2020 Genesis G70 Road Test and Review

There are two types of luxury cars. First, there are fancier versions of ordinary vehicles — they have tons of features, flashy looks, and upscale interior materials, but they drive like a much less expensive vehicle. Then there are the purpose-built luxury cars, designed from the ground up to deliver a top-notch driving experience. The 2020 Genesis G70 compact sports sedan is a stellar example of the latter type.

The G70 comes from Hyundai’s luxury division, which the Korean automaker created in 2017. Each of Genesis’ four vehicles is a ground-up design that’s not shared with Hyundai, all using rear-wheel-drive platforms (with optional all-wheel-drive) just like traditional luxury cars. That’s especially valuable in the G70: the smallest and least expensive Genesis, which debuted last year and is priced from just $35,450. If you’re looking for a luxurious, fun-to-drive, and relatively affordable luxury sedan, keep reading to learn more about this exciting new model.

Even though it’s the first time Hyundai has ever built such a vehicle, and even though it costs less than the leading competitors, the Genesis G70 has already achieved one of the segment’s best balances of sharp handling yet a comfortable ride. Some credit goes to that rear-wheel-drive architecture we mentioned: Rear-drive provides better weight distribution than front-wheel-drive, so suspension engineers already have a great starting point.

Of course, most of today’s compact luxury sports sedans also have a rear-wheel-drive platform, including the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. But while these models increasingly focus on serene high-speed composure rather than maximum driving thrills, Genesis keeps things lively with quicker, sharper steering. This is a delightful car to push hard — yet it won’t beat you up, either. Especially with our test car’s electronically adjustable suspension, the G70 stays appropriately smooth and quiet. This might not be the luxury sedan you’d buy if quietness is much more important to you than fun-to-drive performance, but nor would its competing sports sedans.

Rear-wheel-drive has another advantage: The engine isn’t sending its power to the wheels you need to steer. That means the 2020 Genesis G70 can handle a big engine without messing up the steering system’s delicate tuning. And the company didn’t hold back.

Even the base G70 has plenty of power: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 252 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. That’s in line with the BMW 330i, Audi A4 45 TFSI, and Mercedes-Benz C 300, and it gives the G70 plenty of zip. You can even get this engine with an optional six-speed manual transmission — one of the few luxury sedans to still offer one — or a standard eight-speed automatic. Our tested G70 had the uplevel 3.3-liter turbocharged V6, which sounds nicer and whose output rises to a whopping 365 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque. EPA fuel economy estimates aren’t great, though: The most efficient G70 (the rear-drive four-cylinder) scores 25 mpg in mixed driving on premium fuel, all-wheel-drive cuts it to 23 mpg, and the V6 manages just 20 mpg. Fortunately, we achieved a much more respectable 26 mpg in our V6 test car.

With its proud, upright mesh grille, slim headlights, and curvaceous rear end, the Genesis G70 is a handsome small sedan. It doesn’t yet wear the plus-size inverted-pentagon grille found on the Genesis G90 sedan and GV80 crossover, but we expect that to come within the next year or two. It’s so far more conventional, though less distinctive, than its platform-mate — the Kia Stinger five-door liftback.

The G70 also has a more luxurious interior than the Kia, with fancier materials and a more upscale dashboard design. Our test vehicle was swathed in stitched-leather upholstery, and cabin featured metal accents on the dashboard, console, door panels, and even the seats. However, the best luxury sedans have a less plasticky feel to some of their controls. Not everyone would object or even notice, but the G70 remains a cut below an Audi A4 for the meticulously honed tactile feel of buttons and knobs.

The Genesis G70 has more straightforward dashboard controls than the average luxury car. An 8-inch infotainment touchscreen perches on the top of the dashboard, with simple buttons and knobs for the climate-control system beneath it. Like on several luxury cars, the physical audio controls sit between the front seats. It’s all easy to figure out quickly, without the cumbersome steps or over-reliance on the touchscreen that you’ll see in some aggressively high-tech vehicles. And it supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.

