2022 Genesis G70 Road Test and Review

2022 Genesis G70 ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Anchoring the core of the Genesis brand’s three-sedan lineup is the G70. For 2022, the smallest and best-selling sedan in Hyundai’s luxury brand gets refreshed styling that includes a dramatically larger shield grille and twin hash-mark LED headlamps and taillights of the G80, G90, and GV80 models, as well as a revised interior that gains an electronic driver display and a larger 10.25-inch infotainment display. Other updates include an expansion of safety and driver-assistive systems.

Genesis offers the 2022 G70 in six trim levels. Including the $1,045 destination charge, they include the $38,570 2.0T, $42,570 2.0T Prestige, $43,145 3.3T, $47,445 3.3T Sport Advanced, $51,445 3.3T Sport Prestige, and $53,545 3.3T Launch Edition. The Launch Edition is a limited-production offering with matte paint and a two-tone red-and-black interior. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is a $2,000 or $2,100 upcharge, depending on the trim.

The G70 competes with entry-luxury sedans such as the Acura TLX, Alfa Romeo Giulia, Audi A4 and A5, BMW 3 Series, Cadillac CT4, Infiniti Q50, Kia Stinger, Lexus ES and IS, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and Volvo S60.

Turbo Power

The Genesis G70 2.0T gets a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo under the hood with 252 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. It’s a pleasant all-around engine, but not quite as peppy as 4-cylinder turbo base engines in the sales-leading BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The G70 2.0T can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 6.5 seconds, roughly on par with the more powerful versions of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. EPA fuel economy estimates for the G70 2.0T are 21 mpg city/31 mpg highway/24 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive and 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway/23 mpg combined for AWD versions.

Sports sedan fans will gravitate to the G70 3.3T. Its biturbo 3.3-liter V6 offers a more premium 365 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque. Performance gets a jolt of adrenaline; you arrive at 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. That’s a full, tire-spinning 2 seconds quicker than the G70 2.0T and comparable with performance versions of the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Upgrading to the 3.3T’s optional variable exhaust not only sounds sportier but adds another 3 horsepower. EPA ratings for the 3.3T are 18 mpg city/27 mpg highway/21 mpg combined for the rear-drive version and 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway/20 mpg combined with AWD.

Both engines are mated to a seamless and quick-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Gorgeous Interior

The G70’s cabin is stylish and luxurious with thoughtful touches and a delightful array of shapes, textures, hues, and materials that look as if they were transplanted from a luxury sedan priced several thousands of dollars higher. All major surfaces the interior occupants touch or interact with are padded, wrapped, or made from soft-touch material.

New for 2022 is a configurable 8-inch color driver information monitor. The 3.3T Sport Prestige model features a virtual tachometer that converts to an on-demand blind-spot monitor that uses cameras under the outside mirrors to give the driver a real-time view of the car's rear blind spot when the turn signal for that side is switched on.

The standard kit includes a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, a manual tilt-and-telescope steering wheel, a proximity key with pushbutton start, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Upgrading to the 2.0T Prestige adds a sunroof, plus a power-adjustable tilt-and-telescope steering wheel. The 3.3T Sport Advanced adds a wireless phone charger and an alloy pedal trim. And the top-tier 3.3T Sport Prestige adds a heated steering wheel, a head-up display, and a suede headliner.

Available storage includes two cup holders, a covered bin under the center armrest, an open console bin with USB ports under the dash, and door-mounted bins.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Upsized Infotainment Screen

Following the industry-wide shift to larger infotainment screens, the new G70 upgrades to a dashtop 10.25-inch landscape-format multimedia, taking the place of last year’s 8-inch unit. Embedded navigation is standard, as is dynamic voice recognition, a 6-speaker AM/FM stereo with HD Radio and SiriusXM, plus wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto cellphone mirroring that requires a USB connection.

Moving up to the 2.0T Prestige, 3.3T Sport Advanced, or 3.3T Sport Prestige gains an immersive, rich-sounding 15-speaker Lexicon surround-sound audio system, plus a wireless device charger. Unlike some competitors such as the Acura TLX and Mercedes C-Class, the G70 doesn’t force the driver to use a twitchy console touchpad and multiple screen menus for infotainment system interaction, providing easy-to-use analog rotary volume and tuning knobs and a row of shortcut keys under the screen for quick on-the-highway adjustments with minimal distraction.

Standard Genesis Connected Services allows the owner to access the vehicle remotely for such tasks as locking or unlocking the doors, starting the engine, and locating the car in a crowded parking structure.

With the 3.3T Sport Advanced trim comes Genesis Digital Key, which allows the G70 owner to use an Android phone as a remote keyless device.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Plush Front Seats

The G70’s front bucket seats cradle their occupants in supportive comfort, hugging the thighs and lower torso. In the base 2.0T, the front seats are heated and power-assisted with synthetic leather coverings and power-adjustable lumbar for the driver. Moving up to the 2.0T Prestige and 3.3T trims upgrades to real leather seats with memory settings and adds adjustable lumbar support for the front passenger.

