Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

2019 Genesis G70 review

If you don't know about Genesis yet, the G70 is going to change that

2019 Genesis G70 Review
Miles Branman/Digital Trends
2019 Genesis G70
MSRP $30,000.00
“The 2019 Genesis G70 doesn’t at all feel like a first attempt at a sporty, luxurious compact sedan.”
Pros
  • Superb ride quality
  • Classic rear-drive dynamics
  • Unparalleled standard amenities
  • Muscular stance
Cons
  • Sub-standard fuel economy
  • Tight rear passenger space and small trunk

In 1983, Toyota began developing a full-size luxury sedan to rival BMW’s 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz’s S-Class. In global markets, that model came to be known as the LS400 – the first vehicle from Toyota’s new premium brand, Lexus.

Recommended Videos

The same year of Lexus’ unveiling, another Japanese automaker began marketing its first luxury vehicle. Nissan’s newly-formed Infiniti brand took aim at the same full-size sedans with its Q45. Today, Lexus boasts a full range of direct challengers to German luxury staples, and is renowned for its build quality and vehicle comfort. Infiniti, meanwhile, has settled into a lower class of cars known as “entry-level” luxury vehicles and rarely enters the same conversation as traditional premium brands.

Despite entering the market at roughly the same time and offering similarly competitive models, Lexus and Infiniti have walked two very different paths. And though Infiniti has rallied recently with improved designs and convenience features, its products are still judged primarily by their value propositions.

2019 Genesis G70 Review
Miles Branman/Digital Trends

Hyundai is keenly aware of the challenges facing its recently minted Genesis brand. Proper management and prudent product planning could vault Genesis into the company of BMW and Lexus, but missteps could send it the way of Infiniti. The South Korean automaker’s first models, the G80 and G90 sedans are broadly praised, but legitimacy as a luxury marque will be established within more competitive segments.

Enter the G70. Genesis’ first compact sport sedan faces BMW’s 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class with high-output engines, a striking design, and extensive amenities. Our test of the G70 3.3T ($44,745) gauges the new arrival’s competence within one of the most cutthroat vehicle classes.

Unrefined, but lookin’ fine

As the company’s volume model (at least until an SUV arrives next year), the G70 is Genesis – in both look and feel. Styling, therefore, must reflect the automaker’s aspirations.

Tidy and distinctive, the G70’s caboose is a sweet finish to a handsome exterior.

Our G70 3.3T Sport tester is the fiercest packaging of the luxury compact, with dark chrome accents, gunmetal gray 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, DRLs, and taillights, an integrated rear diffuser, and dual oval exhaust ports. The subtler details of the G70’s exterior are contrasted by its Mallorca blue paint and bright red brake calipers.

10 feet off, the G70 looks spectacular, with a wide, powerful stance, striking light signatures, and clean lines. The car’s resemblance to its larger siblings is clear, and it further defines the brand’s design language. One particular success of the G70 is its rear end styling – an area of automotive design that is commonly botched. Tidy and distinctive, the G70’s caboose is a sweet finish to a handsome exterior.

As you approach the G70, however, some aesthetic blunders come into focus. The boomerang-shaped vents of the front quarter panels, for example, are unnecessary flourishes that interrupt a slick profile. At the front, a shimmering piece of plastic is painted (unconvincingly) to match the grille’s mesh design. While necessary to house the vehicle’s radar-based driver aids, the plastic panel could have been integrated within the lower fascia to be less conspicuous. Though initially troubling, these visual discrepancies became less and less noticeable as our time with the G70 wore on.

Proving itself as a true rear-drive sport sedan, the G70 wags its tail on command and holds hilarious drifts

The cabin’s presentation is opposite that of the G70’s exterior – at first appearing underwhelming before revealing upscale touches under closer scrutiny. A driver-oriented (and somewhat utilitarian) dashboard is accented by metal-look plastics, contrast stitching, and an intuitive center stack. Diminishing the layout’s premium look is a crudely tacked-on 8.0-inch touchscreen display with thick borders and plain analog gauges.

Available quilted Nappa leather for the seats and door inserts enhances the interior vibe substantially, as does the knurled finish on the G70’s cup holders and climate control dials, extensive use of soft-touch materials, and minimal application of smudge-prone piano black trim. The G70’s wide platform lends itself to generous shoulder and elbowroom, but adult-sized rear passengers aren’t treated to much leg and headroom. The trunk, too, is cramped, with just 11 cubic feet of cargo space.

