Compare the2024 Genesis GV70VS 2024 BMW X3

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Genesis GV70 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 BMW X3 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the GV70 and X3 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The GV70 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The X3’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the GV70 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The GV70 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The X3 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the GV70 deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The GV70’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The X3’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the GV70. But it costs extra on the X3.

Both the GV70 and X3 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the GV70 has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The X3’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the GV70 and the X3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front 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 GV70 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes free 24-hour roadside assistance. The X3’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Genesis’ powertrain warranty covers the GV70 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the X3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis above average in initial quality. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 15th.

The GV70’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 52 more horsepower (300 vs. 248) and 53 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 258) than the X3 s/xDrive30i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The GV70’s optional 3.5 turbo V6 produces 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (391 vs. 369) than the X3 M40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Genesis GV70 turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the X3 s/xDrive30i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the GV70 gets better mileage than the X3:

For better stopping power the GV70’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the X3:

The GV70 stops shorter than the X3:

For better traction, the GV70 Sport’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X3 (255/40R21 vs. 245/45R20).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the GV70 is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X3.

The GV70 Advanced handles at .84 G’s, while the X3 xDrive30i pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The GV70 Sport Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the X3 xDrive30i (26.4 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the GV70’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the X3’s (37.7 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

The design of the Genesis GV70 amounts to more than styling. The GV70 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .32 Cd. That is lower than the X3 (.32 to .35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the GV70 get better fuel mileage.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the GV70 Advanced is quieter than the X3 M40i xDrive:

The GV70 has 2.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X3 (104 vs. 101.4).

The GV70 has 1 inch more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, .8 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the X3.

The front step up height for the GV70 is 1 inches lower than the X3 (17.5” vs. 18.5”). The GV70’s rear step up height is 1.2 inches lower than the X3’s (17.3” vs. 18.5”).

The GV70’s cargo area is larger than the X3’s in almost every dimension:

The GV70 Select/Advanced/Sport/3.5T’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The GV70’s standard Proximity Key allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Comfort Go standard on the X3 only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the GV70 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X3 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the GV70’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the X3’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The GV70 Sport Prestige/3.5T has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the X3.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Genesis GV70 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the X3.

The GV70 Advanced/Sport/3.5T has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The X3 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The GV70 Sport Advanced/Sport Prestige’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The X3’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its May 2022 issue and the Genesis GV70 Sport Prestige won out over the BMW X3 M40i xDrive.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GV70 third among compact premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The X3 isn’t in the top three.

The GV70 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 2023. The X3 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the GV70 as their 2022 Sport Utility of the Year. The X3 has never been chosen.