Lexus NX 450h+ Vs. Genesis GV70 3.5T – Korea Takes On Japan! – Redline: Comparison Test

The #LexusNX has been the best-selling compact luxury SUV in America and two years ago, #Lexus gave the latest NX the most comprehensive redesign in the brand’s 30+ year history. Around the same time, Hyundai’s luxury division introduced the first ever #GenesisGV70, an extremely well-rounded and luxurious rival that has enough style to wear a Bentley badge in its grille. The #GV70 is also a top seller and #Genesis has been keeping all its more legacy rivals on edge. Which one is actually the better buy?

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[theredline]

Happy Monday everyone! We hope you all had a great weekend and we're kicking off this week comparing two of the most popular compact luxury SUV's and it was a much closer race than you'd think! We also have a comparison video of the Lexus RX versus a BMW X5 and that video should post soon. Let us know below which of these two you would pick for yourself below!

[Forethought]

Two weeks ago, we tested the NX450h and the GV70 2.5 Sport Prestige back to back. They had almost identical horsepower (the NX had 4 more) and neither had adaptive suspension.

I didn't like the NX interior design ethos at all. It was a hodge-podge of incompatible shapes and textures, perhaps attractive to someone raised around transformer toys and movies, but not to me. Engine and suspension performance felt disconnected and hesitant. The suspension was so off that I asked the salesman during and after the drive if the tires were improperly inflated.

We drove the GV70 a few minutes later and the experience was like night and day. The well-integrated, tasteful interior displayed a unity of textures and trim, from the knurled metallic of the primary controls to the feature line stretching from the doors, curving over the digital dash display and through the integrated air vents. Driving the GV70 was a pleasure, too, after the discombobulated NX450 ride. Acceleration was smooth, quick and quiet. Body movement was extremely well-controlled with imperceptible road noise, something I did not expect from a vehicle with 21" wheels! Finally, the GV70 was about $8000 less expensive, comparatively equipped, than the Lexus.

We also did a quick around the block turn in the NX F-Sport and GV70 3.5. The F-Sport interior was less appealing than the standard and firming up the adaptive suspension just made the ride a bit less comfortable without noticeably improving handling. Setting the GV70 to Sport and Sport+ made very noticeable changes to suspension compliance, transmission mapping and steering effort. I didn't care for the steering effort changes but the suspension did appear to sharpen turn-in and dramatically reduce lean. The GV70's suspension is more sophisticated with predictive suspension adaption. However, I really didn't think the performance of either the 3.5 engine or suspension was worth the added cost.

I also don't find the GV70 seats too hard; I thought they were more supportive than the Lexus seats. But then, I really like hard, supportive seats!

Finally, I can't see how one can call the Lexus inforainment system more advanced. Was it simply due to the lack of wireless mirroring and the longer screen reach? The GV70 software was better designed with more attractive, higher resolution screen and more logical, more comprehensive functionality. BTW, the 2025 GV70 does support wireless mirroring and apparently it will be enabled via an upcoming OTA update for 2022 through 2024 models.

We pick up our White Pearl GV70 Sport Prestige with Seville Red/Black interior next week...

[naptownfizzle]

We looked at the NX350h and the GV70 2.5T. Waited months to try the hybrid but even though it was the logical pick for comfort and efficiency, the GV70 was sooo much more of a luxurious and sporty experience.

[hiroanz]

After owning NX 450h+ for the last 2 years, I've driven it 95% of the 30K miles in EV mode, and go to the gas station every 2 months to get 1/2 take of gas. Very happy with it so far.

[genesisg]

I'm a commuter. I currently own a 2019 Genesis G70 3.3T, which I purchased new April 2019.
Currently I have over 129k miles on it, no issues.
Because I spend alot of time in my vehicle, I want something fun to drive.
I'll take the fun to drive GENESIS over the better gas mileage Lexus.
I don't really care for front wheel drive vehicles.
More head to head !
Next Month, Genesis will have a stand alone dealership opening in my area. Ontario California!😊😊

[greg.anywhere]

What I think is cool is that the Genesis GV70 shares almost nothing with its Hyundai and Kia equivalents, the Tucson and Sportage. The GV70 rides on a Genesis-exclusive RWD platform, and it doesn't share any engines or transmissions with either of those cars. Those cars also don't offer adaptive dampers, or limited slip differentials, whereas the Genesis does, and the GV70 has standard AWD.

Lexus is very much an amazing, top-tier luxury brand, but I think Genesis does a much better job at differentiaiting their vehicles from their Hyundai and Kia equivalents when compared to Lexus and Toyota.

[masteryayi]

You should do more head to heads. This is very helpful.

[BobbyBass-xi]

I just ordered the 3.5T Advanced Prestige in Black and Ultramarine. The blue with the red stitching looks amazing. The looks and feel and driving experience with the Genesis at 70K is the best IMO. Yes you pay at the pump but that’s OK as long as it’s fueling a rocket and the 3.5T is a rocket. I also like the fact that it’s a car not everyone is driving. My neighborhood is all bmw, Lexus, audi, Mercedes and range rovers. When people see the car they always ask what is it and say it’s beautiful. I can’t wait. Be the 1st on your block to own a Genesis.

[InvestBetter.]

Lexus NX is the class sales leader, selling about 70k per year. Genesis is showing many makers how to do modern luxury under $75k. The Genesis is definitely much more luxurious, for the same money, but their problem is the brand strength, the sales network and their refusal to invest in a luxury brand.

They are just now building out a dedicated dealer network, and that alone has held down sales, as I have been in Hyundai dealers, asking about Genesis, and the salesmanship has been abysmal. Lexus didn't make that mistake. they built out over 100 dealers, fairly quickly in the early 90's. Hyundai refused to learn from that successful blueprint

[brandononbrand]

God bless Genesis for that Blue interior with Red accents!

[chrisdblue]

Damn it!!! I miss a good car comparison! Bring them

[NOFATCHICK]

The genesis gv70 is even more luxurious and impressive than the lexus RX after sitting in both of them at the L.A auto show last year I was blown away with the interior quality of the genesis

[steverg]

Genesis is my pick. Hate that Lexus grill.

[davesmith]

I have owned my 24 Gv70 2.5t for 6 months and absolutely love it. My longest trip so far included 600 miles in one day and I found the seats amazingly comfortable.

[MostlyTechRelated]

I have to say, I would have to choose Genesis over Lexus

[dleeshe]

I'd take the Genesis over the Lexus any day. Having been in both for my money, I'd rather the GV80. An Audi Q5e is a much better hybrid to me.

[TheMetalGaia]

More of these comparisons please! Thanks as always, Sofyan!

[Wellington_srt]

I think I would go for the Lexus. From a SUV I just expect comfort.

[funnyguy]

Two totally different vehicles despite the class similarity. Lexus chooses to target brand loyalty and Genesis targets luxury, progress, and fun factor. The naysayers are still going to pull from really 2000s mentalities when Hyundai/Genesis comes into question. Would really benefit from a crowd of people that aren't stuck in the past.

[ddj]

The ONLY Lexus model I'd buy over the Genesis equivalent is the new GX over the GV80...but those don't really compete. The equivalent (on paper) is the RX or TX and it's definitely Genesis for me over those. Genesis has built nicer looking and better feeling vehicles than the Lexus.