2023 Genesis GV70 vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Genesis GV70 was a striking blend of luxury and style, 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 top-notch materials and a design that was both contemporary and classic. The dashboard boasted a full touchscreen, complemented by a rotary dial and button controls, offering a user-friendly interface. The gas-powered GV70 came in two trims, 2.5T and 3.5T, while the Electrified GV70 offered Advance and Prestige trims, each with a host of luxury features.

In contrast, the 2023 Ford Escape embraced a more rugged, boxy aesthetic, moving away from its earlier blocky design to a European-inspired look. The 2023 refresh introduced a more traditional front end with a stylish LED light bar. The Escape offered a range of trim levels, with the ST-Line Elite being the top-tier option. While it didn't exude the same luxury as the GV70, the Escape's design was sleek and upscale, reminiscent of a Mazda CX-5. Inside, the ST-Line Elite featured diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it lacked the warmth of top-tier leather. The Escape's interior was practical, with comfortable seats and a well-organized layout, but it fell short in terms of luxury compared to the GV70.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered a choice between a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and 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. The GV70's performance was a balanced blend of power and comfort, with the V6 providing extra grunt for enthusiasts. The Electrified GV70 featured a 77.4-kWh battery powering dual electric motors, generating a combined 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, with a Boost Mode increasing output to 483 horsepower for short bursts. It offered a range of 236 miles and fast charging capabilities.

The 2023 Ford Escape differentiated itself with multiple powertrain options. The base engine was a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder, producing 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, available with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Higher trims, like the ST-Line Elite, featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with all-wheel drive. While the Escape's performance was adequate for daily driving, it lacked the sporty edge of a performance crossover. The suspension was soft and compliant, providing a comfortable ride, and the brakes offered predictable stopping power. The steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness found in some competitors.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 provided 56.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 28.9 cubic feet with them in use, making it competitive in the compact luxury SUV segment. It featured a hands-free power liftgate and practical storage solutions in the center console. While the front seats were comfortable and adjustable, rear legroom was tighter, requiring front-row occupants to adjust their seats for rear passenger comfort. The rear bench could recline for added comfort.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered up to 37.5 cubic feet of storage behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. While it was comparable to the Chevrolet Equinox and Mazda CX-5, it fell short of leaders like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The Escape's interior was comfortable, with well-positioned armrests and convenient cupholders. Rear-seat legroom was slightly less than some competitors, but headroom was impressive, and the front-seat backs were designed to maximize space for taller passengers.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 came standard with a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The interface 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 and a digital instrument panel were available options.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 technology, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen on higher trims like the ST-Line Elite. The larger screen enhanced the cabin's look and offered a well-organized interface with tiles for navigation, music, and Bluetooth pairing. While Sync 4 was slightly slow to respond, its feature set and ease of use were commendable. The system included a static "Home" button for easy navigation between applications.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance technologies, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The 2.5T's Advance Package and the 3.5T's Sport Advance package added features like a blind-spot camera system and a 360-degree parking camera. The Electrified GV70 included most of these features as standard, with the head-up display available in the Prestige trim.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in frontal and side-crash tests. However, it received a Marginal score in the IIHS's updated side-impact test. The Escape came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The optional Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, and lane-centering technology, along with a surround-view camera.