Genesis GV70 vs Kia Telluride

In 2024, the Kia Telluride was available in five core trim levels: LX, S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige. The SUV also offered the rugged X-Line treatment for most trims, except for the LX and S, while the X-Pro package was exclusive to the top two trims. The X-Line package enhanced the Telluride with standard all-wheel drive (AWD), a center-locking differential, increased ground clearance, improved approach and departure angles, unique grille and wheel designs, and roof rails. The X-Pro package added 18-inch matte-black wheels with all-terrain tires and bumped the towing capacity by 500 pounds to 5,500 pounds. Prices ranged from $35,990 for the LX to $53,185 for the SX Prestige with the X-Pro package, excluding destination charges. The SX Prestige with the X-Line package featured Wolf Gray paint and optional floor mats, pushing the MSRP to $54,270, including a $1,365 destination fee. The Telluride's aesthetic appeal was one of its primary draws. Even though the styling updates from the previous year weren't universally praised, the SUV's underlying form and proportions remained attractive. The Wolf Gray paint, paired with the X-Line's blacked-out styling, gave it a distinct look. Inside, the SX Prestige sported a black interior with premium Nappa leather seats, one of several available interior color options like Mahogany brown, Terracotta brown, and Sage Green. These choices complemented the simulated open-pore wood trim and helped conceal the shiny plastic on the lower interior sections. The luxury features nearly met luxury SUV standards with soft leather, an artificial suede headliner, a 24-inch dual-screen digital display, classy metallic accents, and thoughtful details. In contrast, the Genesis GV70's design stood out within its lineup and competitive set. Key Genesis styling elements, such as split headlights and a large shield grille, were present for brand recognition. However, the GV70 was sleeker than its sibling, the GV80, without the excessive quirkiness of the smaller GV60. Distinctive features included a hatchback-like rear window profile, large round exhaust outlets on the Sport Prestige trim, and unique wheel designs. The GV70 struck a balance between SUV size and luxury-car style, outshining competitors like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3, which often appeared either too tough or exaggerated. The GV70’s styling effectively sold it as a luxury SUV, unlike the Porsche Macan's car-stretched-over-SUV look or the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class's reliance on its badge for prestige. The Electrified GV70 also appealed to those wanting a subtle EV. Despite its shiny grille, the rest of the styling remained unchanged from the gasoline versions. The grille housed a convenient charge port, allowing easy access at charging stations. Unlike many EVs requiring precise parking to connect to charge cables, the GV70 could pull straight in like a regular car. Inside, the GV70 boasted one of the most distinctive cabins. Traditional luxury touches included available quilted Nappa leather upholstery and a panoramic sunroof. Unique details like an elliptical pod housing climate controls, a Star Trek-esque rotary infotainment controller, and a rounded dashboard shaped like an airplane wing gave the GV70's interior a memorable quality.

The 2024 Kia Telluride offered robust performance with its 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, delivered to either the front or all wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Most Tellurides could tow up to 5,000 pounds, but the X-Pro package increased this capacity to 5,500 pounds by adding heavy-duty engine cooling. AWD models of the Telluride featured a locking center differential for even power distribution between the front and rear wheels at low speeds and included a Snow driving mode alongside Comfort, Sport, and Smart modes. Standard ground clearance was 8.0 inches, rising to 8.4 inches with the X-Line and X-Pro packages, which also added a self-leveling rear suspension. Acceleration was smooth, making freeway merging and passing effortless. However, the Telluride's fuel efficiency left room for improvement. The EPA rated the AWD version at 20 mpg in combined driving, but real-world testing showed an average of 19 mpg on a mountainous evaluation route and 17.5 mpg during a week of city driving. A hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrain would have been a welcome addition. Despite limited fuel economy, the Telluride excelled in driving performance. The SUV was quick and refined, featuring standard brake-induced Torque Vectoring Cornering Control and 20-inch wheels that enhanced its agility in curves and corners. The responsive steering and reliable brakes ensured a confident driving experience. The ride quality varied with speed; it felt firm at lower city speeds but softened at higher speeds, absorbing road undulations effectively. The Telluride also proved unexpectedly capable off-road, handling various challenging terrains competently. The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered different powertrain options. The standard gasoline GV70 came with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. A 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 was available, delivering 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The Electrified GV70 featured standard AWD via front and rear electric motors, producing a combined 429 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, with a 77.4-kilowatt-hour battery pack. A Boost Mode provided 483 horsepower for short bursts. While the GV70 provided robust acceleration, its chassis tuning lagged behind, making it feel bigger, heavier, and slower in corners compared to the Acura RDX, BMW X3, or Porsche Macan. The ride comfort was reasonable, but the suspension's tendency to crash down on bumps rather than float over them was noticeable. This characteristic was consistent across both gasoline and electric versions. Despite its heavier weight, the Electrified GV70 didn't feel more cumbersome than its gasoline counterpart. It also offered handy steering-wheel paddles to adjust regenerative braking, enabling choices from minimal to high regen for one-pedal driving. If you could manage its 236-mile range, the Electrified GV70 was an equally enjoyable alternative to the gasoline model.

