Since its debut in the U.S. in 2016, Genesis, the luxury car brand of Hyundai, has enhanced its offerings with two beautiful crossovers (GV70 and GV80), two electric crossovers in the form of their EV GV70 and EV G80, G90 and GV80 Coupe.
This new brand is noted for their posh, beautiful interiors, unbeatable warranties, great driving dynamics and classical styling. With these accolades, Genesis has become a major player in the luxury car segment.
As the entry-level G70 sedan, that debuted in 2019, its attractive pricing puts it against the Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3 Series, and undercuts this popular duo. And to make the G70 Sport Prestige more attractive here in the Snowbelt, it’s available with AWD. And was the one we were privileged to test.
The 2024 G70 AWD Sport Prestige sports sedan is referred to by Genesis as “Athletic Elegance” design with its twin grilles and split headlamp arrangement coupled with a sloping coupe-like roofline and back end that sports a trunk lip spoiler and dual Ovid shaped tailpipes that add extra sportiness.
As for the interior, it’s totally luxury-car status and quality and typical of all Genesis vehicles. It’s very upscale with sofa soft, supportive leatherette seats with extended under thigh support. They’re heated and ventilated while the front passenger seatback can be powered backward to form a snooze seat. Standard Lexicon audio is top-shelf and when cranked up, makes one think you’re in a concert hall.
A 10.25-inch infotainment display serves the gamut of navigation, audio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto connectivity and much more. The 8-inch digital and analog gauge cluster includes a driver information display for alerts, features, functions and drive modes of Comfort, Smart, Eco, Sport, Sport Plus and Comfort, plus when activating the left and right turn signals, side cameras embedded in the outside side mirrors show the blind spot wherein a biker or car could sneak up when your attempting to make a turn. It’s a great accident avoidance feature.
HVAC controls are comprised of a nifty digital touch-sensitive panel that are easy to use and view. Paddle shifters supplement the stubby, low-profile gear selector for added driver control over shift points and downshifts, while brushed aluminum pedals give a racy look. And get this. When I yawned a few times, a message appeared on the gauge cluster telling me to take a rest break. Nice to be concerned, but I wasn’t tired as I just spent the afternoon at my son’s house and was only 5 minutes away from it.
Rear doors open wide for easy ingress/egress into back seats that you literally sink into with decent leg room for two average size adults. When the front seats are racked well rearward, leg room suffers a bit.
Back in the trunk, that’s rated at 10.5 cubic feet, it measures 39 inches deep to accommodate two large rollie luggage bags and a duffle or two. Flip the rear seatbacks and space expands to 68 inches for lengthy items or added luggage. And the trunk lid opens automatically when standing behind the car with the keyfob in a pocket. Get the Genesis Digital Key app and it allows you to lock/unlock the doors and start the car in cold weather. It operates with Apple iPhones and Android phones. Another nifty feature is a navigation-based cruise control that uses information from the nav system to adjust speed in oncoming curves.
Under the hood is a new 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that generates an impressive 300-hp and 311 lb/ft of torque that carries EPA mileage ratings of 20 city, 28-highway mpg. Coupled to the 8-speed transmission, acceleration is awesome from a standing stop and during highway passing maneuvers. There’s certainly no want for power. Select Sport or Sport Plus modes and G70 is a rocket with quick shift points. For stopping power, premier Brembo brakes are standard.
Aside from the power ratings, G70 rides smoothly and quietly on Michelin 19-inch tires. When crossing an unimproved railroad crossing, the sensation is merely a ripple. It’s also easy to park with a turning diameter of a tight 37.1 feet.
G70’s AWD feature is a necessity here in the Snowbelt. Personally, I would not buy a sedan without AWD, so Genesis was smart in offering it.
Loaded with a long list of standard safety features and amenities, the list includes forward collision avoidance assist, lane keep/following assist, driver attention warning, blind spot collision warning, rear cross traffic collision alert, safe exist wanting and more. All this for a very competitive base price of $43,600. Compare the G70 to Euro imports with similar features and G70 beats them all.
On the options list is was the Sport Prestige Package ($4,200) that includes sport alloy wheels, sport aluminum trim, sunroof, parking distance warning, power folding outside mirrors, wireless phone charger, Lexicon audio, Genesis puddle lamps and many more. With the latter, the bottom line reflected $49,700 with delivery. Still a lot of content and luxury for the money.
One more standout feature is Genesis’s outstanding and unbeatable warranty of 5-year/60K new vehicle warranty, 10/100K powertrain warranty, 5/Unlimited roadside assistance, 3/36K complimentary maintenance, 3/36K complimentary service valet, 3/year complimentary map care and complimentary Genesis connected services.
Impressive too is that the G70 was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that makes it a compelling choice for an AWD sports sedan.
