Review: 2020 Genesis G70 Prestige

If you’re in the market for a sporty yet luxurious sedan, you’re spoiled for choice. You could go for the established German brands of BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi. Or you may consider other European brands such as Jaguar with the XE or Volvo with the S60. Then there are alternatives such as Cadillac XT5 or Lexus IS. You’re spoiled for choice and now there’s another alternative from Hyundai’s premium brand; Genesis.

Performance

Engine – The 2020 Genesis G70 is available with two engines. A 2.0L turbo developing 252 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, or this equipped 3.3L twin-turbocharged V6 developing 365 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque. Although the power of the V6 is a bit less than those of the BMW M340i or Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG, a few tenths of a second to 100 km/h (62 mph) shouldn’t matter to most owners considering that they’re saving thousands of dollars over the competition. More on that later. Even so, the sprint to 100 km/h gets done in 4.5 seconds which is not bad for a sedan that weighs in at just over 1,800 kg.

Fuel economy for this engine though is not the best. EnerGuide rates the Genesis G70 AWD 3.3t at 14.1 L/100km (16.7 mpg) in a city and 9.5 L/100km (24.8 mpg) on a highway. Both the C43 and M340i can achieve better fuel economy figures.

Transmission – An 8-speed automatic is the only transmission available with the 3.3L V6. This is not a transmission that is sourced from another company but rather one that Hyundai developed themselves. Overall it is very good. Smooth when driving normally and very quick when in Sport mode and using the paddle shifters.

Braking – The Prestige trim is equipped with 4 piston Brembo calipers to the front brakes and 2 piston Brembos to the back. Coming to a stop is effortless for the big brakes and they’re fairly easy to modulate once up to temperature. When they’re cold in the mornings for example, they can be a bit sensitive. Emergency automatic braking and forward collision alert are standard features.

Handling – For such a heavy sedan, the Genesis G70 feels surprisingly light on its wheels. It’s not as well refined as a BMW but for what you’re paying for, it’s very good. Steering feel is better than most despite it being an electro-assisted system. This Prestige trim, however, does not have a limited slip differential and the adaptive suspension of the Sport trim. But even so, the G70 is still a fun sports sedan to drive on a twisty mountain road.

The 3.3t V6 engine is only available with All-Wheel-Drive for the North American market but if you want a Rear-Wheel-Drive G70, the 2.0L Turbo is your only option. But on the plus, it comes equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission and a limited slip differential.

Comfort

Ride Comfort – This being the more luxury oriented trim of the G70 family, the suspension is tuned to be more forgiving when driving over bumps. Body roll is still kept under check and driving over bad bumps or potholes doesn’t feel like a back breaking or jarring experience like in other sports sedans. This Prestige trim does not have the adaptive dampers of the Sport trim, however the ride is good for daily city driving.

Interior Space – The seats also add to the comfort by being supportive and plush. Although I would personally preferred if there was more side bolstering. The back seats however are tight for both leg and headroom. Trunk space is generous at 311L of space.

Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – The cabin is very well insulated from outside noises. Turn off the “enhanced” engine noise system, and even when the engine revs to around 4,000 rpms, it is still relatively quiet. Squeaks and rattles are non-existent.

Odds and Ends

Gadgets – Like the G80 Sport, the 2020 Genesis G70 is available with gadgets one would expect from a premium luxury brand. Nav, heated and ventilated seats, heads-up display, adaptive cruise control, forward collision emergency braking, and so on. Some luxury features though are not available such as massaging seats or some form of auto-pilot system but for a car that costs $56,000 CAD ($46,650 USD), it’s very well equipped.

One thing worth mentioning is the design of the infotainment system. The Genesis G90 utilizes an updated version of the infotainment system that is found in many other Hyundai and Kia products. However, the G70 still uses the exact same infotainment of entry-level Hyundai and Kia products. It works very well but for a luxury vehicle, most customers would want something that at least doesn’t look like it came from a $20,000 car.

Exterior Design – Styling is subjective and everyone has their own likes and dislikes. For me, the Genesis G70 (and other Genesis vehicles) don’t particularly look that exciting. They are striking to look at with the massive grille but it’s not appealing to me. The G70 is the same. I’m not a big fan of the big grille and the rear tail lamps are very bland looking. I will say this though, if you want a luxury sedan that turns heads and stands out, this is one to consider because there’s nothing that looks like it and people will wonder what it is.

Interior Design – The interior design can be described in one word; simple. All of the controls are well laid out and placed where you’d expect them to be. There is nothing complicated about changing the temperature or turning on the heated seats or adjusting the seats. Anyone can get into the car and use any of the controls without asking someone else to show them how it works.

The materials used in the G70 are of good quality and have a premium feel. The quilted leather in the seats further adds to the overall luxury of the car. Overall, it is a nice place to be in.