LOOKS

For drivers seeking an attractive ride, the small, sleek and low-to-the-ground Genesis G70 catches your eye as well as any vehicle in the segment. 

One particular strength are the unique, standout front grille and headlamp designs.

The G70 features 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and taillights, power-folding heated outside mirrors, a hands-free Smart Trunk, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

Go inside the vehicle and you’ll see where the G70 truly shines. For Genesis being a new luxury brand, the G70 feels as upscale on the interior as many of the competitors who have been making luxury rides for decades longer.

Interior highlights include extremely comfortable leather seats that feel great even on longer drives, leatherette door panel Inserts, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Both front seats feature 12-way adjustability and 4-way lumbar, including a memory system. And you get dual automatic temperature control.

There is one major downside to the interior of the 2022 Genesis G70: Its back seat is tiny, to the point where I would only seat small children there. Translation, this isn’t a family car. If you regularly need to transport adults or even larger children in the back seat, I would recommend upgrading to a larger luxury ride (including Genesis’ own stout G80 and G90 models). Similarly, cargo space is not something to brag about, as it offers only 10.5 cubic feet of trunk space with both rows up, among the lowest totals in class.

HOW’S THE RIDE?

Looks are one thing, but in the end you really want to have a positive driving experience when driving a sporty sedan. The good news is that this is the area where the G70 really sets itself apart from most of the competition.

Powered by a 3.3-liter V6 engine which puts out 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque, it’s truly a thrilling experience to get behind the wheel of the G70.

There is also a base engine offering available, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder option offering 252 horsepower, but I would recommend upgrading to the more powerful engine option, which is worth the few thousand extra it will cost you.

The G70 features an 8-Speed automatic transmission, but includes paddle shifters to give you more control. It comes standard with Rear-Wheel Drive, and All-Wheel Drive is optional. There is no longer a manual transmission option in the G70.

It also features a MacPherson Strut Front & Multi-Link Rear Suspension, and Drive Mode Select allows you to choose between Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Custom modes.

As I mentioned, it’s nearly impossible to dislike the feel of driving the G70 with the V6 power plant. Its tremendous acceleration is the main draw, taking roughly 4.5 seconds to go from 0-to-60. And despite this tremendous power, it’s not an overly loud vehicle. Handling is another strong suit, and braking response is immediate. At no point do you feel like you’re not in control, and you’ll be able to do things that other vehicles on the roadways won’t.

If you’re someone who loves to drive and wants a car that’s going to give an adrenaline rush, but won’t require a second mortgage on your house to afford it, the G70 is a strong contender.
 
TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

The Infotainment system on the G70 was easy to use and learn, featuring well-designed touch controls, and voice commands proved to be quite effective for music, navigation and phone. It’s also easy to connect your phone to the vehicle for Bluetooth streaming of calls and music.

There’s a very clean design to the vehicle’s tech setup, including a split-screen for multiple functions on the 10.25-inch HD touchscreen. The system includes AM/FM/Satellite Radio/HD Radio, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto for phone mirroring, and several USB Ports. 

The Genesis G70’s stereo, a premium Lexicon 15-speaker system, is loud and crisp and beats the audio experience in most rival sport sedans. Audiophiles will delight.

For the class it’s in, there’s a strong amount of safety features included on the G70, and none are overbearing or get in the way.

A rearview camera with parking guidelines is extremely helpful, and the vehicle includes 8 airbags. Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go protects you from cars veering into your lane in front of you, in partnership with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist.

Other helpful features include Highway Driving Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist, Safe Exit Warning and Rear Occupant Alert. All in all, a tremendous safety suite for a compact ride like this.

In the past, sportier rides might have skipped some of these safety perks, but that’s no longer an option if automakers want to compete.

MPG

The official fuel mileage on the 2022 Genesis G70 is 17 city/25 highway/20 combined. In real world testing, I averaged about 17 mpg, mostly in city driving, which backs up the numbers.

Compared to the many rivals in the compact luxury sedan segment, the mileage numbers on the G70 are quite low, one of the lowest in the segment.

In a way, that’s not surprising, as the superb drive quality of this vehicle was likely to lower fuel mileage numbers. Just be aware that you’ll be using the gas pump a bit more with this ride — for many, the tradeoff for getting the better driving experience is worth this extra cost.

PRICE

The 2022 Genesis G70 I tested was priced at $45,745 and its base price starts around $39,000. This is reasonable pricing for the compact luxury sedan segment, beating most competitors.

It also features an excellent warranty from Genesis, including:
— 5-year/60,000-mile New Vehicle Warranty
— 10-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Warranty
— 7-year/Unlimited-mile Anti-perforation Warranty
— 3-year/36,000-mile Complimentary Maintenance

BOTTOM LINE

A joy to drive, a strong value proposition, full of safety features, and featuring as upscale of an interior as you'll find in the category, the G70 is worth a test drive and there’s a good chance it may end up in your driveway if you do give it a spin.

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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.