2020 Genesis G70

The G70 belongs to a crowded segment wherein almost every manufacturer has thrown a contender into the game. The closest rival posing threat to the G70's sales is its own sister- The Kia Stinger. It also intends to take on the likes of BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, and Lexus which are the most established marquees in this segment. For this comparison, the G70 takes on the Kia Stinger, Lexus IS 300 and the Jaguar XE.

Genesis has not shied away from providing us with the latest features in G70. A host of active safety features and driving aids come as standard. They also provide a lot of optional features to tune the vehicle according to your wish. Genesis G70 takes on the likes of BMW 330i, Lexus IS 300 and Volvo S60.

The Genesis G70 essentially comes with two engine options, two gearboxes, and rear-wheel or all-wheel-drive variants. This configuration is spread across several trim levels. For starters, the 2.0L, inline-4 mill comes mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. This powertrain can be had with either of the two, rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive variants. You can also opt for the 2.0L engine with a 6-speed manual gearbox with either of them.

The rare manual transmission variant is priced at $38500 and a more powerful 3.3T trim is available at $44650 with a 3.3L Twin-turbocharged V6 engine under the hood. All the trims are filled with top of the features with a quirky one to make things interesting. An Intelligent Drive mode automatically detects your nature of driving and tunes the working of the engine, realtime to adapt efficiently.

Genesis has offered a long list of added packages which can be opted with the vehicle. These packages further sweeten the whole experience. There are two sets of dedicated add-on packages for both the 2.0L and 3.3L engines. All the added benefits are listed below.

Which trim should you go for?

There is no particular trim that fits in completely and so Genesis has offered us the option to choose between trims, keeping the driving experience and features in mind. 

If you are on a tight budget and want to experience an enhanced driving experience with luxury as the topmost priority, then the 2.0T trim with the 2.0T Prestige package which oomphs up the luxury factor of the luxury sedan that puts many top contenders to shame. The whole package will cost you under $45000 including destination charges.

But, if you want to have a spirited driving experience while being cocooned in leather upholstery, then the 3.3T would make your perfect sidekick. The turbocharged V6 engine is a blast to drive around and the all-wheel-drive variant will do more justice to the added power. So, for $ 46650, you get a more bonkers car with the optional luxury features as standard. Performance Brembo brakes and tuned suspension are added perks for this trim. Genesis has got you covered with numerous options for the perfect car.

The G70 is powered by a 2.0L, inline-4 cylinder turbocharged motor producing 252 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. The engine is really smooth and power is distributed evenly across the rev range. Put your foot down in any gear, at any rpm and the car is always ready to pick its pace. There is negligible turbo lag and for most parts, it’s a powerful and refined motor delivering power linearly and smoothly across the band. If you think that the 2.0L mill is crazy, come to the upper trims and your perceptions will change. With a 3.3L, V6 powerhouse (shown below), the G70's upper trims churn out 365 hp of power and throw a massive 376 ft-lbs of force on the crank. While the former was fast, this one is just insane.

Both the engines come mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox as standard, or you can also opt for the 6-speed manual. We believe, the automatic is a better choice over the manual, as the latter has unnecessarily long throws and isn’t quite as refined as the former. The clutch pedal, however, is quite good. The automatic changes gear seamlessly, and when you plant your foot down, it never hesitates to drop a gear or two to help you make that overtake.

All the competitors are in the same bandwidth with slight variants among them. The bimmer manages to top the list with an additional 3hp and 35 lb-ft of torque. Gneiss comes in second by a hairline difference. Lexus IS 300 is the least powerful of the lot.

How quick is it, off the line?

The G70 (2.0) accelerates to 60 mph in just 6.2 seconds which is pretty fast for a luxury sports sedan. It breaches the quarter-mile mark in 14.6 seconds, which too, is pretty fast. In fact, the 60 mph sprint and the quarter-mile run are the fastest in the competition, stacking up head-to-head with the Kia Stinger, which is no surprise. The "other" G70 (3.3T, AWD) breaches the 60 mph mark in just 4.8 seconds and further goes on to clear the quarter-mile mark in a staggering 13.3 seconds.

There will also be a slight variation in the rear wheel and all-wheel-drive variants. The impressive timing is courtesy of the closely packed 8-Speed Automatic transmission system. It close ratio and automatic transmission helps to drastically decrease shifting time, thus improving acceleration.

The bimmer excels in acceleration because of the oomph in power. But when it comes to the quarter-mile timing, the G70 surpasses it due to the closely stacked gears. Lexus IS 300 and Volvo S60 have similar figures as the torque produced by both is the same. The difference in power is neutralized by the weight difference. 

