The Genesis GV70 enters its fifth model year in North America with a slight refresh that finally brings onboard technology up to date, without changing the mechanical recipe.

Summary of the 2026 Genesis GV70 Sport 3.5T

The Sport 3.5T version sits at the top of the Genesis GV70 lineup, starting at $84,000.
This is the only version equipped with the twin-turbo V6 engine developing 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque.
The average fuel consumption announced by Natural Resources Canada is 11.5 L/100 km; I observed 11.6 L/100 km.
The 2026 update includes new screens, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as slight aesthetic tweaks.

Pros

Evident refinement throughout
Smooth, powerful engine with a pleasant sound
Nice balance between comfort and dynamics
Good value despite the substantial price

Cons

Rear passenger and cargo space are not the most generous
High fuel consumption
Not as sporty as some competitors

After four model years on the North American market, the Genesis GV70 receives a slight update intended to keep it on par with its competitors, most of whom have undergone complete redesigns since the GV70 launched in 2022.

Although a few elements such as the headlights and grille have been revised, the general appearance remains the same; you practically have to park the new model next to the old one to notice the differences.

This isn’t a bad thing, however, as the GV70 has always benefited from an understated and elegant design that ages well, unlike the more striking styles of certain other luxury compact SUVs.

2026 Genesis GV70 Sport 3.5t | Photo: Anthony Lemonde

In my opinion, the GV70 is still one of the prettiest SUVs on the Canadian market because it manages to look dynamic while remaining chic and elegant, without resorting to the gimmicks used on the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 and BMW X3 M50 xDrive, for example.

The split headlights and taillights typical of Genesis are still just as distinctive and well-suited to the GV70’s design. After dark, they look great and contribute to giving this model a unique cachet. At first glance, you can see that the GV70 is a high-end product.

The Sport 3.5T trim level adds a dark chrome grille to the package, a modified rear diffuser (which abandons the prominent round exhaust pipes this year in favor of more discreet trapezoidal tips), and 21-inch alloy wheels in a graphite grey finish with dark grey stripes.

I don’t particularly like this last element, nor the Matte Ceres Blue paint on my test model. Fortunately, Genesis offers a palette of 12 exterior colours on the GV70 Sport, including 4 with a matte finish, as well as three interior shades with a choice of leather or suede upholstery, allowing everyone to find a combination that suits them.

A Superb Interior

Regarding the interior, the 2026 Genesis GV70 continues to impress, especially the Sport 3.5T version.

Indeed, the dark blue suede upholstery matching the orange stitching and seatbelts of my test model is very pretty and, like the exterior, effectively combines the sporty and luxurious sides of the GV70.

By adding ambient lighting that highlights most vertical surfaces, you get an attractive cabin that is a nice change of pace from the usual German drabness.

The big news for the 2026 GV70 is obviously the new dashboard, which adopts the same layout as the brand’s 80 and 90 series. This means the separate screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment system have been united to form a single 27-inch OLED luminous panel installed at the top of the dashboard.

This layout is definitely more modern and visually impressive than the one it replaces, but the gauge graphics are not as intricate as before.

Good news: wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functions are now included on all models. An update had given access to these functions on previous model years, but the vehicle we tested last year still required a wired connection.

The new dashboard also allows two navigation maps to be displayed behind the steering wheel: one from the onboard system and one from the phone projection. However, it takes some time to understand the operation of the instrument cluster menus, which are not the most intuitive in the industry.

The new touch pad on the steering wheel, used to navigate through these menus and change audio channels, does not help the situation.

However, it must be noted that Genesis has kept a good number of physical controls for the most used functions, and the touch panel for adjusting the climate control works rather well.

I also appreciate that the rotary dial on the center console has been kept, as its use is intuitive and allows for quick adjustments without having to take your eyes off the road too much. Its shape was slightly modified for 2026 to better distinguish it from the other dial just behind it that controls the transmission, which seems to have worked as I never made a mistake during use.

The entire center console has undergone relatively significant changes, now covered with a carbon fiber appliqué and featuring a wireless charger that is easier to use.

In the back, occupants are treated to sunshades, their own climate zone with a dedicated fan, controls for door locking and the front passenger seat, as well as ambient lighting. On the other hand, legroom could be a little more generous.

While the numbers show that the GV70’s trunk is more spacious than that of the Q5, X3, and GLC when the seats are up, reality does not give the same impression. Indeed, the cargo space seems a bit restricted for the size of the vehicle, probably due to the sloping roofline which steals space compared to boxier models.

No matter where you look in the GV70’s cabin, you can see that Genesis has not cut corners with this model, which offers high-caliber construction quality and materials.

A Balanced Driving Experience

Balance is probably what makes the Genesis GV70 Sport 3.5T so pleasant to drive daily. Indeed, this model is neither the most dynamic nor the most comfortable in its segment, but it offers an excellent compromise between the two.

This is largely due to the distinct driving modes that act on the accelerator, the 8-speed automatic transmission, the electronic limited-slip rear differential, and the adaptive suspension.

Thus, in Comfort mode, the GV70 Sport 3.5T absorbs road imperfections well and provides a nice quietness for the driver and passengers. The 3.5L twin-turbo V6 engine is discreet, and the transmission shifts gears smoothly. The seats are also very welcoming, with the driver’s seat even featuring a massage function.

