Genesis GV70 vs Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was positioned as a significant addition to Toyota's lineup of crossovers and SUVs, offering a size that spanned 201.4 inches in length with a 116.1-inch wheelbase. This placed it larger than some of its key competitors, providing a spacious interior ideal for family-sized road trips. Built on the TNGA-K platform, its design echoed more rugged inspirations yet maintained a conservative style. It had a blockier appearance compared to Toyota's smaller models, resembling vehicles like the Ford Explorer, Kia Telluride, and Honda Pilot. The front fascia featured a trapezoidal grille with a smaller horizontal slit stretching between two narrow headlights, evoking an off-road likeness to the Toyota 4Runner.

Toyota offered the Grand Highlander in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum. The XLE trim came with light gray or black Softex synthetic leather, whereas the higher trims upgraded to real leather, with the top-spec Platinum offering Portobello (brown) upholstery. Comfort features included a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat and a large center console capable of holding a tablet.

Comparatively, the 2024 Genesis GV70 impressed with sleek and sporty styling, standing out within the Genesis lineup while retaining signature brand elements like split headlights and a large shield-like grille. It had a streamlined profile, particularly evident in its rear window design, which almost mimicked a hatchback. The Sport Prestige trim featured large round exhaust outlets and unique 21-inch wheels.

Inside the GV70, the standout design elements included its elliptical pod housing climate controls, a rotary controller for the infotainment system, and a dashboard shaped like an airplane wing. Luxury touches included available quilted Nappa leather upholstery and a panoramic sunroof. It melded aesthetic elegance with practical functionality.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with three engine options. The base 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder produced 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A hybrid 2.5-liter four-cylinder offered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. Topping the range was the Hybrid Max powertrain, with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid generating an impressive 362 combined net horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. The Hybrid Max model boasted a 0-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds. While front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations were available for the gas and hybrid engines, the Hybrid Max offered only AWD.

Toyota included three standard drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—with AWD models adding Mud & Sand, Rock & Dirt, and Snow modes. Though the Grand Highlander’s handling felt a bit boat-like, its brakes were solid, and acceleration from the base engine was more than adequate.

The Genesis GV70’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivered 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, while a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 provided 375 hp and 391 lb-ft. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The Electrified GV70, equipped with front and rear electric motors, produced a combined 429 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, with a short-term Boost Mode offering 483 hp.

The GV70 didn’t excel in either sporty driving dynamics or supreme comfort. Although it offered strong straight-line acceleration, its heavier chassis limited agility through corners compared to rivals. The suspension struggled to smooth over road imperfections, impacting ride quality. The Electrified GV70 maintained similar performance traits, with added regenerative braking adjustability.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander stood out for its spaciousness. It offered 201.4 inches in length and a 116.1-inch wheelbase, trumping rivals like the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, and Kia Telluride. Its cargo capacity reached 97.5 cubic feet with the seats down, 57.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and 20.6 cubic feet behind all three rows. This level of space positioned it as a viable alternative to minivans, lauded for its comfortable seating and vast interior.

The Genesis GV70 offered respectable space for its class, with slightly less headroom than its Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz competitors but more front-seat legroom than BMW and Mercedes. Cargo space was competitive at 28.9 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 56.9 cubic feet with them folded, though it fell short compared to the Audi Q5. The Electrified GV70 managed to retain most of its interior space despite the additional components for its electric powertrain. However, the interior faced limitations in small-item storage due to its stylish design.

Toyota equipped every 2024 Grand Highlander with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This included features like dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an optional 11-speaker JBL audio system, standard on Limited and Platinum trims. Additional services like an intelligent assistant, cloud-based navigation, and live agent assistance required a subscription.

The Genesis GV70 also included a 14.5-inch touchscreen with an intuitive layout, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and options for a larger digital instrument cluster and head-up display. The infotainment controller on the center console offered a high-quality feel, and added features like a fingerprint scanner and digital key functionality enhanced usability and convenience.

As a new model, the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander hadn't been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS by the publication date. However, its standard safety suite, Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, included features like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings also came standard.

In contrast, the 2024 Genesis GV70, particularly the gasoline versions, had earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award and maintained high safety ratings from previous years. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and Highway Driving Assist. The Electrified GV70 added advanced functions and showcased sophisticated safety features like safe exit assist and a sensitive rear occupant alert system.