All of the basics, none of the B.S.

The sheer abundance of content within the G70 3.3T is staggering. Before tacking on any of the three available packages, customers are treated to leather seating surfaces – heated, ventilated, and power operated at the front, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and power-folding side mirrors, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a Lexicon 15-speaker audio system, navigation, a 7.0-inch color TFT screen, an 8.0-inch infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and adaptive high beams.

Miles Branman/Digital Trends

Also part of the standard kit is a comprehensive suite of driver assistance features, including forward collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts, adaptive cruise control, and a backup camera. Buyers can choose to add a surround-view camera system, head-up display, and park distance alerts for a fee. Our experience with these systems is mostly positive, though the lane-keeping assistance isn’t quite as nuanced as competitor offerings.

The sheer abundance of standard content is staggering.

Genesis’ infotainment system is unchanged in its transition from Hyundai vehicles, affording the same logical menu structure and respectably quick response time. In many ways, the simplicity of the G70’s module is refreshing, though there’s no denying a deficiency of screen clarity and graphic complexity compared to rival systems.

Beyond the G70’s standard amenities, Genesis offers features like rain-sensing wipers, wireless phone charging, heated rear seats, adaptive low beams, and a head-up display as part of its Elite and Prestige packages.

Walking the walk (and trotting the trot)

While the number of BMW customers who buy based on status now likely outweighs the crop of performance-minded shoppers, there’s no discounting the automaker’s engineering talent. To contend with the new M340i – a brilliant sport sedan – Genesis turned to ex-BMW M division head, Albert Biermann.

Beirmann has already made his mark on sister brands Kia, with the Stinger GT four-door coupe, and Hyundai, with the Veloster N hot hatch. With the Stinger GT-based G70, Biermann and his team were tasked with balancing ride comfort with classic rear-drive fun.

Miles Branman/Digital Trends

Our tester’s 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V6 delivers a stout 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Base 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder cars rouse a more modest 255 horses, and can be optioned with a six-speed manual. Other performance hardware on our 3.3T includes Brembo brakes and a torque-vectoring limited-slip rear differential. The Sport package adds adaptive dampers and upgrades the Michelin PS4 tires to PS4S units at the same 225-front and 255-rear widths.

From a dig, the G70 3.3T achieves 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and tops out at 167 mph. While demonstrating its straight-line speed, the G70 also showcases linear power delivery and smooth transitions between gears. The speaker-amplified (or restricted) engine noise is appealing, though there’s little character to the tune at any part of the rev range. Braking force and feel matches the G70’s impressive acceleration, with good initial bite and a progressive pedal.

Regardless of drive mode, the G70 boasts some of the best ride quality in the segment, never faltering over bumps

The G70 features several drive modes to optimize ride quality and performance for efficiency, comfort, or pace. Default comfort mode is pleasantly compliant but lazy, thanks to a dead throttle pedal. Sport quickly becomes our preferred setting for its sharp response, well-timed gear changes, and cornering composure. An unfortunate side effect of sport mode’s aggression is poor fuel economy (we averaged 17 mpg during our week with the car, undercutting the EPA’s 20-mpg combined rating). Regardless of drive mode, the G70 boasts some of the best ride quality in the segment, never faltering over bumps or succumbing to cabin harshness.

Cutting three inches from the GT’s wheelbase and 100 pounds from its mass gives the G70 livelier response and greater agility. Taking corners at speed, the G70 remains flat and predictable. Steering feedback is limited, but turn-in is sharp and rapid. Proving itself as a true rear-drive sport sedan, the G70 wags its tail on command and holds drifts with traction and stability control switched off. Whether the Genesis is as sharp as the M340i is difficult to say, but it’s arguably more enjoyable as a daily driver.

Ze Germans

All of the Genesis G70 3.3T’s rivals are more experienced and more esteemed, but lets strip away their badges for a moment to review the specifications.

Both BMW’s M340i and Mercedes-AMG’s C43 boast more power than the G70 from their respective forced-induction six-cylinder engines, while the Audi S4 has the least output of the four. The sprint to 60 mph shows the AMG out in front (4.0 seconds) and the G70 at the back of the pack, though the G70 has the highest (unlimited) top speed. Fuel economy favors the M340i and Audi S4 at 24 mpg combined, while cargo capacity is a tie between the AMG and BMW (both offering 17 cubic feet).