How does the luxury sedan handle?

The G70 is essentially a luxury car meant to take on the likes of BMW and Mercedes. If it intends to beat any of them, it has to ride well and to our pleasure and it does. The 2020 G70 has a balanced driving character that doesn’t dull out under pressure. The suspension setup is bang in between which is enough to go over uneven surfaces without feeling a thing and to have a spirited drive as well. There are several driving modes – comfort, sport, etc – which adjusts the suspension as required. You can also opt for the optional adaptive suspension which optimizes the dynamics of the vehicle even more. The steering is quick and precise. It weighs up adequately at higher speeds and communicates grip levels from the front wheels. At lower speeds, the steering is light which makes it easy to manoeuvre in the city. It’s a very well balanced car; it is sporty, yet is sumptuously comfortable.

There is minimal body roll at corners and you will feel confident enough to take it with much speed. The top V6 powered trim gets the added benefit of adaptive dampers which gives freedom of active adaptation according to driving needs. The driver can control all this with the flick of a button. The steering is precise and easy to master and the various driving modes help give you varying driving experiences in the same car.

How well does it brake?

The braking department of the G70 is taken care of by the Brembos and believe us, they are fairly capable too. The pedal feedback is numb initially, but then there is progressive bite and the car is brought to a stop quite effectively. It holds itself well and remains stable under hard braking. The pedals communicate effectively after the initial delay and inspire confidence.

The brake pedal is also responsive with no pseudo effect. The brakes come into effect as soon as the pedal is depressed. There is no lag and you can easily judge situations. The 3.3 trim gets an extra bite with performance Brembo brakes that takes care of the extra horses.

Genesis comes equipped with the smallest brake rotors of the lot. But that doesn’t decrease the efficiency of the brakes. Clever use of materials helps it extract the most from the setup. Volvo has the largest setup from the lot. All of the contenders are equipped with all-around ABS with added brake aid systems to help you in case of extreme situations.

Genesis G70 is offered in two powertrains with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive option. This makes it give varying EPA values. The 2.0T trims give more miles to the gallon than the V6. The V6 powered 3.3T trim gives 17 miles to the gallon in cities and 25 on highways.

In real-world situations, both trims are expected to give nearby values without much deviation. The automatic transmission helps extract more MPG as it is more efficient than a manual. 

BMW 330i surprised us with its impressive efficiency numbers which is more than the G70 in spite of having more power. This is mostly because of how the power and torque is distributed in the rev band. Lexus IS 300 is the least efficient with just a combined 24 miles to a gallon.

The interiors of the G70 have been very tastefully designed. It really exudes luxury like you wouldn’t expect from such a new brand. The layout is much like we have seen in other Hyundai or Kia cars and it looks pretty good. What’s impressive is the build quality and the materials used. Almost all the places you touch are soft-touch materials. The dashboard is well laid out with the console tilted towards the driver. The upholstery is of finest leather which gives it an upmarket feel. The climate controls have a unique design and the diamond stitching on the seats and door panels feel like you are in a Bentley.

Genesis forbids the use of fake carbon fibre parts and thus creates a more genuine experience. The front seats are well padded with ample body support and comfort for long rides. The rear seats don’t reciprocate similarly. The limited legroom at the rear makes it cramped. There is limited storage space in the cabin as door pockets are small. We think that Genesis could have done a better job of organizing the centre cluster.

The front row is, all in all, a comfortable place to be in with luxury oozing out. This is the case with all the contenders. But the bimmer and Volvo manage to chuck out more second-row room. These two are the most comfortable and spacious of the lot.

Interior Features

• 12-Way power-adjustable Driver seat
• 4-Way power lumbar seats
• 8-Way Power Passenger Seat
• 60/40 Folding rear bench seats
• Manual Tilt/Telescopic Steering
• Leather upholstery
•  Remote Keyless entry
• Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control
• Day/Night Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror

What are the various infotainment features?

The infotainment system in the G70 is sure to remind you of the one found in Hyundai vehicles. The floating 8-inch touch screen unit is pretty easy to use and is also fairly intuitive. It comes with navigation as standard and also provides smartphone integration through Apple Car Play and Android Auto. 

But it feels cheap as its borrowed from cheaper Hyundai models. The animation is cartoonish and the response is low for a luxury sedan. It has a complicated interface that gets tough to use at times. The floating 8-inch touch screen unit takes care of all the input data. 

Infotainment Features

• 8-inch Infotainment System
• 6-Speaker Set including Subwoofer
• Android Auto
• Apple CarPlay
• 6-Channel Internal Amplifier
• Genesis Connected Services telematics
• SiriusXM

How much cargo can it carry?