Opting for the 3.3T Sport Advanced trim brings ventilated front seats, plus driver’s seat power-operated seat bolsters and lower cushion extender. Added to that in 3.3T Sport Prestige models is creamy-soft Nappa leather seat trims arrayed in a premium quilted pattern that’s continued on the interior door panels as well as with contrasting piping and stitching on the seats, door panels, console, and instrument panel.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Tight Back Seat

Although rear-seat space is traditionally skimpy in entry-luxury sedans, the Genesis G70 is even tighter in the rear compared to the segment's sales-leading BMW 3 Series. There are three sets of seatbelts back there, but adults only fit in the outboard seats that are scooped and scalloped to provide pockets for posteriors and lower backs to sink into. It helps to slide the front seats forward a bit because footwell space under the backs of the front seats is also tight.

Standard with all trims is a 60/40 split folding rear seat with fold-down center armrest and cup holders. Unlike most other Genesis models, heated cushions for the outboard rear seat patrons are not available in the G70.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Smallish Trunk

The G70’s dramatically sloping rear body adds design drama but takes a toll on luggage capacity. At just 10.5 cubic feet, the G70’s luggage compartment is smaller than that offered in Hyundai’s diminutive Accent sedan and a whopping 6.5 cubic feet less roomy than the trunk in the BMW 3 Series. That said, the G70’s trunk is nicely finished with premium materials, handy side pockets, netting, and concealed hinges that won’t crush your precious cargo. And if the back seats aren’t occupied, the 60/40 split folding rear seatbacks can handle longer items and cargo overflow. Access is via a standard hands-free trunk lid with an auto open feature.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Driving Dynamics

Offering a surprisingly communicative and balanced chassis, precise and responsive quick-ratio electric power steering, and powerful, firm, and confidence-inspiring brakes, the Genesis G70 is a worthy entry in the luxury sports sedan class. While the base 2.0T model won’t out-pedigree segment stalwarts like the BMW 3 Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class, uplevel G70 trims close the fun-to-drive gap considerably.

The G70 driving experience gets considerably more interesting with the 3.3T Sport Prestige model. Aside from having an abundance of twin-turbo V6 power that can spin the tires, it brings meatier 225/40R19 front/255/35R19 Michelin Pilot Sport summer tires (except with all-wheel drive versions), adaptive dampers (replacing the excellent stock high-pressure gas shocks) that adjust damping force in real time to smooth out large road impacts then immediately firm up in microseconds to provide firm and predictable control, a limited-slip differential for good traction on uneven surfaces, and larger, 4-piston monoblock Brembo high-performance brakes.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Safety and Driver-Assistive Tech

Compared to most entry-luxury sedans, the 2022 G70 offers a considerably more comprehensive roster of standard advanced safety and driver-assistive systems. Last year’s G70 included standard lane keeping, driver-attention warning, and high-beam assist, plus optional adaptive cruise control with stop and go, a head-up display, and a surround-view monitor.

For 2022, the G70 upgrades the previous forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking system with junction turning, and updates the earlier blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning systems with active collision-avoidance assist. The 2.0T Prestige trim gains both front and rear park-distance sensors.

New 2022 content includes lane-following assist, safe exit warning, rear occupant alert, and highway driving assist, which combines lane following and adaptive cruise control for a hands-on, semi-autonomous reduced-stress drive on well-marked freeways and interstates. A new center airbag between the front seats helps keep front passengers from hitting into one another in a side impact.

Also new for the 2022 3.3T Sport Advanced and Sport Prestige trims is a dash-mounted blind-spot view monitor that gives the driver a live blind-spot view when the turn signal is activated.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not tested the 2022 Genesis G70, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the 2022 Genesis G70 Good ratings in all crashworthiness categories.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Value-Priced Luxury

Sharp looking inside and out, well contented with a high level of standard amenities, fun to drive, and equipped with up-to-date infotainment and extensive safety and driver-assistive technology, the 2022 Genesis G70 is a good choice for buyers looking to make the jump from mainstream to entry-luxury sedans. The G70 offers buyers a strong value proposition, costing thousands of dollars less than many entry-luxury competitors comparably equipped, such as the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

In addition to its solid product position, the 2022 Genesis G70 comes with a segment-best warranty that includes 10 years or 100,000 miles of powertrain coverage (almost twice the length of many competitors) and 5 years or 60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper coverage. And for buyers who don’t keep their cars more than a few years, the Genesis brand’s 3 years of free scheduled maintenance and concierge service is another big plus.

Photo by Ron Sessions