The interior of the Kia Telluride was comfortable, particularly in higher trims. The SX Prestige X-Line test model featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats with adjustable lumbar support, heated and ventilated second-row captain's chairs, and an adult-friendly third-row seat. A dual sunroof added light to the otherwise dark interior. The Telluride's controls were horizontally oriented, with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system that was easy to use and featured a capable voice recognition system, provided you had an active Kia Connect subscription. Physical controls were prevalent, though metallic finish buttons were hard to read in bright sunlight. Thoughtful details, like a scenic digital instrumentation panel reflecting the time of day, enhanced the Telluride's appeal. Ample storage spaces were available, including a covered cubby and a smartphone tray. The hands-free power liftgate was convenient but had drawbacks in certain situations. Cargo space was expansive, offering 21 cubic feet behind the third row, 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 87 cubic feet. The Genesis GV70 provided interior space comparable to its rivals, though it had slightly less headroom than the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. However, it offered similar front-seat legroom compared to the BMW and Mercedes, and slightly less than the Audi. Second-row legroom differences were minimal, with the GV70 offering a bit more than the X3 but slightly less than the Q5 and GLC. The GV70's 28.9 cubic feet of cargo space was better than the Mercedes' 21.9 cubic feet and slightly better than the BMW's 28.7 cubic feet but less than the Audi's 29.5 cubic feet. With rear seats folded, the GV70 had 56.9 cubic feet, less than its German competitors. The Electrified GV70's interior space was minimally affected by the battery pack, with only slight reductions in legroom and headroom. The cargo space difference between gasoline and electric models was less than a cubic foot. The GV70’s stylish interior design impacted small-item storage. The orb-like infotainment controller, rotary shifter, and curvaceous dashboard limited space, though a dedicated phone nook and rear-seat climate controls were included. Automatic side bolsters on the Electrified model offered enhanced support during dynamic driving.

The 2024 Kia Telluride came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. However, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a wired connection. A Kia Connect subscription was necessary for the full range of features, including conversational voice recognition. During testing, wireless Bluetooth pairing was seamless, and streaming internet radio was easy. However, testing the voice recognition system wasn't possible due to the inactive subscription. Kia Connect offered different plans, with the highest tier costing $199 annually and including features like remote engine start, climate pre-conditioning, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The test vehicle featured satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The infotainment system included thoughtful features like a blue-light filter, Quiet Mode, and a function that projected the driver's voice to rear-seat passengers. Additional tech included a digital key, a camera-based rearview mirror, a 10-inch head-up display, and a 360-degree camera system. The Genesis GV70's infotainment system, though simpler than BMW and Mercedes systems, was user-friendly. All models came with a 14.5-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims also had a 12.3-inch 3D digital instrument cluster and a 12-inch head-up display. A 16-speaker Lexicon audio system was available. The GV70’s touchscreen was intuitive and easily accessible by both driver and front passenger. Alternatively, a high-quality rotary controller on the center console was available. Other tech features included a fingerprint scanner for driver profiles and digital key functionality, allowing a smartphone to replace the key fob.

The 2024 Kia Telluride excelled in safety with its standard Kia Drive Wise driver assistance features. This included collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear occupant protection, and Highway Driving Assist for semi-autonomous driving. Higher trims offered additional features such as front parking sensors, cross-traffic alert, evasive steering assist, lane-change assist, and automatic rear braking. The Blind-Spot View Monitor system was particularly noteworthy, displaying blind-spot areas on the digital instrumentation. The Highway Driving Assist 2.0 system on higher trims added automatic lane changing, which worked well in most conditions but had some limitations in heavy traffic and on mountain grades. In case of an accident, the Telluride offered excellent protection, earning a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. The 2024 Genesis GV70 also received high safety accolades. Gasoline models earned the IIHS's Top Safety Pick+ award, and similar recognition was given to the Electrified GV70. However, the NHTSA ratings were partial, with the gasoline model receiving four-star frontal and rollover ratings and the 2023 version achieving a five-star overall rating. The Electrified GV70 had yet to be rated. Standard safety features on the GV70 included lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver-attention monitor, parking sensors, and Highway Driving Assist. An advanced Highway Driving Assist 2 system with automated lane-change capability and blind-spot monitoring was also available. High-tech features like safe exit assist and a sensitive rear occupant alert system using radar were designed to enhance safety further.