2022 Genesis GV70 vs 2023 Subaru Outback

The 2022 Genesis GV70 boasted a distinctive design that set it apart from its Genesis siblings, despite sharing some styling cues. It featured quad LED strips for both headlights and taillights, along with a prominent shield-shaped grille. The GV70's sloping roofline, more reminiscent of a fastback than a traditional SUV, and ribbed detailing added a muscular touch to its profile. This combination of SUV bulk and athletic, car-like elements gave the GV70 a unique blend of ruggedness and sleekness. The Sport Prestige models further enhanced the GV70's character with unique styling features, including large vents on the 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, featuring an elliptical theme. The design was minimalistic, with a perched touchscreen, hidden air vents, and a rotary gear selector, creating a baroque spaceship-like feel. The interior offered a wide array of color options, and the material quality in the Sport Prestige model was luxurious, with Nappa leather upholstery and suede seat inserts.

The 2023 Subaru Outback underwent a facelift, resulting in a more aggressive appearance. It featured a redesigned front end with new LED headlights, a restyled grille, and a revised bumper with dark gray vertical cladding, giving the impression of large air intakes. The addition of a simulated skid plate, fog lights in oversized housings, and asymmetrical wheel arch trim contributed to its bold look. The Onyx Edition, with black wheels and trim, complemented the audacious cladding. The Outback offered six trim levels, with the Onyx Edition now available with both the base and turbocharged powertrains. The standard 2.5-liter engine was available in Base, Premium, Onyx Edition, Limited, and Touring trims, while the turbocharged XT models included Wilderness, Onyx Edition, Limited, and Touring trims. The Outback's interior, especially in the Touring trim, was upscale and cohesive, with Java Brown leather and contrasting stitching. Despite some hard plastic trim, the interior maintained a quality feel. The Outback's practicality was evident in its flat door sills, which served as steps for accessing the roof rack, and its spacious cargo area.

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 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 generating 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains came 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 character. The Sport+ drive mode further enhanced the GV70's performance, holding high revs and sharpening throttle response. 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, while adequate at most speeds, lacked precision for spirited driving. The GV70 excelled in highway cruising but fell short of the gold standard for luxurious driving, with a firm ride even in Comfort mode.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured horizontally opposed engines, known for their flat design and characteristic grumble. The standard engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). While the CVT performed well at lower speeds, passing and climbing power was limited. The Outback's towing capacity was 3,500 pounds, but the engine's fuel efficiency fell short of expectations, achieving 25.6 mpg instead of the EPA-rated 28 mpg. The turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine in the XT models delivered 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, offering better performance but at the cost of fuel efficiency. The Outback's Active Torque Split AWD system and X-Mode traction system enhanced its off-road capabilities, while its excellent visibility and compact size made it easy to navigate tight spaces. However, the standard engine lacked urgency, and the CVT struggled to provide forward momentum on highways. The Outback's suspension tuning was spot-on, offering a firm ride at lower speeds and excellent ride quality at higher speeds.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered mid-pack interior space for its segment. Despite its car-like roofline, it provided the same front-seat headroom as a Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and the same back-seat headroom as 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 between competitors. The interior design, while daring, compromised storage space, with a slim center console and thin door pockets. The front seats in the Sport Prestige model were heavily bolstered, offering heating, ventilation, massage, and posture-assist functions.

The 2023 Subaru Outback prioritized utility with features like a purposeful roof rack, flat door sill trim, and a dashboard storage shelf. The Touring trim offered a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat with a manually-adjustable thigh support bolster and an eight-way power-adjustable front passenger's seat. Both seats had heating and ventilation, and the steering wheel was heated. The Outback's interior was comfortable, with premium Nappa leather upholstery and heated rear outboard seats. The Outback's cargo space measured 32.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 75.6 cubic feet with the back seat folded down. The flat, textured plastic door sills served as steps for accessing the roof rack, which was robust and ready for accessories. The Outback's ease of entry and exit, along with its spacious interior, made it a practical choice for families.

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 a touch of luxury. Higher trim levels offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12-inch head-up display with a 3D effect. The GV70 also featured a digital-key function, allowing drivers to use a smartphone in place 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.

The 2023 Subaru Outback, except for the Base trim, featured a Starlink 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system in portrait orientation. Physical controls included volume and tuning knobs, climate control buttons, and defroster buttons, while everything else was embedded in the touchscreen. The base Outback's 7-inch touchscreen offered Bluetooth connectivity, wired Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Higher trims provided wireless connectivity, a navigation system, and a Harman Kardon premium audio system. The Starlink system's usability improved for 2023, but the voice-recognition system was lacking. Additional technologies included a camera-based digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree front-view camera.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 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, 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 and navigation-based adaptive cruise control. The GV70's Highway Driving Assist impressed with smooth control inputs but struggled with curves.

The 2023 Subaru Outback prioritized safety with new EyeSight cameras and an electronic brake booster design. The Outback earned top marks from the IIHS, including in the new side-impact crash test. EyeSight included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. Higher trims added a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert and an Automatic Emergency Steering system. The Outback's adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems were less impressive, with artificial steering feel. The rear automatic braking system was incompatible with some driveways.