Compare the2023 Toyota HighlanderVS 2023 Genesis GV80

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Highlander have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Genesis GV80 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The Highlander has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies 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.

Compared to metal, the Highlander’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Genesis GV80 has a metal gas tank.

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Genesis GV80:

	Highlander	GV80
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	292	328
Leg Forces (l/r)	321/243 lbs.	254/334 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	28.4%	34%
Neck Stress	179 lbs.	228 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	545/323 lbs.	388/497 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Genesis GV80:

	Highlander	GV80
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.3 inches	.5 inches
Abdominal Force	79 lbs.	101 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	152 lbs.	458 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Highlander its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GV80 has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

There are over 4 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Genesis dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Highlander’s warranty.

Reliability

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 Highlander’s reliability 33 points higher than the GV80.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Genesis vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Genesis is ranked 12th.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander gets better mileage than the GV80:

			MPG
Highlander
	FWD	2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy
GV80
	AWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/24 hwy
		3.5 turbo V6	18 city/23 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander uses regular unleaded gasoline. The GV80 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Highlander’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the GV80’s (37.4 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

Chassis

The Toyota Highlander may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 650 pounds less than the Genesis GV80.

Passenger Space

The Highlander has standard seating for 8 passengers; the GV80 can only carry up to 7.

The Highlander has 1 inch more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more rear headroom and 1.8 inches more third row headroom than the GV80.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Highlander	GV80
Behind Third Seat	16 cubic feet	11.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	48.4 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	34.9 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	84.3 cubic feet	84 cubic feet

Towing

Standard Trailer Sway Control (TSC) on the Highlander uses the Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The GV80 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

If the windows are left open on the Highlander the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the GV80 can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Highlander’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the GV80’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

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

Model Availability

The Highlander is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The GV80 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

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

The Toyota Highlander outsold the Genesis GV80 by almost 13 to one during 2022.