2022 Kia Sportage vs 2023 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 rear design echoing Volkswagen's symmetry. The SX Turbo's 19-inch wheels added to its well-proportioned and planted stance. Inside, the Sportage adopted a Germanic design with a black dashboard, polished metallic accents, and plain white-on-black instrumentation. The SX Turbo trim featured metal pedal covers and offered a choice of black, gray, or beige interiors, creating a high-contrast, upscale look. The interior was user-friendly, with buttons and knobs for easy control of the stereo, cabin temperature, and infotainment system, enhancing the overall quality feel.

In contrast, the 2023 Genesis GV70 exuded luxury and sophistication. Its design drew inspiration from the G70 compact luxury sedan, with split-bar headlights and a strong chrome line connecting it to its sedan counterpart. The GV70's interior was a testament to Genesis's luxury credentials, featuring top-notch materials and impeccable fit and finish. The cabin design was both contemporary and classic, with climate controls integrated into a curving bezel and a touchscreen that seamlessly rose from the dash. The GV70's dash included a full touchscreen backed by a rotary dial and button controls, offering a user-friendly experience. The gas-powered GV70 came in two trims, 2.5T and 3.5T, while the Electrified GV70 offered Advance and Prestige trims. The GV70's interior was a blend of luxury and functionality, with features like genuine leather upholstery, ambient lighting, and a premium stereo system, making it a standout in the luxury SUV segment.

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 yet unremarkable performance. The Sportage SX Turbo, however, was equipped with a more powerful 240 hp (237 hp with AWD) engine and 260 lb-ft of torque, making it ideal for those living at higher elevations. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, with an optional Dynamax all-wheel-drive system featuring a locking center differential. The SX Turbo delivered quick acceleration, with maximum torque available from 1,450 to 3,500 rpm, providing a surprising surge of power. The Sportage's suspension, featuring a MacPherson strut front and independent multi-link rear, offered a smooth and compliant ride, though it exhibited some body roll and lateral rocking. While the Sportage was fun to drive, it lacked the refinement of competitors like the Mazda CX-5 Turbo.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered a more powerful performance lineup. The 2.5T model featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, while the 3.5T boasted a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel drive. The GV70's turbo-four provided ample power for most driving situations, while the V6 catered to performance enthusiasts with its extra grunt and throaty engine note. The GV70's driving experience was a blend of comfort and sharp handling, offering a refined and well-rounded ride. The Electrified GV70 featured a 77.4-kWh battery powering two electric motors, delivering a combined 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. With a Boost Mode increasing output to 483 horsepower, the GV70 Electrified offered a confident and smooth acceleration. Its 236-mile range was complemented by fast charging capabilities, making it a practical choice for an electric SUV.

The 2022 Kia Sportage, despite being on the smaller side of the compact crossover SUV scale, offered a surprisingly roomy passenger compartment. The SX Turbo trim provided front-seat occupants with perforated leather upholstery, ten-way power adjustment for the driver, and eight-way power adjustment for the front passenger. Heated and ventilated front seats, along with a heated flat-bottom steering wheel, added to the comfort. Rear seat legroom was generous, and Kia included air conditioning vents and a USB charging port for rear passengers. However, the Sportage's cargo space was limited, with 60.1 cubic feet available with the rear seats folded and 30.7 cubic feet behind the back seat. The Sportage featured Kia's smart liftgate technology, allowing hands-free access without the need to wave a foot under the bumper.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered 56.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, which was average for the compact luxury SUV segment. With the rear seats in use, it provided 28.9 cubic feet, above average for its class. The GV70 came standard with a hands-free power liftgate. Up front, the GV70 featured decently large cupholders in the center console, though the in-door cupholders couldn't accommodate larger water bottles. The center console included a tray with a retractable lid and a typical center console bin. While drivers and front-seat passengers could easily find a comfortable seating position, rear seat legroom was tighter, requiring front-row occupants to slide their seats forward. The rear bench did recline, offering some flexibility for comfort.

The 2022 Kia Sportage was 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 featured wireless smartphone charging and an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system with Clari-Fi digital music restoration technology. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with knobs for stereo volume and radio tuning, and logical onscreen menus. However, the UVO Link system lagged in technological sophistication, lacking a WiFi hotspot and offering wired smartphone mirroring.

In contrast, the 2023 Genesis GV70 boasted a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The touchscreen was easy to use, with large icons and logical menu navigation. Genesis provided helpful buttons in the center console and a rotary dial for scrolling and selecting, though its proximity to the vehicle's rotary shifter could cause confusion. The GV70 came with four USB ports, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a nine-speaker stereo system. Additional features included ambient lighting, a digital instrument panel, and the Genesis digital key.

The 2022 Kia Sportage came with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver monitoring system. The SX Turbo trim 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, qualifying it for an IIHS Top Safety Pick.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered a full suite of driver-assistance technology, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The 2.5T model's Advance Package added a blind-spot camera system, reverse automatic emergency braking, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The 3.5T's Sport Advance package included these features. The GV70 Electrified came with most of these features as standard, with the head-up display available in the Prestige trim.