Review of Genesis G70 2020: 3.3T Ultimate Sport

Welcome to the history of the Hyundai Genesis premium brand. Today we're introducing the G70, South Korea's answer to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 sedans.

Needless to say, Genesis faces the daunting task of succeeding where Nissan's premium Infiniti brand has failed.

However, the G70 has some strengths, sharing many of its oily bits with the Kia Stinger, a rear-wheel-drive sedan that's a real pleasure to drive, even if it didn't make the sales charts.

So, did Genesis make an impression on debut with its all-important G70? To find out, we tested a midsize car in 3.3T Ultimate Sport form.

Genesis G70 2020: 3.3T Ultimate Sport
Safety Rating
engine's type	3.3 L turbo
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	10.2l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$61,400

Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10

In my opinion, the G70 looks good... damn good. But, as always, style is subjective.

The 3.3T Ultimate Sport, as the name suggests, looks sporty. Up front, its large mesh grille is impressive, and the headlights are wicked enough. Add angular air intakes and you have one cool-looking client.

The badly dented bodywork is not limited to the bonnet, the characteristic line of the side profile runs from one convex wheel arch to the other. There are also five-spoke black 3.3T Ultimate Sport alloy wheels with red brake calipers tucked away at the rear. Yes please.

The rear may be at its thinnest angle, but it still has a chunky trunk lid, smoked taillights, and a prominent diffuser element with integrated twin oval tailpipes. Tasteful dark chrome trim completes the exterior's master class.

Inside, the G70 continues to impress, especially in the 3.3T Ultimate Sport version with black quilted nappa leather upholstery with red stitching.

Yes, that includes the seats, armrests and door inserts, and the headlining is in sensual suede.

The instrument panel and door sills are trimmed with pleasant soft-touch plastic, and the front part is decorated with red stitching. (Image: Justin Hilliard)

In fact, the materials used in general are great. The instrument panel and door sills are trimmed with pleasant soft-touch plastic, and the front part is decorated with red stitching. Even the hard plastic used in the lower parts looks and feels great.

Thankfully, the gloss black trim is limited to the center vent surround, and aluminum is cleverly used elsewhere, helping to brighten up what would otherwise be a dark cabin.

In terms of technology, the 8.0-inch touchscreen floats above the dash and is powered by Hyundai's already familiar infotainment system, which does a better job than most other cars.

The instrument cluster is a combination of digital and traditional analog, with a convenient 7.0-inch multi-function display flanked by a tachometer and speedometer. And there's even a windshield-projected 8.0-inch head-up display for those who are inclined towards it.

Even the hard plastic used in the lower parts looks and feels great. (Image: Justin Hilliard)

How practical is the interior space? 7/10

Measuring 4685mm long, 1850mm wide and 1400mm high, the G70 is a midsize sedan in the truest sense of the word.

In other words, it's comfortable. Those in the front won't have any problem with this fact given that it's a comfortable place, but those in the back will have to face some harsh truths.

There is over five centimeters (two inches) of legroom behind my 184cm legroom, which is good. What is missing is toe space, which is non-existent, while only a few centimeters above the head are available.

The back sofa, of course, can accommodate three, but if they are adults, then they will not feel comfortable even on short trips.

Nor does the oversized transmission tunnel, which eats into precious legroom, help either.

The trunk is also not spacious, only 330 liters. Yes, that's about 50 liters less than the average small sunroof. Although it is wide and relatively deep, it is not very tall.

However, four attachment points and a small storage net help the practicality, and the 60/40 folding rear sofa can be folded down for extra flexibility and roominess.

There are more storage options, of course, with a decent-sized glove box and center storage compartment, and a small stowage on the center console houses a 3.3T Ultimate Sport wireless smartphone charger. Storage nets are also located on the backs of the front seats.

The rear bench can, of course, accommodate three passengers, but if they are adults, then they will not like it. (Image: Justin Hilliard)

A pair of cup holders are located in the front of the center console, and two more in the fold-down center armrest of the second row.

The front door baskets are also capable of swallowing a couple of regular-sized bottles, although their rear counterparts cannot. In fact, they are best used for small trinkets.

Speaking of the rear seat, it has three Top Tether anchor points and two ISOFIX anchor points, so fitting child seats should be easy. We just didn't expect to get three in a row.

In terms of connectivity, there are two USB ports on the front, split between the center console and the center storage compartment. The first also has one 12-volt outlet and one auxiliary input. Only one USB port is available on the second row, below the center air vents.

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 9/10

Starting at $79,950 plus travel expenses, the 3.3T Ultimate Sport is a very good value. Competitors Mercedes-AMG C43 ($112,300), BMW M 340i ($104,900) and Audi S4 ($98,882) are not even close.

Standard equipment that hasn't been mentioned yet includes five driving modes (Eco, Comfort, Sport, Smart and Custom), dusk-sensing headlights, adaptive two-LED headlights, LED daytime running lights and taillights, rain-sensing wipers, auto-folding sidewalls . door mirrors (heated with Genesis shades), 19-inch Sport alloy wheels, a mixed set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires (225/40 front and 255/35 rear), compact spare tire and handle-free power trunk lid.

In terms of technology, the 8.0-inch touchscreen floats above the dash and is powered by Hyundai's already familiar infotainment system. (Image: Justin Hilliard)

In-cabin live traffic sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity, 15-speaker Lexicon audio system, power panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control, 16" driver's seat with power adjustment (with memory function), 12-way power front passenger seat, heated/cooled front seats with XNUMX-way power lumbar support, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, power steering column , auto-dimming rear view mirror, stainless steel pedals and trims.