Cargo space is at most satisfactory with 10.5 cubic feet. It has the least cargo space of the lot. The tailgate is positioned higher and the opening is narrow. You might feel loading and unloading cumbersome.

The interior also speaks a similar story with very small door pockets. The centre console alone has a tray that can be used to store smartphones at most.

BMW 330i has the largest cargo space due to the clever use of space and a low cargo floor. The Volvo comes in second but we expected more from it, as it had the largest dimensions. Lexus IS 300 and Genesis G70 have similar cargo volume.

Genesis G 70's a fresh design although you can see traces of other cars in a lot of areas like the rear tail lamps look like that of the C-class, the front bumper looks like the one on the Kia Stinger and at the sides, the lines remind you of the Alfa Romeo Guilia. At the front, the bumper has sharp cuts and creases to make a rather complex bumper that houses the LED fog lamps. The headlamps are LED units too and large hexagonal grille dominates the front fascia.

At the sides, two-character lines run down the length of the car and there is also a fake front fender vent to give it that Alfa Romeo Guilia look. At the rear, it’s neat and tidy with the C-class looking LED tail lamps, a mild diffuser, bulging boot lid, and dual chrome exhaust tips. The entire car features beautiful bulges, cuts, and creases to carve out a very beautiful looking car. It’s certainly one of the most contemporary-looking sedans in the segment.

The front fascia is most notable and it makes G70’s presence felt instantly. If analyzed, you would even find the design elements from many of its competitors. Moreover, deep down it’s a Hyundai that has evolved to give a more luxurious experience. It is unlike any other luxury sedan in the market and that is what differentiates it from the rest.

Volvo is the elephant in the house with the heaviest structure. It is also the longest with 187.4 feet in length. The bimmer follows next which is the costliest of the lot. Lexus and Genesis tie in with similar numbers.

Exterior Features

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Bold Hexagonal Grille
• LED HEadlamps and Fog Lamps
• Dual chrome exhaust tips
• Angular front bumper
• Tinted glass
• LED Brakelights
• Lip Spoiler

Safety features are loaded in the G70 with various driver-assist and passive safety features available as standard. It is well built and has good structural integrity because of which it should bag a Top Safety Pick + by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety just like last year. The various standard features which it boasts include adaptive cruise control, Stop and Go feature and forward collision warning with pedestrian alert.

Safety Features

• Electronic Stability Control
• Driveline Traction Control
• Side Impact Beams
• Genesis Connected Services Emergency SOS
• Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
• Low Tire Pressure Warning System
• Back up Camera
• Forward Collision Mitigation System
• Blind Spot Detection System

Genesis G70 vs Lexus IS 300

Lexus’s offering is not as potent when it comes to luxury. It is much costlier than the Genesis and offers fewer features on board. The power produced is also inferior and handling is lacklustre. The V6 offered in the IS 300 is also not exhilarating as the power produced is uneven and is not optimized for fuel-efficiency. The interior is well built but doesn’t provide you with the luxury options available in the Genesis.

 The infotainment system is also tiring to use. Taking all these factors into consideration, Genesis has pulled off a pretty impressive feat by providing us with a car that can be luxurious and practical at the same time. It is our choice for sure.

Genesis G70 vs Volvo S60

Volvo is a very prominent automaker that has always strived to build the safest cars. The S60 is no exception. Apart from safety, the S60 excels in performance and luxury as well. It has the largest cabin space of the lot and thus provides a comfortable and cosy experience. The quality of materials used is top-notch and has several driving aids. 

When compared to the G70, Volvo S60 provides a more elevated driving and travelling experience. The cabin feels more premium and the power band is much more linear which makes it more fuel-efficient. The rear seats are one of the best in this segment. Volvo S60 is our choice of the two as it provides all of what is offered in the Genesis and much more!

Genesis G70 vs BMW 330i

The German in this list is more like the arc rival of the G70. For a premium of $5000, BMW 330i provides a compilation of impeccable German engineering coupled with perfectly balanced driving experience. It produces marginally more power than the Korean and treats us with a more spacious cabin. If cost is not your primary priority as the complete bimmer is worth the extra pounds.

The Genesis G70 is an extremely well-rounded car that checks all the right boxes for its utility. It’s gorgeous to look at, has well-appointed interiors and performs quite well. It’s adequately sporty and is still very comfortable and fulfils that luxury quotient quite well. It has a dual personality, which allows it to be driven smoothly and also ready to be hooned at will. It is impressive to see such a young car, give the segment leaders a run for their money. The value for money proposition is what makes the Genesis G70 such a desirable machine.