2023 Genesis GV70 vs 2023 Acura MDX

The 2023 Genesis GV70 was a striking blend of style and luxury, drawing inspiration from its sedan counterpart, the G70. Its design featured split-bar headlights and a distinctive chrome line that elegantly curved from behind the rear window, giving it a coupe-like appearance without sacrificing versatility. Inside, the GV70's cabin was a testament to luxury, with high-quality materials and impeccable fit and finish. The interior 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 was equipped with a full touchscreen, complemented by a rotary dial and button controls, offering a user-friendly interface.

In contrast, the 2023 Acura MDX Type S exuded a more subtle luxury. The fourth-generation MDX was the first Acura SUV to sport the Type S badge, with understated styling modifications and 21-inch wheels that gave it a commanding presence. Inside, the MDX Type S featured perforated Milano leather, aluminum interior trim, and a Sport Appearance package. The Type S Advance trim added open-pore wood and a leather-wrapped dashboard, enhancing its luxury appeal. However, some design choices, like the gloss black plastic on the dashboard, made it challenging to use certain controls. Despite these minor drawbacks, the MDX Type S remained an attractive luxury SUV.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered a choice between two gas-powered engines and an electrified version. The 2.5T model was equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The 3.5T variant featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, providing a balanced blend of power and handling. The GV70 Electrified used a 77.4-kWh battery pack, powering two electric motors for a combined 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. It offered a smooth and confident driving experience, with a Boost Mode that temporarily increased output to 483 horsepower. The electric GV70 had a range of 236 miles and supported DC fast charging, replenishing the battery from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 18 minutes.

The 2023 Acura MDX Type S was powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, generating 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system, which could direct up to 70 percent of engine output to a single rear wheel. The MDX Type S featured an Integrated Dynamics System with multiple driving modes, including a Lift mode that increased ground clearance. Despite these enhancements, the MDX Type S struggled to deliver a cohesive performance experience. The transmission was indecisive, and the brake pedal response was inconsistent, making it difficult to trust the vehicle during spirited driving. Additionally, the MDX Type S had poor fuel economy, averaging 16.9 mpg during testing.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered 56.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 28.9 cubic feet with the seats in use, making it a practical choice for a compact luxury SUV. The GV70 featured a hands-free power liftgate and a well-designed interior with ample storage options. However, rear-seat legroom was limited, requiring front-row occupants to adjust their seats for rear passengers' comfort.

The 2023 Acura MDX provided three rows of seating, accommodating up to seven passengers. The second-row seat could be adjusted for more third-row space, but the third row was best suited for children. The MDX offered a decent amount of cargo space, with 18.1 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 71.4 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. The Type S Advance trim included a hands-free liftgate with a Walk Away Close function, adding convenience for loading and unloading cargo.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 came standard with a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system was user-friendly, with large icons and logical menu navigation. The GV70 also included four USB ports, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a nine-speaker stereo system. Ambient lighting, a digital instrument panel, and the Genesis digital key were available features.

The 2023 Acura MDX featured a Digital Precision Cockpit with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment display. However, the infotainment screen was not touch-sensitive, requiring the use of a True Touchpad Interface (TTI) on the center console. The TTI was accompanied by a stereo volume knob, a radio tuning rocker switch, and a padded wrist rest. While the TTI was intended to improve driver interaction, it added complexity and reduced storage space. The MDX offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa Built-In, along with a top-tier ELS Studio 3D audio system with 25 speakers. The Advance package included a 10.5-inch head-up display, although the traffic sign recognition system occasionally misread speed limits.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 was equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance technologies, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Electrified GV70 included most of these features as standard, with the head-up display available in the Prestige trim.

The 2023 Acura MDX featured Acura Watch, a collection of driving assistance and collision avoidance systems. These included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, and Traffic Jam Assist. The MDX also had blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The MDX received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, although it earned four stars for frontal-impact protection.