2024 Genesis GV70 vs 2023 Subaru Forester

The 2023 Subaru Forester, despite its familiar and somewhat plain exterior, offered a practical and functional design. Its Cascade Green Silica paint was reminiscent of many Foresters seen over the years, contributing to its unassuming appearance. The Forester's design was characterized by its boxy shape, flared fenders, and distinctive lighting, which, while not particularly attractive, served its purpose. The Touring trim, with its 18-inch alloy wheels and satin chrome exterior trim, was considered the most visually appealing of the lineup. The Forester's robust roof rails were a notable feature, capable of supporting a tent or various sporting equipment. Inside, the Forester Touring boasted Saddle Brown leather, exposed stitching, and metallic accents, creating a traditional Subaru interior with analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen. While the interior was busy with a mix of materials and controls, it was user-friendly and easy to clean.

In contrast, the 2024 Genesis GV70 stood out with its sleek and stylish design, setting it apart from its competitors. The GV70 featured signature Genesis styling elements like split headlights and a large grille, but it was sleeker than its larger sibling, the GV80. The GV70's design included unique details such as a hatchback-like rear window profile, large exhaust outlets on the Sport Prestige trim, and distinctive wheel designs. It struck a balance between SUV size and luxury-car style, offering a more refined appearance compared to rivals like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. The Electrified GV70 maintained the same styling as the gasoline models, with a shiny grille housing the charge port. Inside, the GV70's interior was distinctive, featuring quilted Nappa leather, a panoramic sunroof, and unique design elements like an elliptical pod for climate controls and a rotary infotainment controller. The dashboard's rounded cross-section added to its unique appeal.

The 2023 Subaru Forester was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive. The CVT featured eight programmed ratios for a more traditional automatic feel, and the Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-Drive) system offered a Sport mode for enhanced responsiveness. Most Forester trims, except the Base, included an X-Mode off-road traction management system with various driving modes. The Forester Wilderness trim was designed for off-roading with additional modifications. During testing, the Forester Touring demonstrated its capability in adverse weather conditions, handling flooded roads and muddy trails with ease. While the engine was adequate, it was louder than expected, and the Forester's driving dynamics were praised for their comfort and handling. However, the Forester fell short of its EPA fuel economy rating, achieving 25.9 mpg compared to the expected 29 mpg.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered a range of powertrain options. The gasoline GV70 came with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, while a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 delivered 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The Electrified GV70 featured front and rear electric motors producing a combined 429 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, with a Boost Mode providing 483 horsepower for short bursts. While the GV70 offered strong straight-line acceleration, its chassis tuning didn't match the sportiness of rivals like the Acura RDX and BMW X3. The GV70's suspension was comfortable but tended to crash over bumps. The Electrified GV70 maintained similar driving dynamics to the gasoline model, with adjustable regenerative braking for one-pedal driving. Despite its weight, the Electrified GV70 was competent but not particularly sporty.

The 2023 Subaru Forester prioritized function over form, offering a practical and user-friendly design. The Forester Premium trim included features like a panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, and heated side mirrors. Higher trims offered additional amenities such as StarTex artificial leather, dual-zone climate control, and heated rear seats. The Forester's high seating position and large windows provided excellent visibility, making it easy to drive and park. However, the panoramic sunroof's lack of tinting could lead to solar heating, and the rear seats lacked comfort for taller passengers. The Forester's doors were well-sealed, and interior storage was plentiful, with various pockets and compartments. The cargo area offered 26.9 cubic feet of space with the rear seats up and 69.1 cubic feet with them folded, providing ample room for luggage and gear.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered competitive interior space compared to its rivals. While it had slightly less headroom than some competitors, it provided more front-seat legroom than the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. The GV70's cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 56.9 cubic feet with them folded, offering more space than the Mercedes but less than the Audi Q5. The Electrified GV70's interior space was minimally impacted by the battery pack, with slight reductions in legroom and headroom. The GV70's stylish interior design came at the cost of limited small-item storage, but it included features like a dedicated phone storage nook and rear-seat climate controls. The Electrified GV70 also featured automatic side bolsters for the front seats, enhancing support during spirited driving.

The 2023 Subaru Forester featured a range of technology options, with the Base trim offering a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Premium trim added satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services. An 8-inch touchscreen was available, along with a navigation system and a Harman Kardon premium audio system. The Forester's older Starlink infotainment system was praised for its user-friendly interface, with separate climate controls and easy-to-use volume and tuning knobs. However, the voice-recognition system was unreliable, often misinterpreting commands. As a result, users were encouraged to rely on Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for navigation and other functions.

The 2024 Genesis GV70's infotainment system, while not as elaborate as some rivals, offered a straightforward and user-friendly experience. All GV70 models came with a 14.5-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Lower trims featured 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 also available. The touchscreen's intuitive layout and rotary controller made it easy to use, and the system included features like a fingerprint scanner for driver profiles and digital key functionality. The GV70's infotainment system was praised for its simplicity and ease of use.

The 2023 Subaru Forester featured the next-generation EyeSight collection of driving assistance and collision avoidance technologies, with updated software and cameras for improved performance. Models with blind-spot monitoring included Automatic Emergency Steering, which assisted with avoiding obstacles at speeds under 50 mph. The Wilderness and Touring trims offered Rear Automatic Braking (RAB), although the system could be overly sensitive. The Forester's DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System monitored driver attention and provided gesture control for climate settings. The Forester received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, a step down from the previous year's Top Safety Pick+ award, due to lower ratings in new side-impact and frontal-impact tests. The NHTSA awarded the Forester five-star crash-test ratings and a four-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 received the IIHS's highest Top Safety Pick+ award for both gasoline and Electrified models. While complete NHTSA ratings for the 2024 model year were not available, the gasoline GV70 received four-star frontal and rollover crash-test ratings, and the 2023 model received a five-star overall safety rating. All GV70 models came with standard safety features like 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. The GV70 also offered a safe exit assist function and a radar-based rear occupant alert system.