Pampered performance in the Genesis G70
The Genesis G70 is the best-selling sedan in the Genesis lineup.
By Dale Edward Johnson, for Fresh YQR
In spite of the increasing popularity of crossovers and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), some people still prefer conventional sedans.
When it comes to small, luxury sport sedans, the Genesis G70 competes with the likes of the Audi A5, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, as well as several others.
The G70 in the most popular Genesis sedan. Last year, 595 were sold in Canada – which is about triple the combined sales of the larger G80 and G90 sedans. In the first quarter of this year, sales of the G70 were 17 per cent ahead of the same period a year earlier.
The G70 is an ideal blend of performance and pampering.
The G70 sits on a 2,835 mm wheelbase and is 4,685 mm long. That makes it the smallest of the three sedans offered by Genesis; the G80 is the mid-sized model and the G90 is the largest sedan. The G70 shares many of the styling, luxury and safety features of its larger siblings.
I recently test drove a Tasman Blue G70 2.5 T Prestige all-wheel-drive. It’s powered by a 2.5 litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that produces 300 horsepower. (An optional 3.3 litre twin-turbo V-6 is available, with 365 hp.) According to Natural Resources Canada, fuel consumption is 11.7 litres per 100 kms in the city and 8.4 L/100 km on the highway.
Overall, this car is absolutely beautiful.
The exterior styling is elegant and sophisticated with the large, distinctive Genesis grill in the front, and two horizontal slits for taillights. It’s easy to see the family resemblance.
The controls are logically arranged and easy to use. The interior is classy and luxurious – although the back seat is a bit cramped.
The interior is all about class and elegance.
The top of the dashboard and door panels are black, while the seats, armrests and the front of the dashboard are tobacco coloured. There’s also tobacco-coloured stitching across the black dashboard. Some chrome accents on the dash and console add to the luxury look.
The interior is gorgeous.
The driver position is excellent. In front of the driver are the tachometer and speedometer, and there’s a 10.25-inch navigation screen in middle of dash. Below the nav screen are the vents for heating and air conditioning. But it’s the rest of the dashboard that sets the G70 apart. Directly below the vents are two round knobs, for volume and tuning for the radio. Between these two knobs are eight buttons for selecting such things as the map, radio and home. This means, for example, to change to another radio station, it doesn’t mean tapping your finger on the touch screen, then going to the home page, then selecting the audio page, then choosing the band, and then selecting the station. I’ve often gone through such a rather cumbersome process on other vehicles. Why don’t more automakers realize that it is safer and easier for a driver to reach over and press a raised button, rather than trying to navigate through the touch screen?
And here’s another good idea: Below these buttons, just above the console, is another smaller screen that displays the heating and ventilation system. Again, there are two round knobs that can be turned to adjust the heat or air conditioning.
All the controls are easy to find, greatly enhancing the driving experience. The focus is on driving, not trying to figure out the menus on the nav screen.
Visibility is excellent and it feels very spacious – except in the back seat. It’s adequate, but not spacious. If you’re regularly carrying two or three adults in the rear, check out the larger models. But for small kids or occasional rear passengers for short trips, the G70 works.
The Genesis G70 is powerful, elegantly styled and luxurious. It’s not perfect: the back seat is a bit cramped, and the fuel economy is less than stellar. But the luxury touches, the logically laid out controls and a very competitive price of $61,500 make it clear why the G70 is such a hit in the marketplace.
All photos by Dale Edward Johnson