2020 Genesis G70

Overview

The 2020 Genesis G70 is a luxury sports sedan coup d'état, cutting right at the heart of the segment with lively handling, smooth powertrains, and a classy interior. Rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz C-class and the BMW 3-series are either not as fun to drive or not as richly appointed and still cost more. We're big fans of the G70 and its underdog status only makes its achievements more impressive. Do we wish the rear seat were more spacious? Yes. Do we wish the infotainment didn't come straight out of a Hyundai? Of course. But overall, the G70 is a stellar package that belongs at or near the top of your shopping list.

What's New for 2020?

For its second year on the market, the Genesis G70 sees few changes. The mid-range Sport model now comes with a more aggressive brake setup, all-season tires on 19-inch wheels are now an available option, and the 3.3T Prestige package now includes a power-operated trunklid. The base 18-inch wheels are shinier than last year's rollers and brown leather can be ordered to give the cabin a richer ambiance.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The base G70 2.0T features a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that sends 252 horsepower (255 on the manual) through an eight-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels. While all-wheel drive is optional on most models, the manual version we tested is the exception. Its engine felt reserved around town, and acceleration times were ordinary. The light clutch pedal and numb shifter engagement also tempered our excitement. At least the manual 2.0T was more playful when paired with the Sport package. However, our heart skipped a beat when we got behind the wheel of the beastly twin-turbo 3.3-liter V-6 model, with its 365 ponies and 376 lb-ft of torque. We spent some personal time with the rear-drive 3.3T and were smitten by the engine's wave of thrust that sent it from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. Regardless of the powertrain configuration, the G70 has expertly balanced ride and handling characteristics. Its suspension smoothed out uneven surfaces, and the sedan remained composed during spirited cornering sessions. The more powerful 3.3T has the benefit of adaptive dampers that allow the driver to firm up the ride if necessary, but every G70 we've driven did a remarkable job of sending information to the driver's hands. Its steering feedback is precise and pleasant, with adjustable effort available by switching among the multiple drive modes.

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Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

With multiple powertrain combinations and rear- or all-wheel-drive options, the G70 lineup has different EPA-rated city and highway estimates. The all-wheel-drive 3.3T is rated the least efficient, at 17 mpg city and 25 highway; the rear-drive 2.0T with the automatic transmission is the most efficient, at 22 mpg city and 30 highway. We've tested three different versions of the Genesis sports sedan on our 200-mile highway fuel-economy test route, and the results were very similar—despite the 3.3T's significant power advantage. The rear-wheel-drive 3.3T we tested earned 29 mpg. The manual 2.0T recorded 30 mpg, and the automatic 2.0T with all-wheel drive got 31 mpg.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Inside, the G70 delivers a luxury experience, thanks to attractive materials and excellent build quality. Its driver-centric layout and straightforward controls cater to driving enthusiasts. Likewise, the upscale brightwork and decoratively stitched surfaces on our test car appeased our affluent side. Genesis also keeps things classy by avoiding the urge to plaster faux carbon-fiber bits and a flat-bottom steering wheel into the cabin, and the result is an interior that seems more luxurious than the Alfa Romeo Giulia or Jaguar XE. While the front seat strikes a nice balance between comfort and sport, the rear seat is compromised by limited legroom. We managed to fit five carry-on bags in the G70's trunk, and 14 total with the rear seat folded. Interior cubby storage includes a useful tray at the front of the center console that is perfect for smartphones and other small items. Unfortunately, the door pockets are small, and the center-console bin lacks organization.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

Every G70 is fitted with a standard touchscreen infotainment system that protrudes from the otherwise clean dashboard. The setup includes desirable features, such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, but the cartoony interface is clearly pulled from lesser Hyundai models and not luxury siblings such as the Genesis G90. The touchscreen also had slow responses to ser inputs during testing, and our interactions were less intuitive than on competitors with user-friendly rotary controllers.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The G70 was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2019, which is the highest honor the independent crash-test agency bestows. However, the Genesis hasn't been evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The sports sedan boasts several standard driver-assist technologies, such as adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology and forward-collision warning with automated emergency braking. Key safety features include:

• Standard blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
• Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
• Standard automatic high-beam headlights

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Genesis covers every G70 with an exceptional warranty and complimentary scheduled maintenance. The luxury brand also offers a valet service—by appointment—where it will pick up and drop off the vehicle for maintenance visits and provide a loaner Genesis model for use in the meantime.

• Limited warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
• Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for 3 years or 36,000 miles