G70 brings a compact premium sedan to the Genesis brand

The midsize Genesis premium sports sedan originated in 2008 as the Hyundai Genesis, but two years ago Hyundai split off Genesis into a brand unto itself, and gave the Hyundai Genesis a new name: Genesis G80.

Soon there was a full-size Genesis sedan called the G90, and for 2019 there’s yet another new model, the Genesis G70, a compact version that is outselling the other two.

Like its stablemates, the 2019 Genesis G70 is a premium four-door with seating for five and a trunk for cargo. Another element of family resemblance is the presence of tons of comfort, convenience, safety and technology features within a plush passenger cabin, putting all Genesis models squarely in the running with other premium brands.

There are two engine choices for the G70: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 252 horsepower, and a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 with 365 horsepower. Rear-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional.

Both engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, but the four-cylinder with rear-wheel drive also includes the option of a six-speed manual gearbox.

There are five G70 trim levels (Genesis calls them “trim packages”): Advanced, Elite, Prestige, Dynamic, and Sport.

For this review, I drove an all-wheel-drive Sport trim with a 3.3T (V6) engine. Its base price with a $995 destination charge included is $46,745. Listed under the heading “Added Features” on the test car’s price sheet were three packages: Elite ($1,750), Prestige ($2,500), and Sport ($1,500). It was puzzling to see the names of other trims on the list, especially the Sport package since this was already the Sport trim. I just figured it was somehow related to the Genesis “trim package” unusual naming style, the tester was the top-of-the-line version with everything on it, and calling it the Whole Enchilada wouldn’t have worked.

Anyway, the tester’s total cost is $52,495. That’s a pretty reasonable price for a premium sports sedan of this caliber. It looks good enough to cost a lot more.

EPA fuel economy ratings for a G70 with V6 engine and AWD aren’t as impressive: 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined. Premium fuel is recommended.

The V6 is quite a show-off, capable of reaching 60 mph from a standstill in less than 4.5 seconds. And without roughness, I might add. Its torque rating is 376 pound-feet.

The G70 Sport’s standard Brembo brakes look like they could stop a train.

It would take some heavy thinking to name a great feature not included on the G70 Sport. The power driver’s seat has 16-way adjustability, including four lumbar adjustments. Although the seat is already well bolstered, switching to Sport driving mode makes it more snugly, so you aren’t being flung back and forth during tight turns. The standard audio system is a heavenly 15-speaker Lexicon. All the latest in connectivity and infotainment doodads are present and accounted for, of course. Likewise for driver assistance systems. And on and on.

One of the nicest qualities of the G70 interior is what it doesn’t have: a nuisance-y climate control system. There are three simple and easy to use control knobs for operation. No awkward reaching for the touchscreen with hopes of touching it with just the right amount of pressure or else.

G70 is a joy during night driving. The gauges are beautiful in the dark, and every single little control in the car is gently illuminated. The full LED headlights provide wondrous visibility on the unlit backroads of Snohomish County.

2019 GENESIS G70 AWD 3.3T SPORT

Base price, including destination charge: $46,745

Price as driven: $52,495

Mary Lowry is an independent automotive writer who lives in Snohomish County. She is a member of the Motor Press Guild, and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturers as a one-week loan for review purposes only. In no way do the manufacturers control the content of the reviews.