Introduced in 2017, sales in the United States of the compact sedan totaled 409 in 2018. Then, toward the end of that year, a group of automotive journalists as well as editors with Motor Trend magazine named the 2018 G70 North American Car of the Year. Sales skyrocketed. Through July of 2019, sales totaled 6,621. With five months to go, sales could reach 10,000 by the end of this year.
The G70 along with the G80 and G90 form the basic lineup for Genesis Motor, the recently developed luxury division of Hyundai Motors. A GV80 crossover will be introduced to the U.S. market in 2020 and a GV70 is set to debut in 2021. An all-electric sedan with a range of 300 miles is in the works.
A 2019 G70 was tested recently. This same vehicle will carry over into 2020. The tested G70 was a $34,900 base model with the 2-liter, 252-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine. A 3.3-liter, 365-horsepower V6 is the alternate engine. It can race from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds. The four-cylinder will take 6.6 seconds. Fast but not record-beaters. Both engines are mated to an eight-speed shiftable automatic transmission. Rear-wheel-drive is standard but all-wheel-drive is an option. Only the 2-liter RWD G70 offers the optional six-speed manual transmission. With two turbo engines and a stick transmission available, the G70 has German entry-level luxury sport sedans in its sales sights.
The G70 excels at fun and practicality, two necessities of a luxury sport sedan.
On the major highways, the G70 accelerated quickly around slower traffic and braked quickly. It should. The G70 Brembo brakes have four-piston calipers in front and two calipers for each disc in the rear. Michelin sport tires also play their part.
The ride is tight and quiet. Insulating factors are a big positive. Steering is taut. There is no need to oversteer. The tight and responsive ride is due to a more rigid frame than usual, low center of gravity and electronically controlled sport suspension.
At an asking price of $34,900, the RWD 2-liter turbo all-new G70 is a good buy. The price is $9,000 less than a base G80 and $35,000 less than a G90.
Leg room in front will accommodate drivers and passengers up to six-feet, five-inches in height. That will include the vast majority of new-car buyers. Leg room in the rear is tight. The 10.5 cubic feet of storage space in the trunk can be expanded via fold-down rear seats. There are three USB ports, two in front and one in the rear. The eight-inch color infotainment screen serves AM-FM-satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and hands-free smart phone usage. The sound and climate controls are easy to reach and manipulate. There are tuning and volume knobs.
The four power windows are express up and down. Exterior mirrors are power and heated. Front leathette seats are also heated. Rear heated leather seats are in a $3,000 option package which also includes suede headliner, diamond-shaped quilting trim for the leather seat and door inserts, heads-up display (speed of vehicle and legal speed reflected onto the windshield), surround view monitor, cushion extension for the driver's seat and a wireless charging pad.
Standard niceties are lighted vanity mirrors on visors which have extensions, proximity key with dashboard start, LED turn signal indicators in exterior mirrors, automatic trunk opening via smart key or pushing a button in the cabin, smart cruise control.
An aggressive front end is highlighted by a crosshatch hexagonal Genesis crest grille which can be finished in dark chrome, plus linear LED daytime-running lights.
The G70's exhaust note is adjustable. Settings enhance engine sounds with audio-system-generated acoustics for effect.
Scheduled maintenance is free for three years or 36,000 miles. It includes free valet service to and from work or home.
FAST FACTS
Vehicle: 2019 Genesis G70Type: rear-wheel-drive, four-door, five-passenger compact luxury sedan
Price: $34,900
As tested: $44,895 including $995 delivery
Engine: 2-liter, 252-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: eight-speed shiftable automatic
Weight: 3,516 pounds
Wheelbase, length, width, height in inches: 111.6, 184.4, 72.8, 55.1
Trunk: 10.5 cubic feet
Wheels (alloy), tires (P225): 18-inch, 19 inchers optional
Suspension: four-wheel independent, struts front, multi-link rear, stabilizer bars front, rear
Turn circle: 36.1 feet
Front leg room: 42.6 inches
Assembly: Ulsan, Korea
Warranty: five years or 60,000 miles with roadside assistance, 10 years or 100,000 miles powertrain, free scheduled maintenance and valet service three years or 36,000 miles
Information: www.genesis.com