Genesis GV70 vs Alfa Romeo Tonale

The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale was presented in three trims: Sprint, Ti, and Veloce. Each of these trims had distinctive stylistic choices that almost positioned them as sub-brands. The Sprint trim featured a dark grille, the Ti trim showcased a silver grille surround, and the Veloce returned to a "Gloss Black" grille. The Tonale's design was inspired by the iconic "Trilobo" triple-intake grille, and its exterior was remarkably close to the concept car from 2019. The adaptive LED headlamps featured a distinctive trio of angular, aggressive LED "U" shapes, and this design was mirrored in the LED taillights, giving the SUV a unified, striking look.

While the wheels were a point of contention, the overall design was praised. The 18-inch wheels (standard on Sprint) had a notable design, but the smaller size felt slightly mismatched with the wheel wells. The Ti trim could be upgraded to Veloce’s 19-inch wheels, and the Veloce offered an upgrade to 20-inchers, resolving any aesthetic qualms. The Tonale was available in five colors, including a punchy red and a hypnotic green called “Verde Fangio Metallic.” Inside, the Tonale had a predominantly dark interior with black and silver highlights, and the Veloce’s Alcantara seats added a red backing that brightened the interior.

Meanwhile, the 2024 Genesis GV70 captured attention with its sleek design and unique details. The GV70 maintained the brand’s identity with split headlights and a large shield-like grille but appeared sleeker than its larger sibling, the GV80, without the quirky aesthetics of the GV60. The rear window profile had an almost hatchback-like slant, complemented by large round exhaust outlets on the Sport Prestige trim level and distinctive designs for the available 21-inch wheels (standard were 19-inch wheels).

The GV70 struck a balance between SUV presence and luxury-car finesse, standing apart from competitors like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Porsche Macan, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. The EV variant, Electrified GV70, kept most of the gasoline model’s styling attributes, ensuring it appealed to those wanting a low-profile electric vehicle. The unique grille on the EV doubled as a charge port, making charging a relatively straightforward process.

Inside, the GV70’s interior boasted traditional luxury touches like quilted Nappa leather upholstery and a panoramic sunroof, but it was the unique design details that made it stand out. Climate controls were housed in an elliptical pod, the infotainment system featured a Star Trek-inspired rotary controller, and the dashboard had a rounded, airplane-wing-like cross-section, giving the interior a distinct personality.

All 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale models in the US came with standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain that included a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 15.5-kWh battery pack and a 90-kW motor in the rear. This setup produced a total of 285 horsepower and 347 lb-ft of torque, which Alfa Romeo claimed to be best in class. The six-speed automatic transmission was standard, with a manual mode available across trims. The Veloce trim came standard with large aluminum paddle shifters for manual shifting, an option available on the Ti trim as well. Alfa Romeo cited a zero to 60 mph time of 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 125 mph for the Tonale.

The Tonale featured a “DNA” switch allowing the driver to adjust the drive mode between “Dual Power” (Dynamic), “Natural,” and “Advanced Efficiency,” each mode affecting the power management, steering, braking, and suspension responses accordingly. The Tonale promised more than 30 miles of pure electric range, but specific fuel economy figures were not announced. The European-spec version differed slightly from the US model, mainly in tuning to suit American roads and drivers' expectations.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered two gasoline powertrain options: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque or a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 with 375 hp and 391 lb-ft. Both engines utilized an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The Electrified GV70 combined front and rear electric motors to deliver 429 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, with a Boost Mode momentarily providing 483 hp. The electric model featured a 77.4-kWh battery pack.

Despite the impressive power figures, the GV70’s performance was not purely sporty. Engaging Boost Mode or Sport+ mode delivered strong straight-line acceleration, but the GV70 felt heavier and less agile through corners compared to rivals like the Acura RDX, BMW X3, or Porsche Macan. The suspension was comfortable but tended to crash over bumps rather than glide. The Electrified GV70 managed not to feel more cumbersome than the gasoline model, despite its added weight.

The Electrified GV70 included steering-wheel paddles to adjust regenerative braking levels, making it possible to achieve true one-pedal driving. With an EPA-rated 236-mile range, it offered a solid driving experience similar to its gasoline counterpart.

The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale's interior included sport cloth seating surfaces, heated front seats, and a heated, leather-covered steering wheel as standard. The Ti and Veloce trims offered optional leather seats, with the Veloce featuring black-and-red Alcantara seats by default. Both front seats were eight-way power-adjustable with four-way lumbar adjustment. Rear passengers enjoyed dual-zone climate control but lacked USB ports in the base Sprint trim. The Tonale provided 41.7 inches of front legroom and 38 inches of rear legroom, with head room of 38.8 inches in the front and 38.2 inches in the rear. Cargo space was 22.9 cubic feet, expanding to 50.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.

The 2024 Genesis GV70's interior space was comparable to its competitors. It had slightly less headroom than the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class but featured a streamlined roofline. The GV70 offered a fraction more front-seat legroom than the BMW and Mercedes, but slightly less than the Audi. Second-row legroom was marginally more than the X3 but a bit less than the Q5 and GLC. The GV70’s cargo space totaled 28.9 cubic feet with the rear seats up, expanding to 56.9 cubic feet when down. The Electrified GV70 saw a slight reduction in interior space to accommodate the battery pack, but it remained similar to the gasoline version. The design sacrifices some small-item storage due to the stylish orb-like infotainment controller and rotary shifter but included a useful phone storage nook and rear-seat climate controls.

The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale featured a range of standard tech offerings, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless charging. The 12.3-inch driver information display offered customizable modules that paid homage to historic Alfa Romeo cars. The 10.25-inch touchscreen ran the intuitive Uconnect 5 system, known for its smooth operation and accurate navigation. The Tonale also included Alexa functionality and Alfa Connect, providing three years of service to remotely manage the vehicle through a mobile app. The six-speaker sound system was standard, with an optional 12-speaker Harman Kardon system available on higher trims.

The 2024 Genesis GV70's infotainment relied on components from Hyundai, ensuring simplicity and ease of use. It came with a 14.5-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 3D effect and a 12-inch head-up display. The infotainment system had a user-friendly layout and a quality rotary controller. Genesis also offered a fingerprint scanner for driver profiles and digital key functionality. The available 16-speaker Lexicon audio system provided premium sound quality, enhancing the overall tech experience.

The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale came equipped with a suite of standard safety features, including remote start, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, active blind-spot assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, brake assist, Drowsy Driver Detection, Full Speed Forward Collision Warning Plus, lane-keep assist, front and rear park-assist sensors, rear cross-path detection, and traffic-sign recognition. Additional driver-assistance features could be added through the Active Assist Plus package, which offered Level 2 ADAS, intelligent speed control, front ParkSense, Park Assist, and a 360-degree camera view. Neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA had evaluated the Tonale at the time of writing.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award for gasoline and Electrified models, with the 2023 model achieving a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver-attention monitor, and parking assist sensors. Highway Driving Assist systems were available, offering advanced features like automated lane changes and blind-spot monitoring. Additional safety technologies provided enhanced protection for occupants, including a radar-based rear occupant alert.