2020 Genesis G70 Review: How well-deserved are all the praise?

2020 Genesis G70

In Our Opinion:

The Genesis G70 has garnered a lot of attention since its arrival in 2017. The car is stylish and sporty, but buyers have plenty of options in this segment. Although the G70 lacks in at least one key area, it's still desirable and as close to perfect as any new brand could get. Our only question is if Genesis can maintain their current momentum. Right now, things look promising. What we don't want to see is a fall from grace as others have done in this segment. We hope Genesis can stay ahead of the curve and improve, in time, on the vehicles they have already brought to market.

Exterior Styling

90

Interior Layout

81

Driving Dynamics

92

Safety & Tech Features

84

Everyday Functionality

76

Pros

Sharp Interior

Sport Exhaust

Numerous Third-Party Awards

Cons

Cramped Rear Seat

Infotainment System

85

The 2020 Genesis G70 lives in a crowded house, and everyone is fighting for the bathroom first thing in the morning. In this slice of the market, Genesis is up against a potential laundry list of competitors: Acura, Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Infiniti, Jaguar, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo.

Does Genesis Make Reliable Cars?

Our Press Vehicle

What Does The 2020 Genesis G70 Cost?

Interior Highlights: Initial Impressions

Interior Highlights: Warm Yet Sporty

2020 Genesis G70: Engine & Powertrain

Does The Genesis G70 Have All-Wheel Drive?

Gas Mileage of The 2020 Genesis G70

How Does The G70 With a Manual Drive?

Driving Dynamics: “Cool Car Dude”

Should You Buy a Genesis G70?

2020 Genesis G70 Gallery

Does Genesis Make Reliable Cars?

In 2017, Genesis was ranked highest among premium automakers in J.D. Power’s U.S. Initial Quality Study. Likewise, in J.D. Power’s 2020 Vehicle Dependability Study the brand ranked number one again with the larger G80. Regarding the G70, it was the 2019 North American Car of the Year and MotorTrend’s 2019 Car of the Year. It was also a category winner in the Car and Driver 2019 10 Best awards and received the “Best of 2019” designation from Cars.com.

Does the Genesis G70 live up to its reputation? That’s what we wanted to find out.

Our 2020 Genesis G70 Sport M/T (manual transmission) press vehicle outside Comerica Park, downtown Detroit. The exterior paint is called Havana Red. Note the red Brembo brake calipers as well. Photo: Danielle Anthony for Automoblog.net.

Our Press Vehicle

We recently spent a week cruising around Detroit in a G70 Sport with a six-speed manual. Our G70 was loaded with the Advanced Safety Technology package which included seven airbags; forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection; blind-spot collision warning with rear cross-traffic detection; lane-keeping assist; driver attention warning; high beam assist; and a Brembo braking system.

The Comfort & Convenience package had all kinds of goodies: automatic LED headlights and taillights; LED daytime running lamps; heated outside mirrors with LED turn signals; leather seats with a nearly endless array of adjustments; heated and ventilated front seats; leather-wrapped steering wheel; and climate control for good measure.

The Powertrain Technology package gave us a 2.0-liter turbo engine, limited-slip differential, the six-speed manual, and 19-inch alloy wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer tires.

Our 2020 Genesis G70 had two separate screens: a seven-inch LCD multi-information display, and an eight-inch audio display. The latter is Bluetooth compatible and supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There are three USB ports (two front, one rear) and a Lexicon 15-speaker audio system with Quantum Logic Surround and Clari-Fi technology.

What Does The 2020 Genesis G70 Cost?

Given how nicely equipped our G70 press vehicle was already, we didn’t have any optional features. The base price of $38,500, plus the freight and handling charge of $995, equaled a total MSRP of $39,495. By comparison, the 2020 Genesis G70 starts at $35,450.

Even though the G70 is priced right for the performance you get, you might be able to save a little more, depending on incentives in your area. This free and easy search tool* will show you which dealers are giving you the best price.

Window sticker for our 2020 Genesis G70 press vehicle.

Interior Highlights: Initial Impressions

Considering our press vehicle had a six-speed manual, our eyes went there immediately! After the initial excitement of the transmission, we looked around to find a cozy, yet sporty interior. Our G70 press vehicle was adorned with Nappa leather seats, leather door panels with aluminum handles, metal speaker grilles, and plenty of soft-touch materials.

Genesis offers five different colors for the interior: Obsidian Black, Sandstorm Gray, Velvet Burgundy, Tobacco Brown, and Vanilla Beige. Sports Gray and Sports Red are available for the G70 Sport and 2.0T trim levels. Our press vehicle had an Obsidian Black interior and it was sharp.

The eight-inch touchscreen is responsive and colorful but appears on loan from Hyundai models lower down the food chain. While this isn’t a bad thing per se, automakers like Audi and Mercedes-Benz offer higher levels of functionality with their MMI touch response and MBUX systems respectively. Given how stylish our G70 was, the connectivity system didn’t seem to match the rest of the interior. The screen feels jammed atop the dash as if it were a bit of an afterthought.

