2022 Genesis GV70 Yearlong Review: From California to Texas and Back
More than 3,800 miles in two weeks.
Whenever I told people my brother and I were going to drive from Los Angeles to Houston for the holidays, everyone asked, "Are you crazy?" We've done that drive twice—once in a 2019 Volvo S60 and again in a 2021 Toyota Venza, both previous long-term vehicles I chaperoned. When our long-term 2022 Genesis GV70 arrived back in April, the question of driving to Texas for a third time crossed my mind, but I decided not to think about it until we got closer to winter. A few months later, my brother and I were on another cross-country road trip through the southwest.
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Scenic Way Over Direct Way
I much prefer taking the scenic route, even if it's a little longer. That's why we decided to avoid Interstate 10 and head south toward San Diego taking I-8 east, like we did in the Venza. The freeway goes over the Cleveland National Forest, before passing through the Glamis Dunes and bordering Mexico. The drive is breathtaking through some parts and makes the long drive more entertaining.
We stopped for gas and pit stops a couple of times, and Saguaro National Park outside of Tucson was a great place to stretch our legs. We only had about two hours before sunset, and a small dirt loop around the western part of the park had some easy hiking trails that circumnavigate the tallest cacti we've seen, some of which look like they're three stories tall.
Because the next day France and Argentina were facing off in what was arguably the most exciting World Cup final, we departed our hotel in Tucson late in the morning and decided to take the boring (but basically only) way to get to West Texas—the interminable I-10. I was thankful for Genesis' Highway Driving Assist II with automatic lane changing, which was almost flawless at high speeds and kept the GV70 centered in its lane. The automatic lane change capability could use a bit more refinement, though; it's slow and had a hard time sensing my hands on the wheel, but it got the job done. After about two hours of driving in the dark, we were thankful for the GV70's bright and wide-angle headlights, which illuminated the road brilliantly.
We spent the night in the small town of Monahans, Texas, and were on our way to San Antonio early the next morning. My cousin Manuel and his family were visiting San Antonio from Mexico City, and we stopped for lunch to meet up. He was impressed by the GV70's premium interior design and quality. My nieces, on the other hand, had fun seeing how our long-term SUV can move forward and backward with the smart key. Thanks, Smaht Pahk.
We got to Houston later that night after having covered more than 1,700 miles in three days. Although the weather in the Lone Star State was relatively calm, we got a mix of rain and snow while crossing New Mexico, where we experienced temperatures from the mid-30s to the mid-70s. We appreciated the seat warmers and heated steering wheel.
