The compact-sized 2022 Genesis GV70 should arrive in North America sometime in 2021.
A 252-horsepower, turbo 2.0L four and a 365-hp, twin-turbo 3.3L V6 will be offered.
AWD will be optional in the United States, and likely be fitted as standard in Canada.
The Korean luxury brand hinted that it would soon release a second crossover back in September, when it published a few images of it wearing a cloak of camouflage. The 2022 Genesis GV70 has now been revealed in its birthday suit, and it looks pretty good.
The compact GV70 will be positioned below the midsize Genesis GV80 in the brand’s lineup, and will share its platform and mechanical bits with the compact Genesis G70 sedan. That means the base powerplant will be a turbocharged 2.0L inline-four that develops 252 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission and either a rear-wheel drivetrain or optional AWD. A twin-turbo, 3.3L V6 with 365 hp and 376 pound-feet should also be available in uplevel trims. In Canada, we obviously expect the new crossover to come standard with all-wheel drive.
The 2022 Genesis GV70 will benefit from the company’s latest design philosophy, called “Athletic Elegance,” that’s being plastered across the vehicle lineup. We get the now-signature Quad Lamps headlight treatment that incorporate thin LEDs, the pentagonal grille and just the right amount of chrome accenting, while the rear end gets a body-color bumper diffuser and chrome-ringed exhaust outlets. It also boasts a sporty, sloping roofline that enhances its sportiness, to the point where it could almost be considered a coupe-like utility vehicle. Well, maybe not to that extent, but this crossover certainly looks dynamic and energetic.
No details yet on the trim levels that will be offered in the Genesis GV70, but the company did confirm a Sport variant with 21-inch wheels, a specific front bumper design and bigger tailpipe outlets.
The GV70’s interior is as much a work of art as the bodywork, with simplistic elegance that neatly conceals the air vents down the horizontal line that splits up the two-tone dashboard, with all controls housed in a black oval pod, circled in bright trim. We also note a two-tone steering wheel, quilted leather upholstery and a very wide infotainment screen. The 2022 Genesis GV70 Sport will also make use of dash and door carbon-fibre trim.
“The audaciously designed new GV70 breaks new ground for Genesis through purity of design execution,” said SangYup Lee, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Genesis Design. “This follows the Genesis G80 and GV80 which demonstrated the perfect balance of our design identity Athletic Elegance.”
During the next few months, 100 uncamouflaged units of the Genesis GV70 will roam the roads of South Korea for final testing before the production model rolls out of the factory. We expect to see the new compact luxury crossover in North America sometime in 2021 as a 2022 model, ready to rival the BMW X3, the Audi Q5, the Mercedes-Benz GLC, the Cadillac XT5, the Acura RDX and the Volvo XC60, among others.
