2026 Genesis GV70 Midsize SUV First Look: Super-Size My Screen?
The GV70's first redesign comes with a massive 27-inch infotainment screen.
After four years on the road, Genesis has decided it's time for a redesign of its GV70 midsize luxury SUV for 2026. When it debuted, it was impressive enough to take home our 2022 SUV of the Year Award and put Europe on notice. Let’s look at what’s changed inside and out of this Korean-built luxury vehicle.
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We’re going to start on the inside, where the biggest change to the 2026 GV70 is quite literal. At 27 inches across, the infotainment and digital dashboard have been combined into one fully integrated, massive, and stunning OLED unit—rather than the more common arrangement where two smaller screens are nestled next to each other to look like one massive letterbox screen.
The interior looks elegant with its circular trim elements, and how the dashboard integrates cleanly into the door cards. Given the rounded design elements, does the massive, boxy screen look out of place? Otherwise, the interior of the GV70 looks amazing, with new HVAC controls and the re-positioning of the volume and tuning knobs up on the dash itself.
The steering wheel and interior are set in a two-tone brown and white design matched by contrast stitching on the inner rim of the wheel and the leather touches throughout the cabin. The GV70 Sport continues this two-tone look but using black and dark blue hues on its leather surfaces, while its steering wheel utilizes a D-shape for that sporty appearance inside.
Turbocharged Power
Under the hood of the 2026 GV70 are two options: a turbocharged 2.5-liter I-4 producing 300 hp and a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 producing 375 hp. If you like to drive your luxury SUVs just off the beaten path of roads and interstates, the all-new Terrain Mode will be a pleasant surprise. Just don’t expect to go too far off the pavement—the sub-modes are limited to snow, mud, and sand. You’ll also quickly realize that the 2026 GV70 is a road cruiser thanks to its Highway Body Motion Control system. This system not only adjusts the dampers while accelerating and braking, but also utilize the Road Preview feature and its forward-facing cameras to read the road ahead for further optimization for comfort and road impacts.
Sporting New Looks
Outside, the 2026 Genesis GV70 retains its rather athletic appearance with a new “dual weave” grille design, but the GV70 Sport wears a two-tone design using dark chrome and black. The dual-line headlights flank the dual weave grille and utilize MLA technology to truly make the GV70 stand out from anything else on the road. The GV70 front bumper features a new skid plate trim that highlights the new expanded lower grille opening that match the larger air ducts to each side of it. New wheel designs are another highlight. The standard rollers will be a 19-inch split five-spoke with a narrow spoke splitting for the larger one to form the face of this new wheel. These are also finished off in Hyper Silver to match the silver and chrome body accents.
Out back, the GV70 will continue the two lines design in their combination stop-tail-turn lights. This design also replaces the turn signals that were once found on the bumper, though the rear reflectors are still found there. The GV70 will feature a rear spoiler while a new built-in camera will be a part of the line-shaped high-mount stop lamp.
GV70 Sport?
While our original reporting on the updated GV70 set to be released in Korea mentioned the Sport trim, it is, surprisingly, missing from the release materials from Genesis. Not to worry, though—the Korean luxury brand did have a 2026 GV70 Sport on display at a pre-Los-Angeles-auto-show reveal event, pictured here in dark gray. Inside this black and dark blue hued leather trim, the accents, stitching, and ambient lighting will have that Magma orange treatment that Genesis has begun using along with a D-shaped steering wheel. Outside, the dual weave grille features dark chrome and black coloring while the front bumper lower grilles and air ducts are expanded further and highlight the improved performance Genesis is promising in this trim. The rear bumper of the GV70 Sport will feature more dark chrome on its diffuser and muffler tips, which will be exclusive to the Sport package. Another exclusive will be a set of 21-inch wheels in a five-spoke design, but each spoke’s wing will feature two stripes engraved into it and match the two-line design found in Genesis’ new design language.
Prices should also be announced closer to its release in early 2025 but expect the 2026 GV70 to start around the $47,000 to $50,000 mark while the GV70 Sports will be closer to the $60,000 price range.
Having experience in many forms of the automotive industry, Justin Banner has done more than just write about cars. For more than 15 years, he's had experience working as an automotive service technician—including a stint as a Virginia State Inspector—service advisor, parts sales, and aftermarket parts technical advisor (a fancy way of saying he helped you on the phone when you had trouble fitting your brakes over your aftermarket wheels and the like). Prior to his tenure as a full-time editor, Justin worked as a freelance writer and photographer for various publications and as an automotive content creator on YouTube. He’s also covered multiple forms of motorsports ranging from Formula Drift, drag racing, and time attack, to NASCAR, short course off-roading, and open desert racing. He's best known for breaking down complex technical concepts so a layperson can more easily understand why technologies, repairs, and parts should matter to them. At MotorTrend, Justin is part of the news team covering breaking news and topics while also working as a judge for MotorTrend Of the Year events and other major comparison tests.
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