2022 Genesis GV70 vs 2023 Mazda CX-50

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 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 range of color options and luxurious materials, such as Nappa leather upholstery with suede inserts, although base models featured leatherette seats.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50, on the other hand, exuded a subtle seductiveness with its blunt nose, long hood, and rakish windshield. Its cabin was positioned toward the rear wheels, giving it a distinctive look. The CX-50 embraced a newfound ruggedness with blistered and boxed fender swells, lower body cladding, and fake skidplates. The oversized air intake and vent designs added a touch of performance without being visually offensive. The CX-50's design elements, including the standard black grille, mirror caps, and available 20-inch wheels, came together in an appealing manner. The interior featured a driver-focused design with quality materials, polished metallic trim, and a mix of analog and digital gauges. The CX-50's interior was dressed in black leather with caramel-colored accent stitching, and it offered a comfortable and spacious cabin for both front and rear passengers. The CX-50's design was a testament to Mazda's commitment to creating a good-looking compact crossover.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered two powerful engine options. The base 2.5-liter turbo-four engine delivered 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, while the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 generated an impressive 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and came with standard all-wheel drive (AWD), a feature not commonly found in competitors like the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, which offered rear-wheel drive (RWD) as standard. The GV70 also included a rear electronic limited-slip differential and launch control, features more commonly associated with sporty coupes. The Sport+ drive mode added to the GV70's sporty character, holding high revs and sharpening throttle response. However, the GV70's chassis felt big and heavy, lacking the sharpness of rivals like the Acura RDX, BMW X3, or Porsche Macan. The steering, while adequate at most speeds, lacked precision for spirited driving. The GV70 excelled on highways and in town, but its firm ride and lack of solidity fell short of true luxury standards.

In contrast, the 2023 Mazda CX-50 offered two engine options. The 2.5 S model featured a 187-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 186 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. Mazda estimated a combined fuel economy of 27 mpg for this model. For those seeking more power, the CX-50 2.5 Turbo offered a turbocharged version of the engine, producing between 227 hp and 256 hp, depending on the fuel used. Torque ranged from 310 lb-ft to 320 lb-ft. The CX-50 2.5 Turbo had a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, compared to the 2,000 pounds of the base model. The turbocharged engine provided smooth acceleration with minimal turbo lag, and the CX-50's driving modes, including Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing, worked seamlessly with the G-Vectoring Control (GVC) technology. The CX-50's ride quality was slightly firmer than the CX-5, and it exhibited a hint of torque steer during acceleration. Despite its SUV classification, the CX-50 felt more like a modern station wagon with a higher ride height and ground clearance of up to 8.6 inches. It handled off-road situations well, although it lacked a downhill assist control system.

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 due to thin rear pillars. 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 ground between competitors like the Infiniti QX50 and Lexus NX. The interior design, while daring, compromised storage space, with a slim center console and thin door pockets. However, a covered storage cubby with USB ports was included for phones, and rear-seat passengers had their own climate controls. The front seats in the Sport Prestige model were heavily bolstered, offering heating, ventilation, massage, and posture-assist functions, although some controls were buried in touchscreen menus.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50, in contrast, offered a well-equipped interior with power-adjustable heated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, heated side mirrors, and heated windshield wipers. Ventilated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control were also available. The driver's seat and front passenger's seat were comfortable for long journeys, although they could benefit from more side bolstering. The back seat was roomy enough for adults, and most trims included rear air vents and charging ports. The rear doors opened to nearly a 90-degree angle, making entry and exit easier. Storage space was adequate, with a long load floor between the liftgate and back seat, although it was narrow between the wheel wells. The CX-50 offered 31.4 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly more than the CX-5, and a maximum of 56.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Side bins and hooks were included for securing items.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 was equipped with a comprehensive suite of technology features. The standard infotainment system featured a 14.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The tile-based layout and crisp graphics made it user-friendly, and the glass rotary controller added a touch of luxury. 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. The rear-seat monitors used radar to detect a baby's breathing, and the 360-degree camera system could be activated remotely through an app. Genesis Connected Services, included free for three years, bundled driver profiles, last-mile guidance navigation, and a valet mode.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 featured the Mazda Connect infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Mazda Connected Services, which provided access to a WiFi hotspot, remote engine starting, and more. The base 2.5 S model came with an 8.8-inch display, while other trims offered a larger 10.25-inch display. Historically, Mazda Connect did not offer touchscreen control, relying on center console buttons, steering wheel controls, and voice recognition. However, the 2023 CX-50 introduced touchscreen control for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The available 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system delivered a satisfying audio experience. The CX-50 also offered an Active Driving Display, commonly known as a head-up display (HUD), which projected data within the driver's line of sight and included blind-spot warnings.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 came standard with a comprehensive array of safety features, including lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, blind-spot and forward collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver-attention monitor, and Highway Driving Assist. The GV70 also featured eight standard airbags, including a front-center airbag. Optional driver-assist features included Highway Driving Assist 2, which added lane-change functionality, blind-spot monitoring, and navigation-based adaptive cruise control. While crash-test ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) were not available, the GV70's safety features were impressive.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 was expected to excel in safety, similar to other Mazda models. It came with a generous standard package of driving assistance systems, with additional features available on the CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus. These included Traffic Jam Assist, active blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors with reverse automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The driving assistance systems generally worked well, although the adaptive cruise control occasionally failed to recognize slower vehicles cutting into the gap ahead. Despite this, the CX-50's safety features were comprehensive and effective.