At last we arrive at pricing, where the advantage shifts to Genesis. At roughly $10,000 premiums over the G70 3.3T, the BMW M340i and Mercedes-AMG C43 lean on their reputations and specs. Audi’s S4 is a few thousand dollars cheaper and includes all-wheel drive as standard (a cost add-on for the three other cars), but is still far pricier than the Korean. Load up the three Germans with equipment to match the G70 and the price gap widens considerably.  

Peace of mind

The 2019 Genesis G70 comes with one of the industry’s best warranties: basic coverage for five years or 60,000 miles, and powertrain coverage for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Other highlights include free maintenance, roadside assistance, and a valet to pick-up/drop-off your vehicle for service.

How DT would configure this car

Based on the G70 3.3T’s generous standard features, we’d keep our G70 close to basic spec. Like our test car, we’d choose the Mallorca blue exterior, but paired instead with gray leather seats. With destination and handling, our configured MSRP would be $44,745.

Our Take

The 2019 Genesis G70 doesn’t at all feel like a first attempt at a sporty, luxurious compact sedan. Engaging drive dynamics, a striking form, compliant ride, and plush cabin matches rivals in all but the most superficial ways. Errors of cramped rear passenger space and poor fuel economy are certainly worth noting within such a competitive segment, but they are in no way deal breakers or signs of an incompetent manufacturer.

Brand loyalty is powerful, and those already aligned with a German favorite are unlikely to trade-in for a Genesis, but the G70’s incredible value proposition – without evident sacrifice – gives it serious appeal among young and discerning buyers. This is certainly starting to feel like a Lexus success story in the making.

Should you get one?

We think the 2019 Genesis G70 is one of the best values in the automotive market and a worthy sport sedan pick.

Miles Branman
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Miles Branman doesn't need sustenance; he needs cars. While the gearhead gene wasn't strong in his own family, Miles…
Bose wants to dominate car audio, and I heard its next-gen 3D automotive speakers
Bose logo on a speaker grille

Bose’s automotive audio business is huge, and it’s set to get even bigger. The company has been making big plays in car audio for some time now. The audio company works with premium brands like Porsche, building high-end speakers that allow drivers to experience high-quality audio on the road, whether they’re carting the family around in an Escalade or weaving around the highway (don’t do that) in a Porsche Macan.

But while it has a solid selection of audio brands under its belt, the world of personal audio is also evolving. Mercedes-Benz showed off its Dolby Atmos system at CES last year, and now, a year later, plenty of other brands are joining the trend. At CES 2025, Bose walked me through its current lineup of automotive audio products, as well as a sneak peek of what’s to come.
Immersive audio
The big trend in all areas of personal audio right now essentially boils down to supporting 3D audio formats like Dolby Atmos. Consumer home theater products are increasingly offering up-firing and side-firing speakers that can bounce audio around the room to simulate height and surround effects, while headphone brands are increasingly developing spatialized audio tech that can convert stereo audio into simulated spatial audio.

Read more
You Asked: What’s the most impressive thing you saw at CES?
You Asked CES Editors Cut

On today’s special edition of You Asked, we tracked down each of our editors and put them on the spot to find out what they thought was the most impressive thing they saw at CES 2025 in Early January. Let’s find out what they had to say.
Panasonic Z95B

There’s been some really cool TV tech at CES, but the thing I’m most excited about is the new Panasonic Z95B. Instead of the regular OLED display structure we’ve seen in recent years with MLA technology, this uses a four-layer panel structure. It features individual red, green, and blue layers (two of the latter) for the emissive light.

Read more
Volvo CTO Anders Bell chats its new do-it-all tech platform and future EVs
2025 Volvo EX90 front quarter view.

Volvo is at an inflection point. The company has finally launched the new Volvo EX90 -- it's long-awaited flagship electric SUV, designed to take on other premium large SUVs like the Rivian R1S. The new vehicle offers Volvo's signature Scandinavian style, but with modern features and Google's Android Automotive software.

Beyond being its first major electric SUV release, perhaps more important is the fact that the EX90 also represents the launch of Volvo's so-called Superset platform. Essentially, Superset is the Volvo-designed tech stack that is supposed to be used on all of its upcoming electric vehicles, containing all the modules and software necessary to power a built-out next-generation lineup of EVs.

Read more