2020 Genesis G70 interior layout.

Interior Highlights: Warm Yet Sporty

What I really enjoyed was all the different settings for the driver’s seat, from the lumbar and leg support to the extra side bolstering. You can adjust the bolstering in the G70 so it literally wraps you in Nappa leather. Flip on the heated seats and you won’t want to stop driving, especially with that six-speed manual right there. The interior of the G70 is such that it’s comfortable like this, but the manual transmission lets you know there are sports car undertones.

The Lexicon stereo is nice, but you won’t spend much time with the radio on. Since our press vehicle had a six-speed manual and a twin-tip sport exhaust, that was the soundtrack we preferred for our week-long drive. The sport exhaust isn’t shy either. Through every gear change and every tap of the throttle, you can hear it growl. It’s pretty cool.

2020 Genesis G70 on the open road.

2020 Genesis G70: Engine & Powertrain

Under the hood of our press vehicle was a Theta-II, 2.0-liter turbo GDI engine with 255 horsepower and 260 lb-ft. of torque. The plant benefits from a smaller turbine wheel, motor-driven intake variable valve timing system, and a two-stage relief oil pump. The manual transmission is only available in the Sport trim. Thus, it’s only available with this engine and with rear-wheel drive.

Optional for the G70 is the Lambda II 3.3-liter V6 turbo GDI engine. This monster creates 365 horsepower and 376 lb-ft. of torque. Here the manual transmission is swapped for an eight-speed automatic.

Related: How long is the Genesis warranty and do you need more?

Does The Genesis G70 Have All-Wheel Drive?

All-wheel drive is available on the 2020 Genesis G70 for both engines.

Gas Mileage of The 2020 Genesis G70

2020 Genesis G70 Fuel Economy

Drivetrain

City/Highway

Combined

2.0-liter Turbo, RWD, Manual

18/28

22

2.0-liter Turbo, RWD, Automatic

22/30

25

3.3-liter Turbo, RWD, Automatic

17/26

20

2.0-liter Turbo, AWD, Automatic

20/27

23

3.3-liter Turbo, AWD, Automatic

17/25

20

How Does The G70 With a Manual Drive?

The six-speed manual will send the G70 forward in a hurry if you are a proficient and skilled driver. First and second are blips on the radar, with five and six serving as overdrive gears for longer stretches of road. Downshifting is also easy, especially when slowing down to make a turn. Suffice it to say, it’s easy to become addicted to a manual transmission in a car like the G70.

While cursing on M-10 through Detroit, we didn’t downshift once to pass slower traffic. You can give it a little gas in sixth gear and the G70 will get right up and move. There is an area on M-10 as it merges with I-696 and the speed limit changes. Traffic picks up but we didn’t need to downshift to keep the pace. There is plenty of “room” to move in sixth gear when you need.

Drivers who are just learning, or who haven’t driven a manual in some time, will find the G70 is quite forgiving. It’s hard to stall it and if you ride a gear for too long, a green indicator light lets you know it’s time to shift.

Driving Dynamics: “Cool Car Dude”

In terms of the architecture, everything is connected and engaged. All G70 models ride on a MacPherson multi-link front and multi-link rear suspension with a performance-oriented geometry. Our press vehicle also had a limited-slip differential, Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires, and Brembo brakes with four-piston front and two-piston rear calibers. Add in the manual transmission, and drivers will feel a remarkably balanced car that is agile and nimble.

We hit Pontiac Trail, up by West Bloomfield Township near Upper Straits Lake. The road has a number of inclines and tighter turns, which our G70 took in stride. The suspension and tires keep the car planted, while the manual transmission allows you to really dial in. When wheel slip is detected while exiting a corner, the limited-slip differential automatically distributes torque accordingly across the rear axle.

Danielle and I later pulled off into a quiet neighborhood to look at houses. As we came over a hill at one point, a young mother and her two kids were crossing the street. I hit the clutch and brake pedals just as fast as I could, and the Brembo system proved worth its weight in gold. We stopped instantly! As we resumed and crawled past they waved to us, with one of the little kids yelling “cool car dude!”

Should You Buy a Genesis G70?

Buyers who want something luxurious and sporty, but a little different than what is currently on the market, should take a Genesis 70 for a test drive. While the automatic is more convenient and fuel efficient, we would probably get a wild hair and equip our Genesis G70 with a manual. Either way, the 2020 Genesis G70 is a solid car and the recent string of accolades behind it are well-deserved.

Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association and the Society of Automotive Historians. He serves on the board of directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, is a past president of Detroit Working Writers, and a loyal Detroit Lions fan.

2020 Genesis G70 Gallery

Photos: Genesis Motor America.

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