Compare the2025 Genesis GV70VS 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The GV70’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Genesis GV70 has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe’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 Santa Fe.

Both the GV70 and the Santa Fe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Genesis GV70 (built after November 2023) achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Santa Fe has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

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 Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis above average in initial quality. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is rated lower.

The GV70’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 109 more horsepower (300 vs. 191) and 130 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 181) than the Santa Fe’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The GV70’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 19 more horsepower (300 vs. 281) than the Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The GV70’s optional 3.5 turbo V6 produces 94 more horsepower (375 vs. 281) and 80 lbs.-ft. more torque (391 vs. 311) than the Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Genesis GV70 turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Hyundai Santa Fe 4 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the GV70 gets better mileage than the Santa Fe:

The GV70’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 Santa Fe doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The GV70’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Santa Fe are solid, not vented.

The GV70’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Santa Fe’s standard 60 series tires. The GV70 Sport Prestige’s tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Santa Fe Calligraphy’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GV70 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Santa Fe. The GV70 Sport Prestige’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Santa Fe Calligraphy.

The GV70 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Santa Fe’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GV70’s wheelbase is 4.3 inches longer than on the Santa Fe (113.2 inches vs. 108.9 inches).

The GV70 Advanced handles at .84 G’s, while the Santa Fe Calligraphy AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the GV70. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The GV70’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Santa Fe’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds).

The engine in the GV70 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Santa Fe. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The GV70’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Santa Fe’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

On a hot day the GV70’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Santa Fe can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The GV70 has a standard Proximity Key that 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. Only the Santa Fe SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy offers a Proximity Key.

The GV70’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Santa Fe SE/XRT/SEL’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The GV70’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Hyundai only offers heated mirrors on the Santa Fe SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy.

The GV70’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Santa Fe offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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 Santa Fe.

The GV70 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Santa Fe SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy.

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. Only the Santa Fe SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy offers wireless charging.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its December 2021 issue and they ranked the Genesis GV70 Sport Prestige first. They ranked the Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy AWD third.

The GV70 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 2023. The Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe has never been chosen.