Does anyone here remember the original Infiniti FX35? Launched more than 20 years ago, it was a bold statement from Nissan’s luxury brand and was considered a radical new take on the SUV. A crossover before crossovers were even a thing, the original FX took the engine and rear-wheel drive platform from a G35/350Z, gave it a hatch and some ground clearance, and wrapped it in a shell that was clearly more car than truck. It was a tall luxury sports sedan with some added utility, and its success is directly responsible for the luxury vehicle market as we know it today.
There’s a popular phrase in the creative community: good artists borrow; great artists steal. And while modern-day Infiniti has lost its early-aughts mojo, Hyundai’s luxury arm, Genesis, is more than happy to put its own stamp on that FX formula. The Genesis GV70 you see here is the “tall wagon” version of the brand’s excellent G70 sports sedan, itself a Korean analog to something like BMW’s 3 Series. I—like everyone else—am a big fan of the G70, finding it to be one of those vehicles that just brings more joy the harder you flog it on the streets.
But I’m also a family man, and the joy of the G70 quickly fades when I hear the whine of a 6-year-old in the back seat complaining about the lack of legroom. The GV70, on the other hand, carries forward much of its sedan sibling’s driving DNA and packages it in a way that’s a lot more family-friendly. With its sporty character and practical utility, the Genesis GV70 is the modern-day successor to that old FX35. And I’m totally here for it.
A look like no other
While I’m generally an immediate fan of any design Genesis—or its sibling companies Hyundai and Kia—puts out these days, I’ll admit it took me some time to warm to the looks of the GV70. And if I’m honest, I’m not 100% sure I’m fully in love with its looks.
I’ve no issue with the front. That powerful, shield-shaped grille and split lighting is the current face of Genesis, and it all works here. This fascia sweeps back into a long hood that sets off the blistered fenders and strong character lines that give this crossover some serious sports sedan vibes. It’s that rear quarter window, though, where the GV70 loses me for a bit. Maybe I just watched Wayne’s World one too many times while growing up, but I can’t help but see a bit of AMC Pacer back here. I quickly forget about this as the rear end resolves things nicely, bookending the design with split taillamps and exhaust tips that have been integrated into the rear bumper.
So much room for activities
Hyundai’s luxury arm is very much a challenger in this premium space, with absolutely zero heritage and little brand equity. But step inside any Genesis vehicle and you’ll realize that Hyundai desperately wants to be a key player in this space, and it’s sparing no expense to realize this goal.
So it’s no surprise that the cabin of the GV70 looks, and more importantly feels premium. This is space filled with flowing lines, premium materials and thoughtful details. The boy racer in me is delighted by all the carbon-fiber-inspired interior trim accents. And the practical side of me loves the fact that the front passenger seat gets driver-facing slide and tilt controls—allowing me to further ensure that my kiddo in the back gets to enjoy plenty of room. Having 28.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat also keeps this Genesis feeling more family-friendly than the G70 sedan. That most of this crossover’s interior controls rely on physical buttons, dials and knobs—well, that’s just a bonus.
At the time of this writing, the GV70 still embraces a tactile sense of luxury while offering just enough tech to feel contemporary, without going overboard (*cough cough* Mercedes-Benz EQ *cough cough*). It’s got a fingerprint-as-key feature. Infotainment duties are managed through a 14.5-inch high-res screen that you can control though a nicely weighted, chunky dial. And wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard.
A quick look overseas, though, shows a new-new 2025 Genesis GV70 cabin that has gone all-in on tech, with its statement piece being a massive 27-inch-wide OLED display. While the US arm of Genesis has yet to issue an official statement, it’s generally assumed that this refreshed SUV will arrive here as a 2026 model.
Almost a sports sedan
As mentioned in the intro, the Genesis GV70 crossover is based on the G70 sports sedan, meaning all the key specs from the sleek four-door apply here too. So this specific model gets a 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine rated at 371 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque, a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission, and a rear-biased all-wheel drive system.
Simply by nature of it being a crossover, though, the GV70 doesn’t feel as lively as its sedan sibling. Acceleration isn’t as ferocious, turn-in isn’t as sharp, and its body leans a bit more in the corners. Is that a bad thing? Maybe if you’re chasing lap times at Laguna Seca. But this softer driving characteristic makes for a vehicle that is much more comfortable to live with day-to-day, whether you’re doing yet another school run or slogging through rush-hour traffic. But when you do find a free moment to yourself, with a wide-open twisty road, this Genesis still delivers the goods that will put a huge smile on your face.
As much as I used to rail against all things SUV back in the day, I’m now at a point where I’m genuinely glad vehicles like the Genesis GV70 exist. It gives just enough driving thrills to satisfy my inner boy racer, while still offering all the day-to-day practicality that fulfills my outer adult needs. And with all that luxury designed to pamper the driver (that’s me), this may very well be the perfect family car.
Justin Kaehler has been covering all things automotive for 20 years, and has been an active part of the car scene for much longer than that. Though he’s grown to love all cars, he’s still particularly fond of the ’80s and ’90s Japanese metal he grew up on. And for those of you who grew up playing The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift game for the PS2 and PSP, yes, he’s also that JDM Justin.