We drive the Genesis G70 Sedan

In case you have not noticed it, Hyundai (and its Genesis luxury brand) have been making some best built cars in the world. The Genesis brand introduced the new G70 sedan last year and it is an excellent car that unfortunately many people will overlook. We did not overlook the G70 and instead enjoyed our time driving it.

G70 is the third of six new Genesis models to debut by 2021, and the final sedan of the lineup. As the smallest sedan in the lineup, the G70 is the friskiest and the most fun. The G70 is more about luxury than performance but it has the engineering to make it a great performer.

“The foundation for any kind of car that performs well dynamically is an incredibly rigid platform,” said Albert Biermann, President and Head of Vehicle Performance Division of Hyundai Motor Group. “That translates not only to performance, but how it feels down the road as well as safety achievement levels,” Biermann added.

The G70 has the lowest overall height and widest overall stance in the segment providing exceptional dynamic performance from the resulting low center of gravity. It also has a sleek 0.28 Cd, allowing G70 to slip through the air, burn less fuel and results in a quieter interior. The structure of the G70 is robust with lots of high strength steel, aerospace grade adhesives and strategic lightening with aluminum to create a great balance of stiffness, light weight and strength.

Under the hood of the G70, buyers have a choice of a 2.0 liter turbocharged four cylinder engine or a twin turbo 3.3 liter V6. Both engines come with an 8 speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels. An all-wheel drive system is available if you need it.

What is very rare is that the G70 with a 2.0 liter and rear-wheel drive is available with a six speed manual transmission. Our car had the V6 engine with rear-wheel drive and automatic transmission. The Lambda V6 has been around a long time and has received continuous improvements and has shown to be one of the most reliable engines in the world. In the G70 it puts out 365 hp and 376 lb. ft. of torque.

Behind the wheel, the twin turbo V6 is very quick and is able to 0-60 in 4.5 seconds. It is also very smooth and well-behaved. The transmission is well suited to the car but we still wish that you could get the manual transmission with the V6 engine. That would be a very fun car.

To reduce unsprung mass, G70 has MacPherson struts in front with an independent, multi-link rear suspension. Brembo high performance brake rotors and calipers are also available as is a mechanical limited slip differential.

There is an optional sport suspension if you want to make your G70 even more fun to drive. The G70 can’t yet be called a sports sedan but it drives very well and is fun to drive as long as you don’t push very hard. Once you start pushing, you will realize that the suspension is more calibrated for luxury than sport.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing because as a luxury car, the G70 rules. The interior of the G70 is full of every feature you will ever need and the feel of the materials is first rate. G70 comes standard with a 7-inch color LCD multi-information display located between the speedometer and tachometer, and a floating, 8-inch, wide-view display audio touchscreen is positioned atop the center stack.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are both standard as are Sirius/XM Satellite Radio and HD Radio. An integrated navigation system and Qi wireless charging are optional, as is a heads-up display and surround-view camera system for easy parking.

A highlight of the interior of G70 is its available, 15-speaker, 660-watt Lexicon audio system. With QuantumLogic multi-dimensional sound and Clari-Fi music restoration technology, G70 is transformed into a mobile concert venue which is great for long trips.

When you get inside the G70, the look and feel is close to a $200,000 Bentley but when you have to write the check, the price will floor you, in a good way. The base car with a 2.0 liter turbo engine starts out at just $36,000.

Our favorite model with the manual transmission will cost you $38,600. The V6 G70 is a lot more expensive at $46,200 but it is still a great deal. Keep in mind that unlike the European competitors, Genesis does not nickel and dime you to death.

Everything is pretty much included so you don’t have to pay extra for a certain color or to have Bluetooth or a better stereo. So simple and honest. Love it.

The G70 has the goods to be a fantastic sports sedan. It is better in many ways than the leaders in that segment and it is better built and more reliable. But it still does not have the name which hurts it.

It is a bargain though and if you are a confident person who doesn’t need to impress his friends, the G70 is a great choice that will impress the most important person, you.