When selecting Sport or Sport+ modes, however, the suspension stiffens considerably, as does the steering, the driver’s seat bolsters tighten, the accelerator becomes more sensitive, and gear shifts become faster and more aggressive. Sport+ mode even deactivates stability control and pushes the transmission to downshift firmly upon braking.

Despite all this, the 2026 GV70 Sport 3.5T does not quite reach the level of dynamism of its German competitors, which compromise comfort a bit for an even more engaging experience.

In daily driving, the output of 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque can sometimes feel a bit shy, and you have to activate the kickdown switch at the end of the accelerator pedal’s travel to benefit from livelier acceleration when driving in Comfort mode.

Nevertheless, the six-cylinder engine gives the GV70 a certain charm thanks to its muscular sound, remarkable smoothness, and very linear power curve.

Of course, the choice of large displacement is paid for at the pump, with an average consumption estimated by Natural Resources Canada at 11.5 L/100 km in mixed driving. Despite a mostly rural and highway route, I could do no better than 11.6 L/100 km during my test carried out in early winter, which does not bode well for drivers staying mainly in the city.

What to look out for

2026 Genesis GV70: A Bigger Battery and Many Upgrades

After five years on the market, the reliability of the Genesis GV70 seems rather good, but it is still a bit early to rule on the long-term durability of the powertrains. Early models were affected by certain common problems, such as defective rear differentials and a capricious electronic system, but these seem to have been resolved, and a look at online forums does not reveal other recurring weak points for 2024 and newer models.

Regarding recalls, Transport Canada lists four since 2022, one of which applies only to the electric version. Among these, only one concerns the 2025 GV70, and none affect the 2026 models for the moment.

As with all its vehicles, Genesis includes all regular maintenance costs for five years or 100,000 km in the purchase price of the 2026 GV70, which means no additional costs should be required from buyers during this period, except for tires.

Additionally, Genesis offers a 5-year/100,000-kilometer bumper-to-bumper warranty on all its vehicles, which is 1 year and 20,000 km more than all other premium brands in Canada.

Depreciation, however, is higher than that of the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC, making the GV70 less attractive for those who change vehicles at short intervals.

Price of the 2026 Genesis GV70 Sport 3.5T

The 2026 Genesis GV70 Sport 3.5T has an MSRP in Canada of $84,000, to which only optional paint colours can be added.

Indeed, Genesis prioritizes complete standard equipment rather than individual options, keeping the bill at a more reasonable level than the Germans.

For example, my test model was equipped with one of the four matte paints in the catalog, which are billed at $1,700. The total price of the vehicle, therefore, amounted to $85,700, the highest amount asked for a GV70 this year.

When compared to its competition, the GV70 Sport 3.5T quickly appears to be a bargain despite its price exceeding $80,000.

Indeed, although the Audi SQ5, BMW X3 M50 xDrive, and Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 all show a starting price a few thousand lower than the Genesis, one must select several options to get comparable equipment.

Thus, the BMW X3 equivalent to my test model requires an outlay of about $93,300. At Mercedes, you will have to spend around $99,400 to take the wheel of a similarly equipped GLC.

Things seem more reasonable at Audi, with an SQ5 featuring several options offered at just over $85,000, but matte paint isn’t available. One must also not forget that unlike Genesis, Audi does not include maintenance fees in this price, which is a significant advantage of the GV70.

As for the other models in the lineup, the 2026 GV70 starts at $60,000 with the Advanced 2.5T AWD, equipped with a 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine developing 300 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. A $7,500 technology package adds 21-inch wheels, an electrically adjustable steering column, three-zone climate control, ventilated front seats, head-up display, panoramic roof, 360-degree camera, remote parking assist, and several driver assistance functions.

The Prestige 2.5T AWD version, starting at $73,000, adds Nappa leather upholstery, a suede microfiber headliner, heated rear seats, additional adjustments for the front seats, a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, and a digital rearview mirror, among other things.

Conclusion

The 2026 Genesis GV70 Sport 3.5T continues to be an excellent choice among luxury compact SUVs thanks to its refinement, plush comfort, above-average performance, and competitive price. The mid-cycle refresh carried out for 2026 brings a renewed technological offer, thus correcting the main irritant of the 2025 model. We can only wish for a hybrid powertrain for this model, which could thus continue to offer a good level of performance while reducing expenses at the pump and its ecological footprint.


Model	Genesis GV70 Sport 3.5T	Audi SQ5 Quattro	BMW X3 M50 xDrive
MSRP (Can)	$84,000	$78,700	$77,900
Powertrain	3.5L twin-turbo V6 / 8-speed auto, all-wheel drive	3.0L turbo V6 mild-hybrid / 7-speed twin-clutch auto, all-wheel drive	3.0L turbo I6 mild-hybrid / 8-speed auto, all-wheel drive
Horsepower	375 hp	362 hp	393 hp
Torque	391 lb-ft	406 lb-ft	428 lb-ft
Acceleration	5.1 s	4.8 s	4.6 s
Average fuel consumption (NR Can)	11.5 L /100 km	11.4 L/100 km	8.6 L/100 km
Towing capacity	1 586 kg (3 500 lb)	1 996 kg (4 400 lb)	2 200 kg (4 850 lb)
Headroom (FR/RR)	980 mm / 972 mm	1 059 mm / 998 mm	1 045 mm / 994 mm
Legroom (FR/RR)	1 048 mm / 945 mm	1 041 mm / 960 mm	1 024 mm / 925 mm
Cargo space (Seats up/down)	818 L / 1 611 L	757 L / 1 710 L	570 L / 1 700 L