2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2023 Genesis GV70

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was characterized by its modernist and reductive design, which translated to a clean and simple aesthetic. This approach might not have appealed to those seeking a flashy luxury SUV, as the factory options for making the Range Rover Sport stand out were limited to a Firenze Red paint color and diamond-turned, multi-spoke 23-inch wheels. The test vehicle, finished in Eiger Gray with silver 23-inch wheels and a Black Exterior Pack, exuded understated luxury. Inside, the Deep Garnet over Ebony theme, complemented by aluminum and shiny black trim, created a sophisticated atmosphere. The Range Rover Sport was available in SE P360, SE Dynamic P400, and Autobiography P440e specifications, with the SE Dynamic P400 test vehicle priced at $98,420, including destination charges. Notable design features included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and surface LED technology in the taillights, contributing to its aerodynamic profile with a drag coefficient of 0.29. The interior boasted a luxurious, high-tech appearance with sustainable Ultrafabrics and Windsor leather upholstery.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 shared stylistic connections with the G70 compact luxury sedan, particularly above the belt-line. Its design featured split-bar headlights and a strong chrome line that visually linked it to its sedan counterpart, creating a coupe-like SUV appearance without sacrificing versatility. Inside, the GV70's cabin impressed with top-notch materials and excellent fit and finish, combining contemporary and classic aesthetics. The climate controls were integrated into a curving bezel, and the touchscreen seamlessly rose from the dash. The GV70's dash featured a full touchscreen with a rotary dial and button controls, offering a user-friendly experience. The gas-powered GV70 was available in 2.5T and 3.5T trims, while the Electrified GV70 offered Advance and Prestige trims. The base GV70 2.5T came well-equipped with features like power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, and adaptive cruise control. The 3.5T trim added genuine leather upholstery, massaging front seats, and performance-inspired touches. The Electrified GV70 offered a luxurious experience with genuine leather upholstery, a power tilt-telescoping steering wheel, and ambient cabin lighting.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement, comfort, and driver-focused engagement. It featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque in the SE Dynamic model. The SE P360 offered 355 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was available in the Autobiography P440e, delivering 434 hp and 406 lb-ft with an estimated 51 miles of electric range. A 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine was offered in early-build models but was temporarily unavailable. The Range Rover Sport's 395-hp inline-six provided ample power, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and an Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, with a towing capacity of 7,716 pounds. The SUV achieved 21 mpg in combined driving, with a test average of 22.3 mpg. The Range Rover Sport's new architecture increased torsional stiffness by 35%, and its adaptive damping air suspension adjusted up to 500 times per second. Dynamic driving mode, cornering brake control, and roll stability control enhanced its driving dynamics. Off-road, the Range Rover Sport excelled with 11.1 inches of ground clearance, impressive approach, breakover, and departure angles, and a 35.4-inch wading depth.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 2.5T featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The 3.5T variant boasted a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine with 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The turbo-four provided ample power for most driving situations, while the V6 offered extra performance and a throaty engine note. The GV70 balanced comfort and sharp handling, delivering a refined driving experience. The Electrified GV70 used a 77.4-kWh battery pack with dual electric motors, producing 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. A Boost button increased output to 483 horsepower for short bursts. The electric GV70 had a range of 236 miles and supported DC fast charging, replenishing the battery from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes. The GV70 Electrified emitted external and internal engine noises, with customizable sound options. It offered well-rounded handling, leaning slightly towards comfort, and compared favorably to the Genesis GV60 in terms of SUV capabilities.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport retained the Range Rover Command Driving Position, offering a tall, airy feel with a low dashboard, upright windshield angle, and thin roof pillars. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit, accommodating shorter passengers. The front seats were comfortable, with 20-way power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. A massage feature, soft-closing doors, and a heated steering wheel were available. The rear seat, while improved, remained tight for taller passengers, with hard front seatback panels and narrow door openings. The rear seat provided excellent support but had a reclined angle. Storage space was decent, with a shallow tray under the center console and a deep bin under the armrest. The cargo area offered 31.9 cubic feet of space, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. A full-size spare tire limited underfloor storage, but Land Rover provided a contraption to secure smaller items.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered 56.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 28.9 cubic feet with them in use, above average for the segment. It featured a hands-free power liftgate. The front seats were comfortable, with easy adjustments, but rear legroom was tighter, requiring front-row occupants to slide their seats forward. The rear bench reclined for added comfort. The GV70's center console had large cupholders, a retractable lid tray, and a typical center console bin. The in-door cupholders couldn't accommodate larger water bottles.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an Online Pack with connected services. Wi-Fi access required an extra-cost data plan. While the screens were generally intuitive, the Pivi Pro infotainment platform was often confusing and frustrating. The automatic driver exit assist feature was difficult to disable, and the native digital assistant struggled with basic tasks like finding a Starbucks. The Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems with up to 29 speakers and 1,430 watts of power, along with Active Noise Cancellation. A wireless smartphone charging pad was located under the infotainment screen.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 came with a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The touchscreen was user-friendly, with large icons and logical menus. The center console had helpful buttons and a rotary dial for navigation, though it was located near the rotary shifter, leading to potential confusion. The GV70 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 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was equipped with advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system with ClearSight Ground View. Wade Sensing was standard for water crossings. Remote Park Assist allowed the SUV to park itself via a smartphone app. The adaptive cruise control with steering assist was slow to respond and not as smooth as expected. The steering assist struggled with inconsistent lane lines, requiring driver intervention.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered a comprehensive 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'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 Electrified GV70 had most driver-assistance features as standard, with the head-up display available in the Prestige trim.