2019 Genesis G70 Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byWill KaufmanSenior Editor and Content Strategist, CarMax

　　Will Kaufman has worked in the automotive industry since 2017. He has written hundreds of car-related articles and reviews over the course of his career. Will is a senior editor and content strategist for CarMax at zzdcar. Will has been featured in the Associated Press and a number of major outlets on the topics of infotainment and vehicle data, vehicle subscription services and autonomous vehicles. Will started his career in online publishing by writing and editing standardized test guides, but he has a lot more fun writing about cars.

　　

What's new

The 2019 G70 is an all-new carPart of the first G70 generation introduced for 2019

　　Genesis is a new brand with a limited product portfolio, but so far we've been impressed. The big G90 sedan offers an exceptional level of luxury for less money than competitors, while the midsize G80 delivers an impressive blend of power, performance and refinement. Now comes the smallest sedan of the lineup, the all-new 2019 Genesis G70.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Genesis G70 2.0T Advanced 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$185/mo  for G70 2.0T Advanced

　　G70 2.0T Advanced

　　2.0T Advanced 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $34,900 MSRP2.0T Advanced 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $36,900 MSRP2.0T Sport M/T 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $37,900 MSRP3.3T Advanced 4dr Sedan (3.3L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $43,750 MSRP3.3T Advanced 4dr Sedan AWD (3.3L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $45,750 MSRP3.3T Design 4dr Sedan (3.3L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $48,750 MSRP3.3T Design 4dr Sedan AWD (3.3L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $50,750 MSRP3.3T Dynamic 4dr Sedan (3.3L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $50,250 MSRP3.3T Dynamic 4dr Sedan AWD (3.3L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $52,250 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　From a driving perspective, the G70 shines. Particularly when equipped with its optional turbocharged V6, the G70 provides lively and entertaining performance. This performance doesn't come at the expense of comfort either. The ride quality is compliant, and the cabin is quiet at highways speeds. This balanced approach is exactly what sedans such as the BMW 3 Series have done so well all these years.

　　There are some downsides. Genesis did a lot of work to make the interior look luxurious. There is quilted leather everywhere, lots of soft-touch surfaces, and a high level of attention to detail. But the Genesis can't hide all of its parent company's roots: The infotainment screen is pure Hyundai, and some of the plastics definitely don't live up to expectations. Also, this is a compact luxury sport sedan in the classic sense. We appreciate the car's relatively tidy dimensions, but the trade-off is a very tight back seat.

　　The redesigned BMW 3 Series is packed with the latest technology and some other new tricks. You might also want to consider the well-rounded Audi A4 or the luxurious Mercedes C-Class. In general, though, you won't get as many features or as much engine for the money you'd spend on the Genesis. If you're looking for is an engaging entry-level luxury car (that also happens to have a best-in-class warranty), the 2019 Genesis G70 is worth checking out.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.9 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Genesis G70 Dynamic (turbo 3.3L V6 | 8-speed automatic | RWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.9 / 10
Driving	9.0
Comfort	8.0
Interior	7.5
Utility	7.0
Technology	6.5

　　

Driving

9.0

　　The G70 is a properly enjoyable compact sedan. Its potent V6 and strong brakes let it keep up with class leaders, and it delivers the engaging driving feel of sport sedans of the past. Body roll control isn't entirely buttoned down, but that contributes to the car's lively handling. It's a lot of fun for the price.

　　

Acceleration

9.0

　　The strong engine effortlessly keeps the pace around town and builds power in a way that makes it feel worth wringing out on a back road. The G70 is pretty muted in Comfort mode unless you floor it; it's more eager to respond in Sport. Its 0-60 mph time in the mid-4-second range is competitive with all but the highest-tier engines from rivals.

　　

Braking

8.5

　　The natural pedal feel is biased more toward performance than comfort. The brakes grab harder as you slow and can be very sensitive to small pedal inputs. Its 107-foot 60-0 mph braking run is astounding and likely due to Dynamic trim's upgraded tires (plus larger brakes). The smaller brakes on lower-spec G70s are more forgiving but a little mushier.

　　

Steering

9.0

　　The steering has a reassuring on-center feel and the weight builds naturally. It's a bit on the heavy side even in Comfort, but it suits the car's overall character. There's also actual steering feel — at almost any speed and driving style, you get a sense of what's happening with the front end.

　　

Handling

8.0

　　This lively car grips well and rolls progressively. The rear starts to feel light before it breaks traction, so it's more playful than angry. When the rear slides, it's easy to bring it back in line. The biggest weakness is in weight transitions: The body is somewhat floppy in the middle of the transition.

