2023 Genesis G70 Review

LIKES

Evocative shape
Classy cabin
Strong acceleration
Excellent warranty

DISLIKES

Itty bitty trunk
Small back seat
Ride is stiff without adaptive dampers…
… which cost too much

BUYING TIP

The G70 can ride roughly, so budget for the Sport Prestige trim’s adaptive dampers if the roads are choppy where you live.

The 2023 Genesis G70 offers sublime styling and acceleration, all backed up by a top warranty.

What kind of vehicle is the 2023 Genesis G70? What does it compare to?

The 2023 Genesis G70 is a compact sports sedan with plenty of luxury features. Compare it to the BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, and Cadillac CT4.

Is the 2023 Genesis G70 a good car?

It’s a lot of fun, with stylish lines and impressive underhood power balancing out a stiff ride and a cramped back seat. The G70 rises to a TCC Rating of 6.7 out of 10.

What's new for the 2023 Genesis G70?

The G70 sees a few minor packaging changes this year, including newly standard 19-inch wheels across the line, a revamped 4-cylinder Sport Prestige trim with cooled front seats, and the addition of a power trunk opener and closer to 6-cylinder Sport Prestige trims.

Otherwise, the G70 carries over tightened-up lines that were revamped last year. Its slick shape starts with bisected headlights flanking a shield-like grille up front. From the sides, there’s a distinct muscularity to its haunches, which lead to a tapered, taut tail. The clean, simple cabin can be dressed up with quilted and red-stitched leather, plus Genesis offers a slew of trims to adorn the doors and dash.

The base 252-hp turbo-4 unleashes impressive acceleration, with a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive. Upgrade to the 365-hp 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6 and Genesis goes full tilt, with 60 mph flashing by in 4.5 seconds.

This year’s newly standard 19-inch wheels may look great, but the ride can be too stiff without the adaptive dampers fitted only to the range-topping versions. Ah, the price of vanity.

While hardly spacious, the interior looks and feels worth the price tag. Comfy front seats give way to a tight second row and a bite-size trunk. Genesis makes family-capable cars, but they come in SUV bodies.

Standard automatic emergency braking is a given at this price point, though Genesis doesn’t offer a hands-off driver-assistance system as in some competitors. A Top Safety Pick+ award is a big coup, though.

How much does the 2023 Genesis G70 cost?

Genesis wants $40,245 for a base G70 sedan, or about $5,400 more for one with the V-6 engine and leather seats. All-wheel drive costs $2,100 more. That money buys a 10.3-inch touchscreen, synthetic leather upholstery, and big 19-inch alloy wheels.

The electronically controlled suspension means stepping up to the V-6-powered Sport Prestige trim for around $56,500, which also includes nappa leather, a big sunroof, and Lexicon audio.

Where is the 2023 Genesis G70 made?

In South Korea.

Styling

Intriguing from every angle, the Genesis G70 is a standout design.

Is the Genesis G70 a good-looking car?

For sure. The modern silhouette wears some high-tech details that work well overall. We rate the G70 at 8 out of 10 for its looks, with two points awarded to its exterior.

A few tweaks last year left us with stacked headlights surrounding a shield grille that points toward the ground. There’s some Alfa Romeo-ness to the look beyond the grille, but Genesis charts its own course well enough.

Voluptuous sides with newly standard 19-inch wheels give off sports sedan vibes that jive well with this model’s actual handling ability. At the rear, the short tail reveals a small trunk, but at least the narrow, stacked lights look the part.

The G70’s not as busy inside, with clean, simple lines and a choice of upholstery hues that extend to the dash and door panels. Red leather works best here, we think.

Performance

The 2023 Genesis G70 is a proper sports sedan, down to its firm ride quality.

A hoot to drive in any form, the Genesis G70 displays a degree of polish when hustled down a winding road. Its points above average for power and handling can be washed out by a stiff ride unless you opt for the one version with adaptive dampers.

