Genesis GV70 vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2026 Genesis GV70 showcased the brand's "Athletic Elegance" design philosophy with a refined style, featuring a strong grille and fascia treatment, and a sweeping profile and roofline. Genesis offered the GV70 in nine colors, including a matte gray and a new Ceres Blue, inspired by the first dwarf planet discovered by humanity. The car's face was sharpened with a redrawn crest-shaped grille flanked by two-line headlamps fitted with micro lens array lighting elements. The interior boasted a 27-inch OLED screen dominating the dashboard, with redesigned lighting elements adding a techy glow. The Sport model had unique design elements like dark chrome molding and carbon fiber trim, with flashy interior colors available for a sporty look.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid pursued a conservative and familiar design path, drawing inspiration from the previous-generation RAV4. It resembled a larger RAV4 with seating for up to eight and ample cargo space. The interior emphasized function over form, with a layer of luxury in the Platinum trim. The climate system was simple, with large temperature-adjustment knobs, but the infotainment interface had a tiny volume knob and no tuning knob. The Grand Highlander Hybrid Max Platinum arrived in Storm Cloud paint, a flat grayish blue, and featured a mix of leather and artificial suede upholstery, adding an upscale touch to the interior.

The 2026 Genesis GV70 offered a base 2.5-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. The optional 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine on Sport Advanced 3.5T and Sport Prestige 3.5T trims delivered 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. The Sport Prestige model provided exhilarating performance, with Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ driving modes, and a new Terrain Mode for Snow, Mud, and Sand settings. The GV70 featured hydro bushings and Highway Body Motion Control for a smooth ride, along with a Road Preview feature for improved comfort.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max focused on performance with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and electronic full-time AWD with two electric motors, producing 362 net horsepower. It offered a traditional six-speed automatic transmission, avoiding the droning common from CVTs. The Hybrid Max had a fuel economy trade-off, rated at 27 mpg compared to the Grand Highlander Hybrid's 36 mpg. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds and provided rewarding acceleration. The ride quality was soft and isolating, but undulations in the road could cause vertical bounding and lateral rocking. The handling was secure, with excellent outward visibility assisted by cameras.

The 2026 Genesis GV70 provided ample space for tall drivers in the front seats, though the 27-inch OLED screen was partially blocked by the steering wheel. The wide center console featured a rotary shifter and infotainment dial, which could be confusing. The rear seats offered headroom, elbow room, and shoulder room, but rear legroom was not the car's strongest suit. The sloping rear roofline made the back seat feel cramped, and cargo space was adequate but less than competitors like the BMW X3.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid offered comfortable seating in all three rows, with almost 100 cubic feet of maximum cargo space. The Platinum-trim test vehicle featured a Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery. The second-row captain’s chairs with a removable center console created a pass-through to the third row. The Grand Highlander provided 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 97.5 cubic feet with the second row folded. The rear doors were long and required space to open, posing challenges for buckling children into safety seats.

The 2026 Genesis GV70 featured a 27-inch OLED touchscreen infotainment system with over-the-air updates, customizable themes, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The screen displayed external camera angles, including a 360-degree Surround View Monitor. The digital gauges were customizable, and additional voice commands were added for climate control, infotainment, and windows. The GV70 included Genesis Digital Key 2 and a Fingerprint Authentication System for keyless entry and start.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid had a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Toyota Connected Services offered features like a Wi-Fi hotspot and a digital voice assistant. The system was easy to use, though the font was hard to see against the background. The Platinum test car included a head-up display, digital rear-view mirror, and JBL premium audio system.

The 2026 Genesis GV70 included a comprehensive package of advanced driver safety features, such as Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, and Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance-Assist. The Highway Driving Assist technology detected the driver’s hands on the steering wheel. The 2025 GV70 was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS and earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA, suggesting the 2026 version would receive similar high marks.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering features like lane-keep assist and Proactive Driving Assist. The safety tech operated with accuracy, though the lane-keep assist system occasionally strayed too close to lane markers. The Grand Highlander earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but fell short of the Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS due to headlight performance and frontal-impact protection.