2020 Genesis G70 Specs

2.0T: $36,445

2.0T Sport: $39,495

3.3T: $45,645

Exterior

• Body

• Body Style: Sedan

• Dimensions

• Wheelbase (in.): 111.6
• Length, Overall (in.): 184.4
• Width, Max w/o mirrors (in.): 72.8
• Height, Overall (in.): 55.1

• Doors & Windows

• Rear Defrost
• Power Windows

• Exterior Features

• Sun/Moon Roof
• Sun/Moonroof
• Rear Spoiler

• Measurements

• Base Curb Weight (lbs.): 3887

• Tires & Wheels

• Tires – Front Performance
• Tires – Rear Performance
• Compact Spare Tire
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Aluminum Wheels (Optional)
• Wheel Locks (Optional)

Interior

• Convenience & Comfort

• Alarm
• Back-Up Camera (Optional)
• Cruise Control
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Heads-Up Display (Optional)
• Vehicle Anti-Theft System
• Auto-Off Headlights
• Keyless Start
• Rear Parking Aid (Optional)
• Hands-Free Liftgate
• Remote Engine Start
• Adjustable Steering Wheel
• Steering Wheel Controls
• Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel
• Heated Steering Wheel (Optional)
• Trip Computer
• Remote Trunk Release
• Universal Garage Door Opener
• Intermittent Wipers (Optional)
• Rain Sensing Wipers (Optional)
• Variable Speed Intermittent Wipers (Optional)
• Keyless Entry
• Power Door Locks
• Electrochromic rearview mirror
• Heated Mirrors
• Mirror Memory
• Power Mirrors
• Power Folding Mirrors
• Driver Vanity Mirror
• Driver Illuminated Vanity Mirror
• Passenger Vanity Mirror
• Passenger Illuminated Visor Mirror
• Power Steering

• Dimensions

• Passenger Capacity: 5
• Passenger Volume (cu. ft.): 93.8
• Front Head Room (in.): 38.5
• Front Leg Room (in.): 42.6
• Front Shoulder Room (in.): 56.3
• Second Head Room (in.): 36.9
• Second Leg Room (in.): 34.8
• Second Shoulder Room (in.): 54.6
• Trunk Volume (cu. ft.): 10.5

• Entertainment

• AM/FM Stereo
• Auxiliary Audio Input
• HD Radio
• MP3 Player
• Satellite Radio
• Premium Sound System
• Smart Device Integration
• Apple CarPlay
• Android Auto

• Heating & Cooling

• Climate Control
• Dual Zone A/C
• A/C

• Navigation & Communication

• Navigation System
• Onboard Hands-Free Communications System
• Wireless Cell Phone Hookup

• Seats

• Leather Seats (Optional)
• Cooled Driver Seat (Optional)
• Heated Front Seats (Optional)
• Heated Rear Seat (Optional)
• Driver Lumbar
• Passenger Lumbar
• Seat Memory
• Power Driver Seat
• Power Passenger Seat
• Pass-Through Rear Seat
• 2nd Row Bench Seat
• Bucket Seats

Mechanical

• Engine & Performance

• Locking Rear Differential
• All Wheel Drive
• V6 Cylinder Engine
• Turbocharged
• Engine Type: Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded V-6
• Displacement: 3.3 L/204
• Horsepower (Net @ RPM): 365 @ 6000
• Torque (Net @ RPM): 376 @ 1300
• Transmission: Automatic w/OD
• Turning diameter: 37.4

• Fuel

• Gasoline Fuel
• EPA Fuel Economy Est – City (MPG): 17
• EPA Fuel Economy Est – Hwy (MPG): 25
• Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal.): 15.8

• Suspension

• Active Suspension System (Optional)
• Air Suspension (Optional)
• Suspension Type – Front: Strut
• Suspension Type – Rear: Multi-Link
• Suspension Type – Front (Cont.): Strut
• Suspension Type – Rear (Cont.): Multi-Link

• Transmission

• Automatic
• Automatic Transmission w/Manual Mode
• 8-Speed Automatic

Safety

• Airbags

• Driver Air Bag
• Passenger Air Bag
• Front Head Air Bag
• Rear Head Air Bag
• Front Side Air Bag

• Brakes

• 4-Wheel ABS
• 4-Wheel Disc Brakes

• Safety Features

• Brake Assist
• Electronic Stability Control
• Daytime Running Lights
• Child Safety Locks
• Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors
• Traction Control
• Blind Spot Monitor
• Auto-Leveling Headlights
• Lane Departure Warning
• Lane Keeping Assist
• Cross-Traffic Alert