 | Positives: Excellent driving dynamics, some of the best steering and handling in the class, easy infotainment tech, powerful engine turbocharged V6, all-wheel drive traction, sublime interior, remarkably well built. |
 | Negatives: Some questionable styling elements, tight rear quarters, small-ish trunk. |
 | Bottom Line: There's not much to dislike about Genesis's first real sports sedan. The G70 in 3.3T trim is quick, smooth, and beautiful inside. It's the best all-around sports sedan in the segment. |
Driving Experience
If you think sports sedans have to be from Germany or Japan, you're wrong. In fact, the G70 is the best sports sedan we've driven at this price, and it's better than BMW, Audi, Mercedes, and Lexus. The G70 is always fun to drive and doesn't give up anything to keep its luxury slot in the segment.
Ride Quality: The G70 handles road imperfections like a champ but still maintains its sporting character that doesn't isolate you from the outside environment.
Acceleration: The 3.3-liter turbo V6 delivers the right amount of horsepower, and the 8-speed automatic manages downshifts quickly, especially in Sport mode. 60 mph comes in 4.5 seconds. That's about 0.3 seconds slower than the BMW M340i, but the G70 costs about $10k less.
Braking: The powerful Brembos bring the G70 to a stop quickly, and the pedal feel is very good.
Steering: The rack-mounted electrically-assisted steering is one of the best in the segment, certainly better than the 3-Series and on par with the A4. Turn in is near immediate, and precision is top-notch.
Handling: The G70 has minimal body roll, and it's all very manageable. It feels balanced and agile.
Technology
Genesis is just like Hyundai when it comes to infotainment and in-car tech. Everything looks and works incredibly well. Apple CarPlay/Android Auto are standard.
Infotainment System: The 8" screen is pretty standard in terms of size, but the G70 is great when it comes to an easy-to-use system. We would've like to have seen nicer graphics that befit a luxury vehicle, though, to make it look more upscale.
Controls: Genesis controls are all well laid-out, with buttons in linear, crisp format and with some of the best climate control knobs in the business. Steering wheel controls are similarly excellent.
Styling
Although there are some issues with styling details (the V-shaped faux vent on the front fender and the somewhat nondescript front fascia), the G70 is a handsome car that doesn't look derivative. It's more distinct than the Audi A4 and not nearly as overstyled as the BMW 3-Series. The preview of the 2022 redesign that matches the new G80 should improve the G70's looks significantly.
Front: The creased hood and the curvature of the front end give it muscularity. We just wish the big mesh grille and the long tapered headlights were a bit more original.
Rear: The taillights and rear end are a bit generic, but it looks good from the rear three-quarter view. There's a lot of empty space in the vertical trunk surface, but the oval pipes and the mesh rear valence help balance things out.
Profile: We like the proportions and the big body crease. The wheels are gorgeous, too. We wish we could get rid of the chrome front fender vent and the chrome window surround, but that's likely the result of targeting the premium crowd.
Cabin: The cabin, especially with the diamond-quilted leather seats, is one of the best we've experienced. Materials and build quality are solid, but there are some small plastic bits showing.
Comfort
There's plenty to love about the interior of the G70. Seats are well done, and the ergonomics are some of the best in the industry. We just wish there was a smidge more back seat leg room.
Front Seats: These are some very good seats for lovers of driving and luxury. They have solid support, cushioning, and great adjustability. The quilted Nappa leather is supple and better than the Germans.
Rear Seats: The back seats are tight with 34.8 inches of legroom, smaller than the BMW 3-Series but bigger than the Lexus IS.
NVH (noise/vibration/harshness): It's quiet and well-built. We didn't hear anything we weren't supposed to.
Visibility: Visibility all around is quite good, especially with the sloped hoodline and a great seating position.
Climate: The climate system works very well, as do the heated and ventilated seats. The vents move ample amounts of air, too.
Safety
The G70 wasn't tested in 2020, but its 2019 safety tests still apply and are superb. It's easily one of the safest sedans out there with plenty of standard safety features that put it at the top of the heap.
IIHS Rating: The G70 earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating thanks to "good" for all crash tests, "superior" for accident avoidance tech, and "marginal" in LATCH ease-of-use, it's only demerit.
NHTSA Rating: The G70 earned the top score of five stars from the federal government.
Standard Tech: The G70 comes with Forward Collision Avoidance Assistance with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning, a Rearview Camera, and High Beam Assist
Optional Tech: Options on our tester included low beam assist, rain sensing wipers, a head-up display, Parking Distance Warning, and a Surround View Monitor.
Storage/Cargo
Storage room and cargo space are not the G70's strong suits, but it's enough to get a passing grade. Not many sports sedans nail these categories, and the G70 lands somewhere in the middle.
Storage Space: There's a cubby under the center stack and twin cupholders that are easily accessible for the driver and front passenger. The door pockets and armrest are medium sized but capable of handling daily gear.
Cargo Room: The trunk has 10.5 cubic feet. That's smaller than both the Jaguar XE and the Audi A4 by a couple of cubes.
Fuel Economy
The G70 isn't a miser when it comes to fuel, but we don't expect it to be with its twin-turbo V6. We drove it mostly in sport mode, which made it even less efficient than normal driving would be.
Observed: 17.2 mpg
Distance Driven: 78 miles
Audio
The Lexicon 15-Speaker Audio system with Quantum Logic Surround Sound just so happens to be standard, and it's phenomenal. Dial it up, and there's no distortion, ample bass, and excellent clarity.
