2022 Kia Sportage vs 2022 Genesis GV70

The 2022 Kia Sportage presented a mixed bag in terms of design. While Kia's signature tiger-nose grille was a hit on models like the Stinger and Sorento, it seemed out of place on the Sportage, resembling a Halloween party mustache. Despite this, the Sportage excelled in other design aspects, with its four-dot running light signature reminiscent of the Porsche Macan and a Volkswagen-style symmetry in the rear. The SX Turbo's 19-inch wheels added to its stylish and planted stance. Inside, the Sportage adopted a Germanic design with a black dashboard, polished metallic accents, and metal pedal covers, offering a high-contrast look with available color options. The interior was user-friendly, with buttons and knobs for easy control of the stereo, cabin temperature, and infotainment system, contributing to an upscale feel.

The 2022 Genesis GV70, while borrowing some styling elements from other Genesis models, maintained a unique appearance. It featured quad LED strips for headlights and taillights, a large shield-shaped grille, and a sloping roofline that gave it a fastback look. The Sport Prestige models added character with unique styling features, including 21-inch wheels and dark chrome trim. The interior boasted an elliptical theme inspired by an airplane wing, with a minimalistic design and a rotary gear selector. Genesis offered a wide array of interior color options, and the material quality in the Sport Prestige model was luxurious, with Nappa leather upholstery and suede seat inserts. However, base models had leatherette seats.

The 2022 Kia Sportage offered two engine options. Most models came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, providing a competitive but unremarkable performance. The Sportage SX Turbo, however, featured a more robust 240 hp (237 hp with AWD) and 260 lb-ft of torque, making it suitable for those living at higher elevations. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, with an optional Dynamax all-wheel-drive system. The SX Turbo's acceleration was quick, with maximum torque available from 1,450 to 3,500 rpm, giving it a lively character, especially in Sport mode. The suspension provided a smooth ride, though there was some body roll and lateral rocking. The Sportage felt athletic in turns but lacked the refinement of competitors like the Mazda CX-5 Turbo.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered two powerful engine options: a base 2.5-liter turbo-four with 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 with 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both engines came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The GV70 included features like a rear electronic limited-slip differential and launch control, emphasizing its sporty intentions. The Sport+ drive mode enhanced throttle response and kept the engine in its power band. However, the GV70's chassis felt big and heavy, lacking the sharpness of rivals like the Acura RDX and BMW X3. The steering was adequate but not precise enough for spirited driving. The GV70 excelled on highways but didn't match the luxurious driving experience expected from a true luxury vehicle.

The 2022 Kia Sportage, despite being on the smaller side of the compact crossover SUV scale, offered a remarkably roomy passenger compartment. The SX Turbo trim provided comfort with perforated leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front seats. Rear passengers enjoyed generous legroom, air conditioning vents, and a USB charging port. However, the Sportage's cargo space was limited, with 60.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded and 30.7 cubic feet behind the back seat. The smart liftgate technology was a convenient feature, though it could be turned off if not needed.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered mid-pack interior space for its segment. It provided adequate legroom and good rear-seat visibility. Cargo space was 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 competitors. The interior design compromised storage space, with a slim center console and thin door pockets. However, Genesis included a covered storage cubby for phones with USB ports. 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 Kia Sportage came equipped with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Most trim levels included UVO Link connected services and satellite radio, while the SX Turbo added wireless smartphone charging and an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with knobs for stereo volume and radio tuning. However, the UVO Link system was falling behind in terms of technological sophistication, lacking features like a WiFi hotspot and wireless smartphone mirroring.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered a wealth of technology, with a standard 14.5-inch touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The tile-based layout and crisp graphics made it easy to use. Higher trim levels included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12-inch head-up display. The GV70 also featured a digital-key system, a fingerprint scanner, and a radar-based rear-seat monitor. Genesis Connected Services provided additional features like remote camera activation and driver profiles, included free for three years.

The 2022 Kia Sportage came with standard safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The SX Turbo added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Sportage received favorable crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, with the SX Turbo earning an Acceptable headlight rating for an IIHS Top Safety Pick.

The 2022 Genesis GV70, being a new model, lacked crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA. However, it came with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, blind-spot assist, and Highway Driving Assist. The GV70 also had 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.