The 2023 G70 is a 7 on the TCC scale.

Is the Genesis G70 4WD?

All-wheel drive is a $2,100 option on every version.

How fast is the Genesis G70?

The base 2.0-liter turbo-4 churns out a willing 252 hp, good for a seven-second-or-so sprint to 60 mph. It feels even quicker, aided by the smart-shifting 8-speed automatic gearbox.

Better yet is the optional 365-hp 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6, which rushes power to the wheels for a 4.5-second race to 60 mph. There’s a hint of lag at low speeds, but that vanishes quickly as the G70 picks up pace. Sport versions have a crackly exhaust for an audible rush, too.

Both powertrains are at their best in Sport or sharper Sport+ modes. Only the V-6’s Sport Prestige trim level comes with adaptive dampers to match the suspension’s reflexes to those drive modes, though. Other models ride a touch stiffly on their newly standard 19-inch wheels.

There’s good heft to the G70’s steering, and the independent suspension’s firmness results in limited body lean in corners.There’s a sports car lurking beneath this sedan’s body.

Comfort & Quality

You’ll want to sit up front in the 2023 Genesis G70.

Drivers have by far the best seat in the house in the 2023 Genesis G70. The standard 12-way power-adjustable seat includes heating, and a decent view out to boot. Less impressive are the G70’s rear seats and trunk. We land at a 6 out of 10 with points above average awarded to the front seats and the overall ambience, but one dialed back for the small back seat.

The cabin’s fresh, modern look discards the heavy, busy look seen in competitors in favor of a less-is-more approach. Top-notch materials add appeal, though base 4-cylinder models have synthetic leather upholstery while other versions have leather.

The back seat struggles to hold adults. There’s just enough width for two people, but leg and head room are weak. The mere 10.5 cubic-foot trunk can handle a pair of small suitcases and that’s about it, too.

Safety

The 2023 Genesis G70 has mostly aced what crash tests have been performed.

How safe is the Genesis G70?

All signs point to the Genesis G70 as a safe vehicle, though the NHTSA has yet to test it. For now, we land on a 7 for safety based on a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and good crash-avoidance tech as standard fare.

Every G70 comes with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and active lane control, while a surround-view camera system is optional.

Fairly narrow roof pillars mean decent outward vision.

Features

The 2023 Genesis G70 is a great value against its costly competition.

Starting at just over $40,000, the Genesis G70 comes well equipped. Its maker only offers a handful of configurations, but they build on it in meaningful ways.

Base cars come with power-adjustable and heated front seats, synthetic leather upholstery, a 10.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and 19-inch alloy wheels. All-wheel drive costs $2,100 more. The V-6 runs $5,000 above the 4-cylinder, which also buys leather seats.

A 5-year/60,000-mile warranty with three years of free maintenance even includes a valet to fetch cars and take them to dealers for servicing.

We wind up at a 9 for features, with points above average for standard fare, optional equipment, a big screen, and that impressive warranty.

Which Genesis G70 should I buy?

That’s a tough one. If the roads are glassy smooth where you live, base cars are good enough. The Sport Prestige package adds a big sunroof and Lexicon audio, plus cooled seats and a few other niceties for $4,200 on 4-cylinder models. However, it takes stepping up to the V-6 for the adaptive dampers that make the ride much more pleasant on rough roads.

How much is a fully loaded Genesis G70?

A G70 with the V-6 and the Sport Prestige package plus the mostly costly paint upcharge runs almost $58,000.

Fuel Economy

Thrift is not a Genesis G70 virtue.

Is the Genesis G70 good on gas?

It’s not great, especially since there’s no electrified version.

The base rear-drive 4-cylinder rates 21 mpg city, 31 highway, 25 combined, earning it a 3 on the TCC scale. Other versions drop from there. All-wheel-drive 4-cylinders ring in at 20/28/23 mpg.