2020 Genesis G70

The 2020 Genesis G70 is a rear-wheel-drive compact luxury sedan from Hyundai’s upstart premium Genesis brand. Sporty and quick, the G70 joins the full-size G90 luxury sedan in the lineup. with a wide stance and a confident, planted feel, making it well-suited for buyers seeking a more athletic driving experience. An all-wheel drivetrain is available for enhanced stability and control on slippery roads.

From the outside, the car looks relatively conventional—a good-looking, sporty sedan. But from the driver’s seat, you suddenly feel as though you’re in something more along the lines of a supercar. That’s overstating it dramatically, but the G70 has a low, wide posture atypical of its class. For some drivers, it may take a few minutes to register just how unique the driver’s position is in comparison to other cars in the compact sports sedan class.

Couple an aggressive stance, which helps the car stay poised while cornering, with a pronounced downward-slope to its nose, and it all adds up to a car with phenomenal forward visibility and handling characteristics to match. Think of it as a daily commuter that will have you seeking out winding backroads on the weekend. It’s for people who enjoy the visual and physical aspects of driving as much as they appreciate luxury and quality.

Of course, the latter two elements are very much present. Genesis is a young brand, but its parent company, Hyundai, has a few years of experience with premium-luxury cars, namely the Equus. Though that and its Kia K900 sibling didn’t move any mountains, the company learned enough from them to be able to up their game significantly with the new Genesis brand.

As a result, the G70 is a striking debut entry-level luxe product. It’s beautiful and smartly designed, and its interiors are impressive—plush but firm, with lots of interesting details, materials, color contrasts, seat quilting, and general design flourishes. Car interiors can stray into the bland, but Genesis keeps the G70’s lively and stimulating.

Though it’s a bit disappointing that the infotainment system design doesn’t stray far from that current Hyundai product, it’s tech chops keep pace with the competition. The 8-inch LCD accessing the infotainment system sticks up vertically from the dash—a polarizing strategy—but it’s easy to control and entirely useful. That and the 7-inch display in the instrument cluster provide full connectivity, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an integrated navigation system, and an optional 15-speaker, 660-watt Lexicon audio system. (Under-seat subwoofers are a surprising touch.) The system is fully customizable and readily available in most trim levels for the car.

On the road, the six-speed manual version found in the 255-horsepower four-cylinder (252 horsepower with the automatic) model offers the most rewarding driving experience. A confident suspension and responsive engine make every drive a pleasure. Bumping up to the V6 power, with the full force of 365 hp at your feet, makes for more exciting starts, but the lack of a manual option makes it less engaging. Sadly, market data suggests few drivers opt for them, so take that for what it’s worth. 

The automatic transmission delivers prompt gear swaps, and coupled to a mechanical limited-slip differential ensures that the power application stays smooth and consistent. It also is engineered to hold gears longer in the turns—another perk for a performance-oriented sedan—which, combined with the tight steering, helps you precisely thread every needle on your drive. Brembo brakes are there to dial things down if you come in too hot.

So yes, the G70 is a surprisingly hot ticket for the brand, and refreshingly so. Premium-luxury manufacturers typically start out slow then introduce enhanced versions much later. Genesis hits the ground running with the G70, which only has us eagerly anticipating the arrival of a performance-enhanced version.