2022 Genesis GV70 vs 2023 Ford Escape

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 harmonious 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-finished chrome trim. Inside, the GV70's interior embraced an elliptical theme inspired by an airplane wing's cross-section, with a minimalist design that incorporated a rotary gear selector and infotainment controller. The interior offered a variety of color options and luxurious materials, such as Nappa leather upholstery with suede seat inserts.

In contrast, the 2023 Ford Escape adopted a more European design language, moving away from the blocky exterior of its predecessors. The refreshed model featured a traditional front end with a stylish LED light bar and the Ford blue oval logo. The Escape's top-trim ST-Line Elite model sported 19-inch wheels and body-color mirror caps, giving it an upscale appearance akin to a Mazda CX-5. Inside, the Escape's ST-Line Elite trim showcased diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt somewhat hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable and well-padded, making long drives enjoyable. However, the interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt scratchy and poorly reinforced.

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. However, despite its power, the GV70's chassis felt heavy, lacking the sharpness of competitors like the Acura RDX or BMW X3. The steering was adequate but not precise enough for spirited driving, and the ride was firm even in Comfort mode.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, available with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or AWD. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with AWD. While the Escape's four-cylinder engine provided impressive output, it didn't deliver a genuine performance crossover experience. The suspension remained soft and compliant, and the transmission lacked performance tuning. However, the Escape's brakes offered predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness seen in some competitors.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 provided mid-pack interior space for its segment. It offered front-seat headroom comparable to a Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and back-seat headroom similar to a BMW X3. 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 its class. The daring interior design compromised storage space, with a slim center console and thin door pockets. However, the GV70 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.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered comfortable seating with excellent ergonomics. The front-door armrests were well-positioned, and the front-seat cupholders were conveniently arranged. The Escape's cargo space measured up to 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the second row folded, making it competitive with the Chevrolet Equinox and Mazda CX-5. However, it fell short of segment leaders like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Passenger space was slightly less than some competitors, but the back seat's headroom and scalloped front-seat backs maximized space for tall passengers.

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 a touch of luxury. 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, and a high-tech rear-seat monitor. Genesis Connected Services provided remote camera activation and other features for three years.

The 2023 Ford Escape featured the Sync 4 infotainment system, with lower trims equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen and higher trims boasting a 13.2-inch screen. Sync 4 was well-organized, with easy navigation between Android Auto and the native navigation system. However, the system was occasionally slow to respond, and the volume knob's placement was inconvenient. Despite these minor annoyances, Sync 4 offered an impressive feature set and ease of use.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 came standard 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 Highway Driving Assist. It also featured eight airbags, including a front-center airbag. Optional features included Highway Driving Assist 2 with lane-change functionality and navigation-based adaptive cruise control. However, crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available for the GV70.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal- and side-crash tests and four stars in the rollover test. The IIHS did not grant it a Top Safety Pick designation due to a Marginal score in the updated side-impact test. The Escape came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, and lane-centering technology.