2020 Genesis G70 Sport - Driven

Genesis G70 Drivetrain, Performance, and Fuel Economy

The G70 is offered with two different engine options – one is the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbocharged engine that makes 252 horses and 260 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. It can be had with either a rear-wheel-drive or an all-wheel-drive configuration. The automaker offers the same engine with a six-speed manual gearbox, too, which benefits from three extra horses. This one, however, only comes with a rear-wheel-drive layout.

The bigger engine is where all the fun lies. This is a 3.3-liter, twin-turbo V-6 mill that dishes out 365 ponies at 6,500 rpm and 376 pound-feet of twist between 1,300 and 4,500 rpm. It is mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and just like the smaller mill, it is offered in rear- and all-wheel-drive layouts.

The Genesis also comes with ‘Intelligent Drive Modes’ that include Comfort, Eco, Sport, Smart, and Custom. The car also features a Limited-slip differential and electronically controlled suspension, the latter of which is available as part of the Sport Package. As for the stopping powers, Genesis has deployed Brembo floating disc brakes to bring your G70 to a halt.

How Fast Is The G70?

The Genesis G70 is pretty quick and fast. With the V-6 engine under the hood, it takes 4.5 seconds to sprint to 60 mph. The Audi S4 is one-tenth of a second faster, but the G70 is 1.1 seconds faster than the Lexus IS 350 F-Sport. The Lexus has a top speed of 143 mph while Audi tops out at 155 mph, but the Genesis goes all the way up to 170 mph before losing breath.

What Is The G70’s Fuel Economy?

The 2.0-liter, rear-wheel-drive version delivers 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway when mated with the automatic gearbox, and 18 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway when opted with the six-speed manual. The all-wheel-drive model returns 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway

The 3.3-liter, V-6 engine, as expected, is a gas guzzler.

It returns 17 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway when you opt for the rear-wheel-drive layout, and 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway when all the wheels are being powered.

Genesis G70 Exterior Design

Up front, the G70 features a pretty large chrome grille with the Genesis badge on top of it. The headlights aren’t the sleekest, but they are offered with full LED headlamps as standard. The fog lamp surrounding and the bottom half of the bumper features black plastic cladding that adds to the sportiness aspect of this luxury sedan.

The Genesis G70 3.3-liter models ride on 19-inch wheels wrapped in 225/40 section tires at the front and 255/35 section tires at the rear. The rear-wheel-drive models come with summer tires, whereas the all-wheel-drive G70 is offered with all-season tires in the same dimensions. There are chrome accents on the window sills, door handles, fenders, and wing mirrors. They look better on darker shades as they break the monotony, but on colors like red, not so much.

The rear, in my opinion, is the smartest aesthetic bit of this car. The big, fat taillights with the intricate detailing within them look nice even when they’re not in action. The boot lid shape looks nice, but narrows down the trunk opening significantly. A classic case of form over function. The bottom half of the bumper features an oval exhaust outlet on either side along with a stylized diffuser in the middle. With the fat tires peeping underneath, this sedan looks hot from the back and is one of the best angles to view the car.

The Genesis G70 is offered in nine different exterior color options:

• Uyuni White
• Himalayan Gray
• Vik Black
• Adriatic Blue
• Mallorca Blue
• Black Forest Green
• Siberian Ice
• Savile Silver
• Havana Red

How Big Is The G70?

The Genesis G70 is a big as its rivals. It measures 184.4 inches in length, 72.8 inches in width, and 55.1 inches in height. The Audi S4 measures 187.4 inches in length, 72.7 inches in width, and 56.2 inches in height. The Lexus IS 350 F-Sport, on the other hand, is 184.3 inches long, 71.3 inches wide, and 56.3 inches tall.

Although marginal, the G70 has the longest wheelbase, measuring 111.6 inches. It is 0.6 inches longer than the S4’s 111-inch wheelbase and 1.4 inches longer than the IS 350 F-Sport’s 110.2-inch wheelbase. The front track and rear tracks measure 62.8- and 63.1 inches on the Genesis, 61.9- and 61.2 inches on the Audi, and 60.4- and 60.6 inches on the Lexus. As for the ground clearance, the G70 rides 5.5 inches off the ground. The S4 and the IS 350 F-Sport have a ground clearance of 4.5- and 5.1 inches respectively.

Genesis G70 Interior Design

The G70 V-6 is offered with three different interior themes – Black, Brown, and Gray – and all of them feel premium. Our example came with a $5,600 Sport package, which makes it the best that Genesis has to offer on this sedan. Step inside the cabin and you’ll be welcomed to a straight-forward, no non-sense cabin. There are no extra shenanigans like a huge touchscreen or marketing gimmicks.

