At most new car dealers these days, it’s all about utility vehicles. So, Hyundai’s Genesis is now adding SUV number two to their lineup, the 2022 GV70. Given seemingly insatiable demand for luxury SUVs, it does look like perfect timing for this fresh mid-size offering.

After spending quality time behind the wheel, we judge the GV70 to be agile enough for most urban duties, while also being an excellent vehicle for long highway hauls. It’s not only very cushy and comfortable, but it feels much bigger than it is.

But, it is not all just about posh, as the GV70 is built upon the Genesis G70 sport sedan’s foundation, so it’s rear-drive based and fairly athletic.  There’s a decided sporty feel with a firm compliant suspension and great bump absorption. We found our all-wheel drive tester’s overall balance to be excellent throughout our handling tests, as the adaptive suspension has a very progressive nature, going from soft to firm settings quickly and seamlessly. Our only wish would be for more road feel through the weighty steering.

Our test GV70 came equipped with the standard 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, which makes a nice even 300-horsepower. A 375–horsepower 3.5-liter V6 turbo is also available.

But, you probably won’t need it since the 2.5 feels plenty powerful and quite responsive. It sounds raspy and aggressive too. That is something we welcomed, but could possibly turn off those that are in it just for the luxury experience.

When the GV70 finally gets to stand still, it’s all about elegance. It sports the same crest grille as the rest of the Genesis lineup. While huge, we found it quite pleasing. The overall shape is fairly traditional, and the finish is muted, rather than overly flashy. We really do love the styling as proportions, and the exaggerated rear fenders, all give the GV70 a more athletic presence than most in the segment.

Not to worry, Genesis did not cheapen out when it came to the interior. The look is quite beautiful and is well-trimmed.  We also found fit and finish to be first rate, and the overall ambiance of our Advanced Packaged test car is very upscale.

The slim air vents and chrome trim pieces portray an aero-inspired design theme. Infotainment with standard navigation is displayed on a beautiful 14.5-inch HD screen.  However, the console mounted controller is difficult to be precise with at times.

Rear seat legroom is adequate, and there’s even a decent amount of cargo space with a wide opening and low lift-over height for high practicality, all behind a standard hands-free power lift-gate.

Safety and technology features go hand-in-hand on modern vehicles and the GV70 has scores of both. That includes Highway Driving Assistant II which not only maintains a following distance, but change lanes for you when you activate a turn signal.

For our complete road test of the all-new Genesis GV70, be sure to catch MotorWeek episode #4124 that begins airing on PBS February 18, 2022. For a listing of the PBS public television stations that broadcast MotorWeek, go to motorweek.org and click the “About the Show” tab at the top. You can also watch weekly episodes of MotorWeek on our cable partner MAVTV with new episodes airing each Saturday at 7:30 PM. Check their entire schedule at MAVTV.com. MotorWeek can also be streamed in its entirety on PBS.org/MotorWeek, as well as on PBS Living, a part of Amazon Prime Video. Road test videos are also available at motorweek.org and on youtube.com/motorweek.

Genesis is slowly but surely expanding their lineup and their brand profile, while continuing to offer more value than most established rivals. The 2022 GV70 is luxurious, stylish, and even a little sporty. It’s also likely to be a big hit for Genesis.