Nine color options are available, including two white, two black, two silver, blue, green and brown. Everything is free.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10

The 3.3T Ultimate Sport is powered by a 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine that delivers an incredible 272kW at 6000rpm and 510Nm of torque from 1300-4500rpm.

Unlike the class norm, drive is sent exclusively to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission with torque converter and paddle shifters.

The aptly named 3.3T Ultimate Sport is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 petrol engine. (Image: Justin Hilliard)

With launch control enabled, the 3.3T Ultimate Spory accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in an impressive 4.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 270 km/h.

Those looking to save over $10,000 can instead opt for one of the 70T G2.0 options, which uses a 179kW/353Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder unit. They are 1.2 seconds slower to three digits and their final speed is 30 km/h lower.

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How much fuel does it consume? 8/10

The 3.3T Ultimate Sport's claimed fuel consumption in combined cycle testing (ADR 81/02) is 10.2 liters per 100 kilometers, and its 60 liter fuel tank is filled with at least 95 octane gasoline.

In our actual testing, we nearly matched that claim with a return of 10.7L/100km. This result is even more impressive because our week-long test included an even balance of city and highway driving, some of which were "harsh".

For reference, the claimed carbon dioxide emissions are 238 grams per kilometer.

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 9/10

In '70, ANCAP awarded the entire G2018 lineup the highest five-star safety rating.

Advanced driver assistance systems in the 3.3T Ultimate Sport extend to autonomous emergency braking (with pedestrian detection, lane keeping and steering), blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control (with stop and go function). , Manual Speed ​​Limiter, High Beam, Driver Warning, Hill Start Assist, Tire Pressure Monitoring, Surround Cameras, Front and Rear Parking Aid.

It comes with a compact spare tire. (Image: Justin Hilliard)

Other standard safety equipment includes seven airbags (dual front, side and side, and driver knee protection), electronic stabilization and traction control systems, as well as anti-lock brakes (ABS), emergency brake assist and electronic brake force distribution (EBD), among other things.

Yes, there is something missing here.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided?  

Like all Genesis models, the G70 comes with a best-in-class five-year, unlimited-mileage factory warranty and five years of roadside assistance.

Service intervals for the 3.3T Ultimate Sport are every 12 months or 10,000 to 15,000 km, whichever comes first. While the latter is below the 50,000 km standard, the really good news for buyers is that the service is free for the first five years or XNUMX km.

Genesis will even pick up cars from home or work, provide cars for temporary use, and eventually return the repaired cars to their owners.

What is it like to drive? 8/10

Again, the G70 is pretty good. Leading the class? No, but it's not far off.

The 3.3T Ultimate Sport is undeniably heavy in the corners, with a curb weight of 1762kg. But, combined with a low center of gravity, it is at the same time complex.

You'd be forgiven for thinking that composure isn't easy given the engine under the hood. Yes, the V6 twin-turbo is nothing short of crazy when you stick the right trunk.

Peak torque starts just above idle and stays in the mid-range, at which point you're already 1500 rpm from a fleeting moment of peak power before the redline stops the game.

Thrilling acceleration is helped in part by a torque converter automatic transmission that runs its eight gears smoothly, if not super-quickly.

However, turn on the Sport driving mode and the performance stake is raised, with even sharper throttle response and more aggressive shift patterns - perfect for a blast here and there.

The only thing we regret is the accompanying soundtrack, which is rather vanilla. Indeed, the 3.3T Ultimate Sport is devoid of the smile-inducing crackles and pops that rivals deliver. As if Genesis didn't try here.

It comes with five-spoke black 3.3T Ultimate Sport alloy wheels and red brake calipers tucked away in the back. (Image: Justin Hilliard)

In corners, the Brembo brakes (350x30mm ventilated discs with four-piston fixed calipers at the front and 340x22mm rotors with two-piston stoppers at the rear) decelerate with ease.

Out of the corner, the limited-slip rear diff does a great job of finding traction, allowing you to get back to power quickly and quickly.

And if you give it a little more, the 3.3T Ultimate Sport will playfully rock the rear (very little).

As always, Genesis has tuned the ride and handling of the G70 for Australian conditions, and it really shows.

Striking the right balance between comfort and sportiness, the independent suspension consists of a MacPherson strut front axle and a multi-link rear axle with two-stage adaptive dampers.

The ride has a hard undertone, especially on rough gravel and pothole roads, but it's a compromise worth making given the value it adds in twisty stuff, and that's where the electric power steering and its variable ratio come into play.

Simply put, it's very straight forward; the performance you would expect from a real sports car, and the G70 feels a lot smaller than it should be driven. To put it mildly, all this inspires confidence.

Verdict

G70 is really a good thing. We really like it, especially in the 3.3T Ultimate Sport version, which allows customers not only to eat their cake, but also to eat it.

Forget the fact that the G70 is actually a compelling engine, the upfront cost and aftermarket support make it a compelling proposition.

However, we're not sure how many premium customers will be willing to ditch their C-Class and 3 Series sedans in favor of something untested.

However, badge snobbery does not influence our decisions, and it is for this reason that it will be very difficult for us to say no.

Is the G70 a better buy than the C-Class, 3 Series or A4? Tell us what you think in the comments below.