Genesis GV70 vs Mercedes-Benz G-Class: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Genesis GV70 burns about $800 of fuel annually against $1,200 for the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. That $400 yearly gap compounds to roughly $2,000 over five years and $3,200 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City and highway economy: the Genesis GV70 leads in both cycles — 103 mpg city and 88 mpg highway against 68 and 56 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.

Powertrain choice: the Genesis GV70 is recorded with 4 distinct engine configurations (SIDI & PFI, 5 mode, with Sport Mode), the Mercedes-Benz G-Class with 4 (SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI, 4.0). Across 22 recorded Genesis GV70 configurations and 34 for the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the Genesis GV70 is offered with All-Wheel Drive, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class with 4-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Genesis GV70 emits 368 g/mile of CO2 versus 490 g/mile for the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.