2022 Genesis G70

2022 Genesis G70

The Genesis G70 is a compact luxury sedan with seating for five passengers and a choice of turbocharged engines that deliver power either rearward or to all four corners.

This year, the G70 drops its 6-speed manual transmission option but gains a 10.3-inch touchscreen and adds a few available safety features.

Genesis sells the G70 in two basic forms, each with a few trim levels. The base turbo-4 furnishes good acceleration, while the optional twin-turbo V-6 is downright fast. An 8-speed automatic transmission is standard line-wide, while all-wheel drive is an option for all variants.

Fuel economy comes in at 21 mpg city, 31 highway, 24 combined with the turbo-4 and rear-wheel drive. Send power to all four corners and those figures slip to 20/28/23 mpg.

With the V-6, the EPA says to expect 18/27/21 mpg. Adding AWD drops those estimates to 17/25/20 mpg.

The G70 has aced crash tests performed by the IIHS. Every model includes automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, automatic high-beam headlights, adaptive cruise control, and active lane control. Parking sensors and a surround-view camera system are available.

Model Lineup

Turbo-4 versions of the G70 come in Standard and Prestige trim levels, while the optional V-6 can be had as a Standard, Sport Advanced, or Sport Prestige. A special range-topping Launch Edition includes matte paint and red leather trim. It can cost upward of $56,000.

Costing $38,570 to start, the G70 2.0T Standard includes 12-way driver and 8-way passenger power and heated front seats, synthetic leather upholstery, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.

The Prestige costs $4,000 more and adds ​​15-speaker Lexicon-branded audio, 19-inch wheels, parking sensors, leather upholstery, navigation, and a wireless smartphone charging pad.

With the V-6 engine, the G70 adds sportier exterior styling and a firmer suspension, plus standard leather for $43,445. The Sport Advanced trim level adds cooled front seats, a wireless charging pad, Lexicon speakers, and a sunroof, plus a few other goodies for $4,300 more. The Sport Prestige piles on softer leather, a suede-like headliner, a surround-view camera system, a blind-spot camera that projects a live image into the instrument cluster, and a few other bits for about $52,000 to start.

On all, all-wheel drive costs $2,000 more.

Exterior

The G70 wears crisp duds accented with hints of brightwork and sharp LED lighting. Up front, sleek headlights flank a shield-shaped grille that gives way to broad intakes. The G70 offers up a suitably muscular stance, especially given its performance. Broad haunches at the rear give an almost muscle car vibe.

Standard 18-inch wheels give way to 19s on pricier models, with several designs available depending on the trim level. Genesis offers an interesting palette of paint hues, including a matte finish for this year’s special edition model

Interior

The G70 is just as striking inside. A 10.3-inch touchscreen sprouts from the dash, which cascades down into an upholstered center console. Even the standard leatherette has a rich feel, though optional leather hides go a long way toward dressing up the G70’s cabin.

Snug-fitting seats offer standard power adjustment and heating, with cooling on the options list. Some versions have bolsters that cinch in the driver in cornering, a nice, sporty touch.

Rear-seat room is somewhat limited given the G70’s slim proportions. The 10.5 cubic-foot trunk is decidedly compact. If you plan on road-tripping, consider the related GV70 crossover instead.

Driving Impressions

Genesis gives the G70 a lot of power in any configuration. Base turbo-4 cars muscle 252 hp to the rear or all four wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission. That combo is good for a 0-60 mph sprint of about seven seconds, aided by the responsive automatic.

V-6 models use a ferocious 365-hp twin-turbo 3.3-liter V-6, which is smooth, quiet, and exceptionally powerful. It vaults this sedan to 60 mph in the mid four-second range, which is very fast – especially given the G70’s reasonable pricing. A sport exhaust is now included, but the G70 never comes across as a gruff sports sedan.

There’s no softy version of the G70; even base cars handle well, tackling corners with aplomb. The ride is fantastic in base form, perhaps a little stiff with the sport suspension fitted to the highest V-6-powered trims. Try before you buy, though the adaptive dampers included in the Prestige trim level take most of the edge off.

Final Word

Though compact sports sedans may now sit in the shadow of their SUV companions, the Genesis G70 gives us so much hope. This is a thrilling sedan with great looks and a reasonable price tag.

 

—by Andrew Ganz, with driving impressions from The Car Connection