2024 Genesis GV70 vs 2023 Land Rover Defender

The 2023 Land Rover Defender was a standout in the Land Rover lineup, outselling the Discovery by a significant margin. Its boxy design, reminiscent of the old LR4, appealed to customers who preferred a classic Land Rover look over the Discovery's more Ford-like appearance. The Defender's design was characterized by its square-jawed face, rectangular hood and doors, and abruptly chopped tail, all of which contributed to its classic truck aesthetic. Tasteful accents, such as the dome and faux-metal step plates on the hood, skylights along the roof, and body-color square separating the side glass, paid homage to the original 1980s Defender. The Defender was available in three body styles: 90, 110, and 130, offering a range of options for buyers.

Inside, the Defender prioritized function and durability over opulence. Despite its high price, the interior was coated in rubbers and plastics designed to resist moisture and stains. The dashboard featured a six-inch-wide metal piece, exposed screws, and plain-looking air vents, creating a basic and barren feel. While the build quality and fit were excellent, the interior lacked the luxury of a Range Rover. The Defender's price, especially for the V8 Carpathian Edition, was considered excessive by some, but its popularity indicated that many buyers appreciated its unique character.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 stood out in the Genesis lineup and among its competitors with its sleek design and distinctive styling features. While it retained certain Genesis styling elements like split headlights and a large shield-like grille for brand recognition, the GV70 was sleeker than its larger sibling, the GV80, and avoided the quirkiness of the smaller GV60. Notable details included an almost hatchback-like rear window profile, large round exhaust outlets on the Sport Prestige trim, and distinctive 21-inch wheels. The GV70 struck a balance between SUV size and luxury-car style, offering a more refined appearance than competitors like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class.

The Electrified GV70 offered a discreet EV option with styling unchanged from the gasoline models, except for a shiny grille that housed the charge port. This design allowed for easy charging at stations, unlike many other EVs. Inside, the GV70 featured a distinctive interior with traditional luxury touches like quilted Nappa leather upholstery and a panoramic sunroof. Unique details, such as the elliptical pod housing climate controls and the rotary controller for the infotainment system, added to its appeal. The dashboard's rounded cross-section resembled an airplane wing, showcasing Genesis' effort to create a different and memorable interior.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender excelled off-road, showcasing its impressive grip, wheel articulation, and clearance. With the air suspension raised, it could tackle almost any path, although most owners didn't fully utilize its off-road capabilities. On-road, the Defender's performance was less impressive, with excessive body roll, slow steering, and noticeable wind noise. The turbocharged inline-six and supercharged V8 engines provided power, with the V8 delivering 518 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque. The six-cylinder engine, part of a 48-volt mild hybrid powertrain, offered 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, while the turbocharged four-cylinder engine was less powerful at 296 hp and 295 lb-ft. Fuel economy varied, with the V8 returning 14/19/16 mpg, the six-cylinder 18/23/20, and the four-cylinder 17/20/18.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered unchanged powertrain options, with a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. A 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 was also available, delivering 375 hp and 391 lb-ft. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The Electrified GV70 featured front and rear electric motors producing a combined 429 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, with a "Boost Mode" providing 483 hp for short bursts. While the GV70 offered strong straight-line acceleration, its chassis tuning didn't match its sporty rivals, feeling heavier and slower through corners. The suspension was reasonably comfortable but tended to crash over bumps. The Electrified GV70 maintained similar handling characteristics despite its additional weight, and its regenerative braking system allowed for one-pedal driving.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender offered exceptional versatility as an everyday SUV, with unmatched seating configurations. The Defender 90 could seat six with a jump seat, while the 110 offered an optional third row, and the 130 had a standard third row for up to eight seats. The 130 provided 77 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row and second row folded, while the 90 and 110 offered varying cargo capacities. Buyers could equip their Defenders with off-road or all-season tires, and the 130's metal roof rack supported up to 360 pounds when moving or 661 pounds when stationary. Additional features included a console refrigerator, heated windshield, power-deployable side steps, and a winch.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered comparable interior space to its rivals, with slightly less headroom but more front-seat legroom than some competitors. The GV70 provided 28.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place, slightly better than some rivals but less than others. Folding the rear seats offered 56.9 cubic feet of space. The Electrified GV70's interior space was minimally impacted by the battery pack, with slight reductions in legroom and headroom. The stylish interior design, featuring an orb-like infotainment controller and rotary shifter, limited small-item storage. The Electrified GV70 also included automatic side bolsters for the front seats, enhancing support during strong acceleration or cornering.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender featured two touchscreen infotainment systems running Pivi Pro software, with a standard 10-inch screen and an optional 11.4-inch touchscreen. Both screens were quick and easy to operate, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a voice assistant, connected apps, and navigation as standard features. Heated front seats, a proximity key, and power-folding mirrors were also included. Higher trims offered additional features like heated power seats, a Meridian stereo, fog lights, and a head-up display. The X trim added air suspension, a locking rear differential, and an upgraded Terrain Response 2 system.

The 2024 Genesis GV70's infotainment system, while simpler than some rivals, featured a 14.5-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Lower trims had an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, while higher grades offered a 12.3-inch unit with a 3D effect. A 12-inch head-up display and a 16-speaker Lexicon audio system were available. The touchscreen's intuitive layout and rotary controller made it easy to use. Genesis also included a fingerprint scanner for driver profiles and digital key functionality, allowing a phone to replace the key fob.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by U.S. safety organizations but received a five-star rating from Euro NCAP. It was equipped with six airbags, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. Optional features included a digital instrument panel, head-up display, and a 360-degree camera system. However, a self-steering highway assist was not offered.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 received the IIHS's Top Safety Pick+ award for both gasoline and Electrified models. NHTSA ratings for the 2024 model were incomplete, but the 2023 GV70 received a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Highway Driving Assist. The Highway Driving Assist 2 system added automated lane-change capability and blind-spot monitoring. Genesis also offered a safe exit assist function and a radar-based rear occupant alert system.