Le sigh, despite our previous plea based on the superfluously hilarious and awesome Genesis G70 V6 Turbo (review here!) it apparently has not been able to save the sedans and has not made enough of you believe. It pains me that not enough buyers are stopping to even give the time of day to this handsome and well-sorted compact sport sedan. And yes, where I noted the Hyundai IONIQ 6 was just “sporty,” the G70 qualifies as a true sport sedan.
Design wise the G70 is elegant and clean, and I’m convinced Genesis designers have some brilliant wheel execution going on right now. Just absolutely chef’s kiss stuff really. I was a fan of the original G70 design when it debuted back in 2019 and wasn’t quite sure about slapping the new 2-lines brand theme on the old body work but it has really grown on me. The proportions work well with its rear wheel drive set up getting a long-ish hood and short-ish rear deck. It’s not trying to be a high-riding sedan (looking at you Toyota Crown and Polestar 2) and it’s not a hatchback or lift back which typically adds some weight and thick structure work out back. And just look at the blue of this tester, such visual pop and yet not obnoxious or overly trendy.
Inside it’s still a bit snug for a compact sedan these days as BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4 have inched larger (and heavier). But for those younger shoppers who aren’t as concerned about back seat room or needing to fit rear facing car seats, it’s a delight to have something right-sized for what you daily need. Interior displays have also improved and gotten wider in recent years, now up to a 10.25″ setup, although it still lacks wireless phone mirroring for CarPlay or Android Auto.
And where the original G70 recipe was wonderfully and logically button laden for nearly all direct functions, they have given in a bit to the touch crazy with a small touchscreen for some of the heating and ventilation controls. I’m not convinced this is better, but overall everything remains relatively direct access.
While the big 3.3-liter turbo V6 with 365 horsepower is just a monster (and is still available if you want it!) we tested here the revised turbo 4-cylinder option, now a stout 2.5-liter unit with 300 horses on tap. Both engines are available with either rear wheel drive or all wheel drive configurations. While the extra power of the new turbo 4 is appreciated, unfortunately the manual transmission option didn’t make it, pour one out for the row your own crowd.
The turbo 4 definitely feels lighter on the nose than the V6, and way lighter than an EV like the Polestar 2. Turn in on any corner or makeshift slalom you create in your mind feels willing and sharp. Not it doesn’t have the effortless punch of an EV or the big 6, but the 2.5T is playful and energetic with a good programming set to the 8-speed automatic to keep it interesting.
While 2023 was its best sales year yet, I expect the G70 is not long for this world. Platform cousin Kia Stinger is already gone. The U.S. never received the delicious G70 Shooting Brake aka wagon that other countries got. We still have the GV70, but I still kick myself for not picking up a G70 with the manual transmission. No it wasn’t the most engaging sport sedan out there, but it would have been a heck of a fun little daily driver and would have been relatively reliable for years to come. Wonder what the Genesis product strategists will fill in the G70’s place? Hope it’s not a GV70 Coupe…
