Compare the2022 BMW X7VS 2021 Genesis GV80

The X7’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The GV80 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the middle seat shoulder belts of the BMW X7 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Genesis GV80 doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

The BMW X7 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The GV80 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The X7 has standard Post-Crash Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The GV80 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the X7. But it costs extra on the GV80.

Both the X7 and the GV80 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The X7’s corrosion warranty is 5 years longer than the GV80’s (12 vs. 7 years).

The battery on the X7 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the X7’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The GV80’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the X7’s reliability 16 points higher than the GV80.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X7 third among large premium suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The GV80 isn’t in the top three in its category.

The X7 has more powerful engines than the GV80:

As tested in Motor Trend the X7 xDrive40i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Genesis GV80:

On the EPA test cycle the X7 xDrive40i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder Hybrid gets better fuel mileage than the GV80 3.5 turbo V6 AWD (19 city/24 hwy vs. 18 city/23 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the X7’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The GV80 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The X7’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The GV80 doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the X7 M Sport’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the GV80:

The X7 stops shorter than the GV80:

For better traction, the X7 has larger standard tires than the GV80 (F:275/40R22 & R:315/35R22 vs. 265/40R22). The Alpina XB7’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GV80 (F:285/35R23 & R:325/30R23 vs. 265/40R22).

The X7’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GV80’s standard 55 series tires. The Alpina XB7’s optional 285/35R23 front and 325/30R23 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the GV80’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X7 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the GV80. The Alpina XB7’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels optional on the GV80.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the X7 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The GV80 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The X7 Alpina has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The GV80 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the X7 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the GV80, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The Alpina XB7 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Genesis doesn’t offer an active suspension on the GV80.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X7’s wheelbase is 5.9 inches longer than on the GV80 (122.2 inches vs. 116.3 inches).

The X7 xDrive40i handles at .86 G’s, while the GV80 Standard AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The X7 xDrive40i executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the GV80 Standard AWD (26.3 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X7 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GV80 (8.7 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the X7 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the X7 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The GV80 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The X7 has 1.7 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, 2.3 inches more third row headroom and 3 inches more third row legroom than the GV80.

The X7’s cargo area provides more volume than the GV80.

The X7’s cargo area is larger than the GV80’s in almost every dimension:

The X7’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The GV80’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Maximum trailer towing in the Genesis GV80 is limited to 6000 pounds. The X7 offers up to a 7500 lbs. towing capacity.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Genesis. J.D. Power ranks BMW 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 2% lower rating, Genesis is ranked 9th.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the GV80, the X7 offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

If the windows are left open on the X7 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the GV80 can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

Consumer Reports rated the X7’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the GV80’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the X7 has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The GV80 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The X7 has standard heated front and optional heated second and third row seats, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Genesis doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the GV80.

The X7 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the GV80.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW X7, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Genesis GV80 isn't recommended.