2024 Genesis GV70 vs 2023 Lincoln Aviator

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator presented a choice of powertrains, with a standard twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine available across its Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims. This engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and offered either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The Grand Touring and Black Label Grand Touring models enhanced this setup with a hybrid system, incorporating a 75-kilowatt electric motor and a 13.6-kilowatt-hour battery pack, making all-wheel drive standard. The Aviator's pricing ranged from $53,340 to $89,280, excluding a $1,195 destination charge. The Black Label Grand Touring model, fully loaded with optional features, reached an MSRP of $91,225. The Aviator was a midsize SUV with a modern Lincoln design, though the wheel designs on the Black Label Grand Touring were considered too plain. The interior was luxurious, featuring a mix of high-end materials and a design that leaned towards Art Deco, though some elements like the chrome detailing and key fob felt less premium.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 stood out with its sleek design, featuring signature Genesis styling elements like split headlights and a large grille. It was sleeker than its larger sibling, the GV80, and avoided the quirkiness of the smaller GV60. The GV70's design included a hatchback-like rear window profile and distinctive exhaust outlets on the Sport Prestige trim. It balanced SUV presence with luxury-car style, surpassing competitors like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3 in finesse. The Electrified GV70 maintained the same styling as the gasoline model, with a grille that housed the charge port. The interior was distinctive, with luxury touches like quilted Nappa leather and a panoramic sunroof, and unique details like an elliptical pod for climate controls and a rotary infotainment controller. The dashboard had a rounded cross-section, adding to its unique appeal.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring, a plug-in hybrid, offered impressive performance with its drivetrain generating 494 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. Despite the added weight from the electric motor and battery, it provided 21 miles of electric driving range and averaged 23 mpg in hybrid mode. The Aviator featured multiple driving modes, including Pure EV, Preserve EV, Conserve, Normal, and Excite, allowing for a tailored driving experience. During testing, the Aviator achieved an equivalent of 163.4 mpg when relying on electric power. The twin-turbo V6 provided ample power, though the drivetrain's responsiveness was sometimes unpredictable. The brake pedal also exhibited inconsistent behavior due to the regenerative braking system. The Aviator's Dynamic Handling Package and adaptive suspension managed the vehicle's weight well, offering a smooth and quiet ride, though it lacked the fun-to-drive factor.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered two gasoline engine options: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 300 horsepower and a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 with 375 horsepower. Both engines came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The Electrified GV70 featured front and rear electric motors producing 429 horsepower, with a Boost Mode providing 483 horsepower for short bursts. While the GV70 delivered strong straight-line acceleration, its chassis tuning didn't match the sportiness of rivals like the Acura RDX or BMW X3. The suspension was reasonably comfortable but tended to crash over bumps. The Electrified GV70 maintained similar handling characteristics to the gasoline model, with adjustable regenerative braking for a customizable driving experience. Despite its weight, the Electrified model didn't feel more cumbersome than the gasoline version.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator prioritized comfort with features like a four-zone automatic climate control system, heated and ventilated seats, and massaging front seats. The second-row captain's chairs were spacious and included a center console with storage and controls. However, the third-row seat was cramped and not suitable for adults, with limited legroom and a flat cushion. Cargo space was limited to 18.3 cubic feet with the third row in use, expanding to 41.8 cubic feet with it folded, and a maximum of 77.7 cubic feet.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered competitive interior space, with slightly less headroom than some rivals but more front-seat legroom than the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. The GV70 provided 28.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, more than the Mercedes but less than the Audi Q5. Folding the rear seats expanded cargo space to 56.9 cubic feet. The Electrified GV70 had minimal impact on interior space, with slight reductions in legroom and headroom. The stylish interior design limited small-item storage, but features like automatic side bolsters in Sport mode added to the driving experience.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Black Label Grand Touring was equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Alexa integration, and Lincoln Connect services. However, it ran on the older Sync 3 software, which struggled with voice recognition and navigation accuracy. The vehicle also included a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D audio system and smartphone-related tech like wireless charging and Phone As A Key digital key system. The digital instrumentation and head-up display were user-friendly, and parking sensors and a surround-view camera system aided in parking.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 featured a 14.5-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Lower trims had an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, while higher trims 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 infotainment system was intuitive, with a rotary controller for easy navigation. Genesis included a fingerprint scanner for driver profiles and digital key functionality, allowing a phone to replace the key fob.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator came with Co-Pilot360 driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, road-sign recognition, pedestrian detection, and forward-collision warning. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and evasive steering assist. The Aviator received a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though the Grand Touring model wasn't specifically rated.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award for both gasoline and Electrified models. The NHTSA gave the gasoline model four-star frontal and rollover ratings, with the 2023 model receiving a five-star overall 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 lane-change capability and blind-spot monitoring. Genesis also offered a safe exit assist and a radar-based rear occupant alert system.