2022 Genesis GV70 vs 2022 Lexus RX

The 2022 Genesis GV70 boasted a distinctive design that set it apart from its siblings in the Genesis lineup. It featured the brand's signature quad LED strips for headlights and taillights, along with a prominent shield-shaped grille. The GV70's sloping roofline and ribbed detailing added a touch of athleticism to its SUV bulk, creating a blend of ruggedness and sleekness. The Sport Prestige model further enhanced its character with unique styling elements, including a model-specific front fascia, 21-inch wheels with a web pattern, and dark chrome trim. Inside, the GV70's interior was inspired by the cross-section of an airplane's wing, with an elliptical theme that extended to the controls and door handles. The design was minimalistic, with a perched touchscreen and hidden air vents, while a rotary gear selector and infotainment controller added a touch of sophistication. The interior offered a variety of color options, and the material quality in the Sport Prestige model was luxurious, featuring Nappa leather upholstery with suede inserts.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus RX continued to impress with its modern and sporty design, following a facelift in 2020. It was available in various trims, including the base 350, F Sport, and L, with a hybrid option in the RX 450h. The RX's exterior design was characterized by razor-sharp character lines and angular features, creating an aggressive yet restrained look. The F Sport trim added performance-oriented styling elements, such as 20-inch wheels, black-housing mirrors, and a unique front fascia. Inside, the RX maintained its luxury appeal, with nearly a dozen color combinations available. The F Sport trim added sporty touches like model-specific badging and Scored Aluminum trim. While the RX's interior offered a high-quality feel, the center stack felt a bit dated, and the NuLuxe seats in the F Sport trim were less comfortable than expected. Despite these drawbacks, the RX excelled in driving comfort and cabin quietness, making it a pleasant companion for long journeys.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered two engine options: a base 2.5-liter turbo-four engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a more powerful 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 also featured a rear electronic limited-slip differential and launch control, emphasizing its sporty intentions. The Sport+ drive mode further enhanced the driving experience by holding high revs and sharpening throttle response. However, the GV70's chassis felt heavy, lacking the sharpness of some competitors, and the steering was not as precise for spirited driving. The GV70 was more comfortable on highways, but its firm ride and lack of solidity detracted from its luxury appeal.

In comparison, the 2022 Lexus RX 350 came with a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid RX 450h added two electric motors for a combined output of 308 horsepower. All RX models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive (FWD) standard on the RX 350 and all-wheel drive (AWD) available. Despite its F Sport designation, the RX lacked true sportiness, with an engine note that sounded more like a turbocharged four-cylinder. Acceleration was unimpressive, and the driving experience lacked confidence. The F Sport trim included performance dampers and an adaptive variable suspension, but the differences between drive modes were minimal. The RX excelled in driving comfort and cabin quietness, making it suitable for long drives. The RX 350 achieved an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined, while the RX 450h hybrid offered better fuel efficiency with 30 mpg combined.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered mid-pack interior space for its segment. Despite its car-like roofline, it provided adequate headroom in both the front and rear seats, comparable to competitors like the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and BMW X3. Legroom was sufficient, 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 among its rivals. The interior design, while daring, compromised storage space, with a slim center console and thin door pockets. However, it included a covered storage cubby with USB ports and rear-seat climate controls. The front seats in the Sport Prestige model were heavily bolstered, offering heating, ventilation, massage, and posture-assist functions, though some controls were buried in touchscreen menus.

The 2022 Lexus RX, in its standard two-row configuration, provided 99.8 cubic feet of passenger volume, comfortably accommodating four adults. The front seats offered 39.4 inches of headroom and 44.1 inches of legroom, while the rear seats had 39.1 inches of headroom and 38.0 inches of legroom. The three-row L models shared the same wheelbase, resulting in limited space for anything beyond groceries. The RX 350L featured a 2/3/2 seating configuration, with optional second-row captain's chairs. Cargo space in the standard RX measured 16.0 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 32.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. In three-row models, cargo space was limited to 7.45 cubic feet with all seats upright, increasing to 58.48 cubic feet with both back rows down. The RX's interior included thoughtful features like a smartphone slot, adjustable-height cup holder, and a flat-bottomed cargo net.

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 with pinch-and-zoom capabilities. Higher trim levels 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, allowing drivers to use a smartphone instead of a key fob, and a fingerprint scanner for starting the car. Genesis Connected Services provided additional features like remote camera activation and driver profiles.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus RX came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display, with a 12.3-inch version available as an option. Despite being moved closer to the driver, the touchscreen's positioning was ergonomically unfriendly, with a lip obstructing access to icons. The touchpad interface was frustrating to use, and the drive mode selector's placement next to it caused confusion. However, the RX offered a range of tech features, including six USB ports, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, wireless charging, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and premium audio systems. The Lexus App allowed for remote engine start and vehicle settings customization.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 came equipped with a comprehensive suite 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. It also featured Highway Driving Assist, which added automated lane centering to adaptive cruise control. The GV70 included eight standard airbags, including a front-center airbag. Optional driver-assist features included Highway Driving Assist 2 with lane-change functionality and navigation-based adaptive cruise control. While crash-test ratings were not available, the GV70's safety features were impressive.

The 2022 Lexus RX featured the Lexus Safety System 2.0+ as standard, offering adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, road-sign recognition, lane-keeping assist, and a pre-collision system with cyclist and pedestrian detection. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Lexus Enform Safety Connect. The RX received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS when equipped with optional triple-beam LED headlights, but it missed the top-tier "plus" designation due to its headlights rating. The NHTSA awarded the RX four stars overall, with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal crashes and rollover resistance.