The chunky steering wheel is good to hold, especially in the Nappa leather wrap which comes as part of this package. The instrument cluster is functional, but lacks the pizzazz as compared to other vehicles in the segment. A small MID screen sits between the two analog dials which shows all the drive-related data. There are a lot of cup holders and storage spaces around, thus making it a practical cabin. As a driving enthusiast, you will like this cabin. But, as a nerd, not so much. You don’t have the faux carbon fiber and other such things either, but we would’ve like a flat-bottom steering wheel at least.

The 2020 model comes with an eight-inch touchscreen system mounted on top of the dash. The 2021 model, however, features a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The G70 is equipped with a Lexicon 15-speaker audio system, too. While it comes with an integrated navigation system as standard, stuff like a 360-degree camera system can be had for some extra moolah.

Is The G70 Spacious?

There is nothing extraordinary about the space inside the cabin, but you won’t feel cramped in here either. In the front, the G70 offers 38.5 inches of headroom, 56.3 inches of shoulder room, and 42.6 inches of legroom. The Audi S4 and the Lexus IS 350 F-Sport, on the other hand, offer 37.3- and 38.2 inches of headroom, 55.9 inches of shoulder room (both the cars), and 41.3 and 44.8 inches of legroom, respectively.

At the back, the G70 offers 36.9 inches of headroom, whereas the Audi and the Lexus offer 37.4- and 36.9 inches, respectively. The shoulder room and legroom on the Genesis are 54.6- and 34.8 inches, 54.5- and 35.7 inches on the Audi, and 53.4- and 32.2 inches on the Lexus.

How Much Cargo Can The G70 Carry?

The Genesis G70 comes with a cargo space of 10.5 cubic feet, which is the least of the three cars. The Lexus IS 350 F-Sport can swallow 10.8 cubic feet of stuff in its cargo area, whereas the S4 takes the cake with a cargo space of 12 cubic feet.

Genesis G70 Pricing

The 2020 Genesis G70 is offered in five different trims:

• 2.0T RWD - $35,450
• 2.0T AWD - $37,450
• 2.0T RWD Six-speed Manual - $38,500
• 3.3T RWD - $44,650
• 3.3T AWD - $46,650

Is The Genesis G70 Better Than The Audi S4?

The Audi S4 is essentially the performance version of the A4. It comes with the bells and whistles of the A4, but with much better performance specs. It is powered by a 3.0-liter, V-6 twin-turbocharged engine that makes 349 ponies and 369 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Power is sent to all the wheels, courtesy of the Quattro all-wheel-drive system. It takes 4.4 seconds to 60 mph from rest and has a top speed of 155 mph. The car features Nappa leather seats, carbon atlas inlays, and ambient lighting that make it feel premium. The Audi S4 starts at $49,900, and is on par with the G70 in most of the aspects, so it boils down to your preference whether or not you find the South Korean better than the German.

Read our full review on the Audi S4

Is The Genesis G70 Better Than The Lexus IS 350 F-Sport?

The Lexus IS 350 F-Sport is the sportier version of the standard IS model. It is powered by a V-6 engine that displaces at 3.5-liter, but the power specs aren’t as good as the G70 or the S4. The big mill makes 311 horses and 280 pound-feet of twist. Power is sent to either the rear wheels or all the wheels via a six-speed gearbox. As expected, even the performance figures take a hit. The F-Sport takes 5.6 seconds to 60 mph, making it over a second slower than its rivals. However, it looks much sharper and aggressive than the G70 and has a bolder interior too. The Lexus IS 350 F-Sport starts at $42,900. If you base it purely on performance specs, we’d choose the Genesis G70 over this Japanese beast.

Read our full review on the Lexus IS 350 F-Sport

Genesis G70 Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Lane Keeping Assist
• Blind-Spot Collision Warning
• Smart Cruise Control
• Driver Attention Warning
• High Beam Assist
• Rear-Cross Traffic Collision Warning

Genesis G70 Optional Packages and Accessories

The 3.3-liter model is offered in three different packages. Here’s what all they include:

Elite Package - $1,450

• Rain Sensing Wipers
• Wireless Device Charging
• Ventilated Front Seats
• Heated Steering Wheel

Prestige Package - $4,300

• Rain Sensing Wipers
• Wireless Device Charging
• Ventilated Front Seats
• Heated Steering Wheel
• Nappa Steering Leather
• Heads-up Display
• Surround View Monitor
• Power Trunk Lid

Sport Package - $5,600

• Rain Sensing Wipers
• Wireless Device Charging
• Ventilated Front Seats
• Heated Steering Wheel
• Nappa Steering Leather
• Heads-up Display
• Surround View Monitor
• Power Trunk Lid
• 19-inch Sport wheels
• Dark Chrome Accents
• Copper Headlight Accents
• Electronically Controlled Suspension

Even though these models are equipped with almost everything that Genesis has to offer, especially with the packages, there are a handful of accessories that can be purchased separately:

• Cargo Tray - $150
• First Aid Kit - $45
• Mud Guards - $70
• Rear Bumper Applique - $80
• Wheel Locks - $75