Genesis GV70 shapes up as the sport-ute in full

This review first appeared in the April 2022 edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace." To subscribe to the Cruisin' News, visit www.cruisinnews.com, call (916) 933-0949 or send an email request to subscribe@cruisinnews.com.  Mailed requests for information should be sent to Cruisin' News, P.O. Box G, Virginia City, NV 89440.

Sacramento, California ­– It's not often that Motor Trend magazine gushes over a motor vehicle it is evaluating ... especially when the auto in question is contending for one of the magazine's coveted vehicle of the year awards.

But check out this small sampling of words Motor Trend used in naming the Genesis GV70 its 2022 SUV of the Year: "The best Genesis vehicle ever puts an entire luxury SUV segment on notice ... It's the precise moment you realize you've found something you didn't know you wanted but now can't live without."

Over the top, you say?  After spending a recent week behind the wheel of a 2022 GV70 AWD 3.5T Sport Prestige, I can tell you that the hype is totally justified.  It's probably the best compact crossover SUV I've ever stepped into.

Even before getting into the cockpit, there's much to like.  Perfect fit and finish are accentuated by dynamic, sporty, smooth lines stretching from bumper to bumper.  Exotic, sculpted 21-inch wheels are works of art. My tester turned heads when it was parked in public lots.

Interior design is equally brilliant, with unique elliptical shapes throughout the cabin.  Everything is within easy reach, and the 14.5-inch touchscreen centered at the top of the dash is easy to see and use.  There's no squinting to see the street names on the nav screen, thanks to this nicely sized visual element.

While other reviewers like the shiny rotary gearshift dial on the GV70's center console, alas, I'm old school enough to want a classic floor shifter.  It's a small gripe, but there it is.

Performance from the tester's turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 -- rated at 375 horsepower and nearly 400 foot-pounds of torque -- was remarkably robust.  I found myself jetting off the line with sports cars before suddenly remembering I was piloting an SUV.  The sporty performance of the GV70 is that alluring.

Given the power output, fuel mileage is fair at 19 miles per gallon in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

If you had blindfolded me and stuck a Lexus or Mercedes badge on this tested GV70, I would have put the starting price at around $70,000.  Instead, Genesis starts it at $52,600.  To be sure, my tester was dressed up with numerous enjoyable options, but even at that, the bottom line came in at $64,045.

For the average buyer, that price is likely enough to prompt them to move on to a more bargain-priced sport-ute.  I completely understand that.

But for the luxury SUV shopper, there's a new big bully on the block, demanding attention.