. Genesis Connected Services included remote camera activation, driver profiles, and last-mile guidance navigation, free for three years.

The 2022 Ford Explorer featured two versions of the Sync 3 infotainment system. The base version had an 8-inch touchscreen, while a 10.1-inch portrait-style screen was available. The larger screen appeared as an afterthought, lacking integration with the dashboard. The King Ranch model included FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, Ford+Alexa functionality, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a navigation system. It also had wireless smartphone charging, a surround-view camera system, and a 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen premium sound system. The Explorer's Sync 3 system had limitations, particularly in voice recognition, and Ford needed to upgrade to Sync 4 for improved functionality.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 had not yet received crash-test ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). However, it came standard with a range of safety features, including lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, blind-spot and forward collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver-attention monitor. The GV70 also featured Highway Driving Assist, which added automated lane centering to adaptive cruise control, and 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.

The 2022 Ford Explorer earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for all versions. The NHTSA had not published complete crash-test ratings for the 2022 model, but the previous year, the Explorer received five-star ratings except for rollover resistance. Ford equipped every Explorer with Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of driver-assist and collision-avoidance features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Co-Pilot360 Assist+ added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and evasive steering assist. The Explorer also had a post-collision braking system and MyKey programmable vehicle functions.