2024 Toyota 4Runner vs 2024 Genesis GV70

The 2024 Genesis GV70 stood out within the Genesis lineup and its market segment. It incorporated key Genesis styling features like split headlights and a large shield-like grille, enhancing brand recognition. While its larger sibling, the GV80, presented more heft, and the smaller GV60 verged on quirky, the GV70 found a sweet spot with its sleeker design and distinctive details. It featured an almost hatchback-like rear window profile, large round exhaust outlets on the Sport Prestige trim, and notable 21-inch wheel designs amidst the standard 19-inch wheels. These elements harmonized SUV robustness with luxury-car style, setting it apart from competitors such as the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Porsche Macan, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, which often struggled to balance SUV proportions with refinement. The Electrified GV70 maintained the gasoline model's sleek styling while adding practical touches like the grille-integrated charge port, making charging a straightforward task.

Contrastingly, the 2024 Toyota 4Runner retained a classic, albeit outdated, design unchanged since its 2010 redesign. Its rugged, boxy shape, flared fenders, and chunky grille accentuated stability and off-road capability. The TRD Pro model further enhanced this rugged character with underbody skid plates, all-terrain tires, and a tubular roof rack. Inside, however, the 4Runner showed its age with analog instrumentation, a small eight-inch touchscreen, and traditional gear selectors. Despite its outdated look, it offered practicality through user-friendly controls, excellent outward visibility, and sturdy interior handles, catering to off-road enthusiasts and long-distance travelers alike.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 maintained its powertrain from previous years. The base gasoline model featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). A more powerful 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine offered 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque, delivering strong, straight-line performance. The Electrified GV70, with front and rear electric motors, produced a combined 429 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, boosted to 483 horsepower in short bursts through a “Boost Mode.” However, neither gasoline nor electric models excelled in sporty handling, with the GV70 feeling bulkier and slower through corners compared to competitors like the Acura RDX, BMW X3, and Porsche Macan. Comfort-wise, the GV70 was decent but not extraordinary, with a suspension prone to crashing over bumps rather than absorbing them smoothly.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner was powered by a 4.0-liter V6 engine delivering 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, hampered by an outdated five-speed automatic transmission. In comparison, rivals like the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler benefited from more responsive transmissions, enhancing both acceleration and fuel economy. The TRD Pro model included standard four-wheel drive (4WD) with a two-speed transfer case, making it adept off-road but sluggish and noisy on pavement. The 4Runner's soft suspension favored off-road articulation but resulted in significant body roll, rear-end squat under acceleration, and noticeable nosedive during hard braking. Its on-road handling was less composed, with residual bounces and floatiness over bumps, particularly when unloaded.

In terms of interior space, the 2024 Genesis GV70 offered competitive roominess. It had slightly less headroom than the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class but provided slightly more front-seat legroom than the BMW and Mercedes. In second-row legroom, it offered marginally more than the X3 and slightly less than the Q5 and GLC. It featured 28.9 cubic feet of cargo space with rear seats upright, more than the Mercedes but slightly less than the Audi at 29.5 cubic feet. With rear seats folded, cargo space expanded to 56.9 cubic feet, less than all German rivals. The Electrified GV70 saw minimal space reduction due to its battery pack. Automatic side bolsters in the front seats added a sporty touch during acceleration and cornering.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner, while rugged, showed its age inside. Its straightforward layout boasted easy-to-use climate-control dials and driveline levers, practical even with gloves. The elevated rear bench provided a clear view for second-row passengers, although headroom was restricted for taller individuals. With a third-row option available and numerous storage compartments, the 4Runner supported long road trips and off-road excursions well. It offered a substantial 47.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 89.7 cubic feet with seats stowed. While lacking remote seat releases, it provided a nearly flat load floor superior to the Ford Bronco's stepped floor. Unique features like a sliding rear window and party speakers in the hatch added convenience and fun.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered a technology suite with influences from Hyundai, emphasizing functionality over complexity. Standard features included a 14.5-inch touchscreen, wired Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Instrument cluster variants ranged from an 8-inch digital display on lower trims to 12.3 inches on higher trims, with an optional 12-inch head-up display and 16-speaker Lexicon audio system. The infotainment system's layout was intuitive, complemented by a high-quality rotary controller. Other notable features included a fingerprint scanner for personalized driver profiles and digital key functionality.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's infotainment system, though basic, supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Its eight-inch touchscreen proved small and challenging during driving. The TRD Pro trim offered a 15-speaker JBL audio system, though road noise often diminished sound quality. Additional off-road controls in the headliner required familiarity with their pictograms for effective use. Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select systems, alongside differential controls, enhanced off-road capabilities.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 earned high safety ratings, with gasoline models receiving the IIHS’s Top Safety Pick+ award and favorable but incomplete NHTSA ratings. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver-attention monitor, parking assist sensors, and Highway Driving Assist. An upgraded Highway Driving Assist 2 added automated lane-change capability and blind-spot monitoring. Genesis’ safety technologies extended to features like safe exit assist and a sensitive rear occupant alert system.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner delivered mixed safety ratings. NHTSA awarded it four out of five stars overall and for frontal crash protection, and three stars for rollover evaluations, with a perfect score for side impacts. IIHS ratings were similarly mixed, with some tests receiving lower marks. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The TRD Pro and Limited trims featured a surround-view camera system, though only the Limited had parking sensors. System sensitivities were a noted issue but were adjustable.