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March 29, 2024

[BEHIND THE WHEEL] Genesis G70, a well-packed sports sedan

PUBLISHED : September 22, 2017 - 15:18

UPDATED : September 25, 2017 - 18:08

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To test the G70 -- Genesis’ latest and smallest model -- Ahn Sung-mi, who covers autos at The Investor, did a 130-kilometer drive on Sept.20. The following is her review.


[THE INVESTOR] Luxury midsize sedan Genesis G70 is Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor’s answer to the segment-defining BMW 3-Series and Mercedes Benz C-Class. And to compete against these heavyweights, Hyundai had to go the extra mile. 
 
In my view, the G70 did just that, though it might lack a certain spark to poach loyal consumers entirely away. But it does offer bang for the buck that makes it hard to ignore in the entry-level luxury sports sedan segment. 

 

Genesis G70 runs the highways near Seoul in a media test-drive event on Sept. 20.



Just like Albert Biermann, Genesis’ performance head and former BMW M chief engineer, had emphasized, the Genesis G70 is fast and nimble. The top-grade G70 -- also known as the G70 Sport -- boasts a 0-100 kmh dash time of 4.7 seconds, faster than Kia’s new sports sedan Stinger that shares the same rear-wheel platform at 4.9 seconds. 

The G70 reacted immediately when I stepped on the gas, jumping to 120 kilometers an hour in the blink of an eye. The vehicle was surprisingly stable and smooth during the acceleration and at high speeds, despite its small size. 

The G70 Sport runs on a 3.3-liter turbocharged V6 engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission to generate around 365 horsepower -- which tops even the BMW 340i -- and 52 kilogram-force meters of torque. 

For more agile performance, I shifted to Sport mode that promised a sharper throttle response tailored for the highways. Despite the high speed, the steering wheel felt stable, and cornering wasn't too bad. The drivetrain was also relatively silent, with both wind and road noise under control. 

Now I want to talk a bit about looks. The telltale front grille makes it easy to figure out which clan it belongs to. Overall, with a long hood, short front overhangs, high beltline and elegant roofline, the car exuded what Hyundai likes to describe as “athletic elegance” -- a style theme that's going to be applied to more future Genesis models. Personally, I felt the bloodlines ran a bit too thick, and there wasn't much to distinguish the G70. 

Inside was actually a classier story. The cabin is fitted with an 8-inch touch screen in the center stack that runs both Android Auto and Apple’s Carplay. There were stitched Nappa leather seats and matching quilted leather door panels that felt posh to the touch. 

But it had surprisingly small rear legroom, with the back seat big enough for just two people. 

The price of the standard 2.0-liter gasoline model ranges from 37.5 million won (US$33,134) to 40.5 million won, while diesel 2.2-liter is priced at 40.8 million won to 43.7 million won. The top-of-the-line G70 Sport, equipped with 3.3-liter turbo, is set from 44.9 million won to 52.3 million won. 

In terms of sales, there were 2,100 orders on Sept.20, the day the G70 began to sell. 

The Investor Rating (out of 5 stars)

Design: 4 stars

Safety: 4 stars

Gas Mileage: 3 stars

Price: 4 stars

Overall: 15/20


By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)


 

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