　　

Drivability

8.0

　　The car has enough torque that it doesn't have to downshift constantly, but in Normal mode it can be a bit too reluctant to downshift. In Sport it's reluctant to upshift and it keeps revs high — remember to switch out of Sport on the freeway or else fuel economy will suffer. The paddles are quite responsive.

　　

Comfort

8.0

　　The seats deliver the all-day comfort we expect from Genesis, and the suspension does an excellent job of absorbing sharp bumps despite riding on the sporty/stiff side. The cabin is noisier than those of its luxury competitors. The Genesis is a quiet cruiser on smooth roads, but road noise on rough pavement can be intrusive.

　　

Seat comfort

8.5

　　The seats are sufficiently adjustable and nicely padded, with enough adjustable bolstering for spirited driving (although not quite enough on the track). These seats walk the sport/luxury line really well.

　　

Ride comfort

7.5

　　Its ride is definitely on the sporty side: firm and communicative. But it's well-tuned. It does an excellent job of taking sharp edges off bumps yet feels stable on slab freeway stretches.

　　

Noise & vibration

7.0

　　Around town, the G70 lags competitors a bit in terms of traffic isolation. On smooth freeways, there's minimal wind noise. But on any sort of textured or rough surface, noise from the road and the tires gets intrusive.

　　

Climate control

8.0

　　The seat heating and cooling systems are excellent, and cabin temperature is managed admirably. It's all straightforward to use with clearly marked buttons and a hard key to enter the menu if you so wish. One oddity is that the temperature is hidden unless you enter the menu or alter the temp.

　　

Interior

7.5

　　Overall, the G70 has a well-crafted interior with pleasant materials and touch points. It's logically laid out, and the somewhat simple tech lends itself to usability. However, it's not the easiest to get into or out of. The back seat is tight, with stingy toe boxes under the front seats.

　　

Ease of use

8.0

　　Other than the lane keeping button, the controls in the cabin are easy to find and straightforward to use, which is one advantage of the less ultra-luxe Hyundai tech. It's got all of Hyundai's mainstream ease of use baked in.

　　

Getting in/getting out

6.0

　　The G70's seats are relatively low and the sills wide. The ease of getting in and out of the front surpasses any sports car, but the low seats will be a hassle for those of limited mobility. Rear entry is tougher due to a sloping roof. And if you're behind a tall driver or passenger, there's very limited space between the cushion and front seatback.

　　

Driving position

8.5

　　There's a pretty generous range of adjustments, from seat height to steering wheel telescope, and the car's hard points don't get in the way. It's a great car to sit low in, adding to the sporty feel. The low front glass can encroach on those who sit close to the wheel or high.

　　

Roominess

7.0

　　The front offers ample leg-, headroom and elbow room at the expense of rear comfort. The back seat is tight, especially if taller drivers or passengers are up front. It's basically just adequate for adults — you'll fit, but you'll feel how small the space is.

　　

Visibility

7.0

　　The G70's relatively low front glass doesn't lend a particularly open feel. But the driver will have a clear view of the road, and none of the pillars are so thick they create serious blind spots. The long, curving hood, however, makes the front end hard to judge. Humps at the wheel arches help with placing the front end, at least.

　　

Quality

8.0

　　Build quality is impressive, especially on our top-tier tester. Almost every touch point has been thoughtfully handled — exposed hard plastics or switchgear have pleasant textures. A few areas, such as the cupholder surround, are tacky (cheaply mirror-chromed hollow plastic). Overall the G70 makes a solid luxury impression and feels very solidly put together.

　　

Utility

7.0

　　The G70 isn't particularly practical for a sedan, although the cabin offers a decent number of spots to store and organize small items. The trunk has a generous opening, but at 10.5 cubic feet it's small even for the class and just tall enough for a shopping bag to stand upright. Bulkier car seats might impinge on front-seat space.

　　

Small-item storage

7.5

　　For a relatively small car, the G70 has a decent array of storage including a charging tray/phone cubby and a handful of spots to store small items.

　　

Cargo space

6.5

　　The trunk is deep and relatively wide but short, height-wise — a suitcase will occupy all the vertical space (though the trunk will swallow more than one). Bulkier suitcases may not even fit. The opening is accommodating and the liftover height modest. You're definitely better off with duffel bags for a weekend getaway.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

7.0

　　The child seat anchors are in plastic sleeves that allow for easier access, but the covers are hinged and need to be pushed aside since they don't just pop out. Limited rear-seat room means bulky car seats impinge on the range of motion for the front seats.

　　

Technology

6.5

　　If having the latest luxury tech is a priority, the G70 will be a letdown. It's packed with tech from Hyundai (Genesis' parent company) and it's all very straightforward and easy to use. It also has a very good stereo. However, the German brands offer much more impressive technology with more extensive features.