That said, if you’re looking for a luxury car with the spiffiest electronics, the G70 might disappoint. Its infotainment screen is the same as you’d find a Hyundai — clear and user-friendly, but without gee-whiz features. You don’t have a plus-size screen like a growing number of luxury cars (or even a growing number of Hyundais). You don’t get virtual reality augmentation to your GPS directions like in a Mercedes-Benz, and the gauge cluster can’t transform into a Google Maps satellite view like an Audi’s. We expect Genesis to up the G70’s infotainment “wow factor” in the next year or two.

The 2020 Genesis G70 has comfortable and supportive front seats. They’re nicely bolstered so you won’t slide around when you swerve quickly, but not too confining for everyday use. And there’s no shortage of space up front.

That’s not the case in the back, where the G70 has less legroom than most similarly sized luxury sports sedans. Genesis carved out as much space as it could from the front seatbacks, but adults may still find their knees pressed against the hard plastic seatbacks, and may have to artfully wriggle their way in and out. The trunk is also unusually small for a sedan at just 10.5 cubic feet. A power-operated trunklid is newly available this year.

The 2020 Genesis G70 secured the highest honor of Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in recognition of its crash safety and accident-prevention technology.

The car’s standard safety and driver-assistance features include a forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection; adaptive cruise control; a lane-departure warning with lane-keeping steering assistance; blind-spot monitoring with a rear cross-traffic alert; automatic high beams; and a driver-attention monitor. That’s a comprehensive suite, and we appreciate that it’s all standard equipment. For extra low-speed safety, buyers can also choose an optional 360-degree bird’s-eye-view parking camera to supplement the federally required backup camera. However, unlike on some competitors, rear automatic braking isn’t available.

The 2020 Genesis G70 is priced from $35,450, with generous standard equipment that includes big 18-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable front seats (12 ways for the driver and eight for the passenger), and the safety features we mentioned before. Rear-wheel-drive is standard with all-wheel-drive costing an extra $2,000 and also bringing heated front seats.

The four-cylinder 2.0T model’s $4,600 Elite package brings features that include genuine leather upholstery, a 15-speaker Lexicon sound system, a navigation system, a power-adjustable steering column, and a memory system for the seats and other driver adjustments — that’s a killer value for just over $40,000. Buyers can also choose the Prestige or Sport packages, whose upgrades include Nappa leather, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a wireless smartphone charger, and a surround-view parking camera. The Sport also brings performance upgrades like upgraded brakes; summer tires and a limited-slip differential on rear-drive models; and sportier cosmetic cues, along with an available manual transmission on the 2.0T. Choosing the 3.3T V6 model brings extra standard features compared to the base four-cylinder, and it starts at $44,650. Our 3.3T test car with the Sport package reached a still-reasonable $51,275.

If you’re looking at the Genesis G70 because you want the sportiest, most fun-to-drive compact luxury sedan, two top rivals are the Jaguar XE and the Alfa Romeo Giulia. Both are sharp-handling yet comfortable to drive, and their four-cylinder engines are zippier than the G70’s. However, they have more austere interior decor, haven’t scored as well in reliability surveys, and don’t offer an alternative to the G70 3.3T model.

Versus all-around class benchmarks like the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the G70 has sharper handling and a lot more features — and, with the V6, more horsepower — for the money. But they have roomier rear seats and trunks, more sophisticated infotainment, and superior gas mileage. And against the Infiniti Q50, which offers V6 power at bargain prices, the G70 is more expensive but feels more upscale and contemporary. Another vehicle to consider is the Kia Stinger, a mechanical cousin to the G70 with more distinctive styling and a much more spacious interior. But Kia doesn’t have the same dealership amenities as Genesis, and its dashboard looks and feels less opulent.

The 2020 Genesis G70 provides the driving experience of a top-tier luxury sports sedan — at a price tag where merely average ride and handling could have still been acceptable. Genesis also provides three years of free scheduled maintenance, with free pickup and drop-off at your home during that period. Its warranty, like its parent Hyundai, is also a standout: 10 years or 100,000 miles for the engine and transmission, and five years or 60,000 miles for the rest of the vehicle. That’s welcome peace of mind in the luxury segment, where some brands have infamous repair costs.

Not everyone will want the G70. Besides lacking the long-established panache of a BMW or Benz, Genesis didn’t quite match their interior finery or their usefully spacious interiors. But don’t let those nitpicks cloud how impressed we are with this new sports sedan. This is a classy luxury car that’s great to drive without breaking the bank. Be sure to check it out.