　　

Audio & navigation

6.5

　　For an audio system that's standard on higher trims and not a costly extra, sound quality is excellent. Nav is Hyundai standard-issue, and as such it's relatively unimpressive in this class. It gets the job done but doesn't bring anything extra to the table.

　　

Smartphone integration

7.5

　　Android Auto and Apple CarPlay work with the ease you'd expect, and the connected app, while of limited utility, is straightforward enough.

　　

Driver aids

6.5

　　The driver aids are Hyundai standard-issue. They work well enough, and they're impressive in a $25,000 car. But in the luxury class, they're merely adequate. The advantage they have is that they're standard on most trims and not costly extras.

　　

Voice control

6.0

　　In a class where competitors are bringing voice assistants to the table, the standard Hyundai voice controls, while easy enough to use, are completely outclassed. Though you don't have to follow the rigid menu structure, the system doesn't support natural language and commands are relatively limited.

　　

Which G70 does zzdcar recommend?

　　Get the 3.3T Advanced. It comes with the strong V6 engine plus a lot of standard features. The car is the most engaging to drive with rear-wheel drive, but the all-wheel-drive system only diminishes that personality slightly. Paying more for one of the top-level V6 trims is fine — the Prestige's quilted leather is very well executed, for instance — but you won't miss out on anything truly important.

　　

2019 Genesis G70 models

　　Genesis offers the 2019 G70 in a somewhat confusing array of trim levels that can be further enhanced with a few select option packages. The two main entry points are the G70 2.0T, which has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (252 horsepower, 260 pound-feet of torque), and the G70 3.3T with its turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 (365 hp and 376 lb-ft).

　　The base car is the 2.0T Advanced. It has an eight-speed automatic transmission and either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Standard equipment highlights include 18-inch wheels, a hands-free trunklid opener, proximity entry with push-button start, power-adjustable front seats, simulated leather upholstery, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, dual-zone climate control, and auto-dimming rearview mirror.

　　Infotainment is handled by an 8-inch touchscreen system, three USB ports (two front, one rear), satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Active safety features and driver aids include forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The G70 2.0T Advance with AWD also gets a heated steering wheel and a mechanical limited-slip rear differential as standard.

　　Next up is the 2.0T Elite. It adds LED headlights, a navigation system, parking sensors, power-folding and auto-dimming side mirrors, automatic wipers, a sunroof, a power-adjustable steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, driver-seat memory settings, a 15-speaker Lexicon sound system, and leather upholstery. On top of these features, you can also get the 2.0T Prestige (AWD only) that adds a head-up display, a wireless charging pad, a surround-view parking camera, heated rear seats and upgraded quilted leather upholstery.

　　The 2.0T Dynamic has all of the above plus 19-inch wheels, performance tires and a mechanical limited-slip differential on RWD cars. Accentuating these features is the 2.0T Sport, which is like the Dynamic but with unique 19-inch wheels, copper and black trim accents, and unique upholstery quilting.

　　The 2.0T Sport M/T trim is your only way to get a manual transmission. It starts with the 2.0T Advanced trim's features, then replaces the eight-speed automatic with a six-speed manual and the electric parking brake with a manual one. It also comes with 19-inch wheels, the limited-slip differential, Brembo brakes, a sport exhaust system good for 3 extra hp, and some of the features from the Elite (LED headlights, driver-seat memory settings, heated and ventilated front seats, power-adjustable steering wheel and Lexicon stereo).

　　Starting off the V6-equipped range is the 3.3T Advanced. Somewhat confusingly, though, it comes standard with most of the features of the 2.0T Elite. It also has Brembo brakes, a sport-tuned suspension, and 19-inch wheels with performance tires. Opting for AWD switches to 18-inch wheels and adds a heated steering wheel.

　　The other 3.3T trims (Elite, Prestige and Sport) follow the 2.0T progression, though there are a few minor differences with feature availability. Notably, the 3.3T Sport has an adaptive suspension.

　　At launch, two limited-edition models are available. The 3.3T Design starts with the Prestige trim, then adds exclusive forest green paint and cream leather upholstery with unique quilting, a premium cabin air filter, and special 19-inch alloy wheels. The 3.3T Dynamic builds on the 3.3T Sport with upgraded performance tires, upgraded brake pads, special suspension tuning and upgraded engine cooling.

　　Jump to:Related 2019 G70 articles

　　

2019 G70 Highlights

Trim: 2.0T Advanced2.0T Sport M/T3.3T Advanced3.3T Design3.3T Dynamic2.0T Advanced

　　

Base MSRP	$34,900
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$185/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	10.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles