Genesis G70: Twin turbo the real deal

What is it?

Any discussion of the Genesis G70 invites comparisons with its cousin the Kia Stinger.

While it’s true the two cars sit on the same platform and share engines and transmissions, the fact is they couldn’t be more different.

While the Stinger is a big, cruisy liftback GT, designed to power along the highway and byways, G70 is a smaller, more agile, rear-drive four-door sports sedan with a boot.

Stinger has plenty of room for friends in the back, while you could even describe the G70 as a 2+2 — because rear legroom is quite limited (especially with a tall driver).

What’s it cost?

Prices for G70 get going around the same mark that top of the line Stinger leaves off.

Stinger V6 GT is $63,760, while G70 kicks off from $63,000 for the four cylinder model.

The 3.3T Sport with a twin turbo V6 goes for $75,876 plus on-roads and is the subject of our review.

The $10,000 Luxury Pack was also fitted to our car along with matte finish paint which adds another $2000 to the price, bringing the grand total to $87,876.

The pack includes a 12.3-inch full screen instrument cluster with 3D function, Heads-Up Display (HUD), 16-way adjustable driver’s seat with memory function, heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, power-operated rear boot lid and premium 15-speaker Lexicon audio.

We drove this car a couple of years ago, but that was the 2.0-litre turbo. It’s taken us a while to catch up with the V6 with all the bells and whistles.

Since then it has been the subject of a facelift, which includes a new front bumper, grille and headlights, along with a new rear bumper and tail lights.

Most notable are the striking signature quad headlights, featuring super thin LEDs, that bring the design into line with the rest of the lineup.

Below each headlight, air curtain inlets provide definition and well as helping to reduce aerodynamic drag.

The plunging Crest radiator grille gives the car are more aggressive look, while new air vents positioned behind the front wheels replace the previous shark gills, further differentiating it from Stinger.

A parabolic line adds an elegant touch to the design.

Signature quad tail lights can be found at the rear, with prominent Genesis lettering across the boot with its lip spoiler.

Dual exhaust tips and a body-coloured diffuser add the finishing touches to the updates.

While the first edition of this car looked and felt like a BMW, the latest iteration of the G70 with its droopy, rounder lines is more suggestive of a Benz — especially the rear.

There’s nothing wrong with is. It’s just a reflection of the way designers absorb what is going on around them and the influences that are brought to bear.

Standard kit includes leather and two-zone climate, 12-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, with four-way lumbar support for the driver.

There’s also ambient interior lighting, ‘touch’ style front door handles, keyless entry and start, auto lights and wipers, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, LED headlights and tail lights, a panoramic sunroof and power-operated boot lid.

An improved Qi phone charger fits larger devices, provides an increased 15W output for quicker charging and has an integrated cooling fan.

In terms of storage, there a lidded box between the seats, two console cupholders, a sunglasses saver overhead and bins in the doors.

There’s two power only USB ports in the storage box and a multimedia connection at the front of the console, along with a 12-volt outlet.

The standard infotainment system with a 10.25-inch multimedia touchscreen incorporates satellite navigation, digital radio, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity and 9-speaker audio including an external amplifier.

If you want the whiz-bang Lexicon system, you’re looking at $10,000 for the Luxury option package because it’s part of that.

With 11 channels, 660 watts, and 15 speakers, it features Digital Signal Processing (DSP), QuantumLogic Surround Sound and Clari-FiTM music restoration technology.

QuantumLogic Surround Sound technology identifies and re-authors individual voices and instruments into a precise multi-channel soundstage, resulting in a crisp, authentic listening experience.

Clari-Fi signal enhancement technology restores the true sound of all-types of compressed audio files, identifying and rebuilding lost detail in real time so you hear music that is more faithful to the original recording.

A ‘custom’ button on the steering wheel can be mapped to numerous functions, while the ability to make multiple Bluetooth connections allows easy switching between media sources.

The already strong five-star safety story has been beefed up with the addition of rear side airbags and a segment-first front centre side airbag, bringing the grand total to 10.

Additional active driver assist systems include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Car/Pedestrian/Cyclist detection as well as Junction Turning function (FCA-JT).

There’s also Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist Rear (BCA-R), Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Surround View Monitor (SVM), Multi Collision Brake (MCB), Safe Exit Warning (SEW) and Rear Occupant Alert (ROA).

Auto high beam and adaptive cruise control are also part of the deal.

What’s it go like?

The 3.3T was reportedly benchmarked against the $112,000 BMW M340i xDrive.

The Beemer delivers 285kW and 500Nm and a o-100km/h time of 4.4 seconds, with fuel consumption of 7.7L/100km.

But competitors are many and varied, including the Audi A4, Jaguar XE, Lexus IS and of course — Mercedes C-Class.

3.3T is powered by a revised, twin-turbocharged 3.3-litre petrol V6 that pumps out 274kW of power and 510Nm of torque — which is bang on the money.

The latest model picks up a couple more kilowatts thanks to a new dual-mode, variable exhaust system.

The engine is paired with a traditional eight-speed auto that includes steering wheel mounted gear change paddles and auto rev-matching on downshifts — with drive to the rear wheels.

The twin turbo also gets a mechanical multi-plate clutch-type limited slip rear diff.

Stopping power is provided by Brembo brakes front and back, with four-piston calipers up front.

Suspension is Mac strut front and five-links at the rear, with auto, adaptive suspension for this model.

Fitted with 19-inch wheels, high-performance Michelin Pilot Sport 4 rubber is staggered, with 225/40s front and 255/35s rear.

The dash from 0-100km/h takes 4.7 seconds, with a top speed that is limited to 270km/h.

As you slide into the driver’s seat for the first time the ambience is palpable.

This car promises something special with its quilted red leather, stainless steel, or is it brushed aluminum trim, and the throaty rumble of the V6 as it springs to life.

Nosing on to the motorway for the first time, we punch the accelerator and the G70 fires forward — loud, urgent and convincing.

We’ve driven plenty of high performance sedans before — both on and off the track — and they all tend to have a certain feel.

The Genesis G70 is one of them.

A new Sport+ mode further increases engine responsiveness and throttle sensitivity, engages enhanced gearbox logic and turns the traction control off.

It also brings the side bolsters of the driver’s seat to life, which move inwards to hold you tighter — unnerving but probably customisable.

Because G70 is a rear drive car, switching to Sport+ means the back has the potential to ‘step out’ and could leave less experienced drivers looking embarrassed (and possibly out of pocket).

Even expert drivers can sometimes forget what car they are driving and whether traction control is on or off as a certain PR once discovered.

This scenario is highly likely to happen in the wet.

Turning on Sport+ also activates a track setting that screws down suspension travel to reduce body roll in corners, allowing the driver to maintain control more easily.

Based on vehicle sensors, such as G-force, steering angle, steering velocity and throttle position, as well as the drive mode, it provides the optimal damping force for each wheel.

The system can intelligently adjust compression and rebound forces up to 100 times per second using continuously variable dampers.

Once you’re up and running, overtaking can be performed at will with a touch of the accelerator.

Annoying tailgaters can be left gaping as the car shoots ahead.

Be prepared to be scoped out too, especially by drivers of German cars who can’t quite make out what it is.

The fact they’re looking, means Genesis is pushing all the right buttons.

There’s also launch mode, designed to optimise acceleration from zero to whatever.

But after you’ve had a play with this a couple of times, you’ll probably only return to impress friends.

Although 3.3T is three tenths of a second slower than the benchmark Beemer, it’s a meaningless figure really because it will never be put to the test.

What is guaranteed, however, is that this car will put a smile on your dial.

The ride from the adaptive dampers is exemplary, the steering is direct and responsive depending on mode and the car corners exceptionally well, sitting flat and controlled.

Although the changes delivered by he eight-speed auto are not as crisp as a twin clutch, we prefer the smoothness of a traditional auto.

With a 60-litre tank, the V6 drinks 95 Premium unleaded and uses a claimed 10.2L/100km.

We were getting 9.3 after about 400km of mixed driving which is pretty good considering the type of car.

What we like?

• Looks the goods
• Strong performance
• Rear wheel drive
• Superior handling
• Rear air outlets

What we don’t like?

• Small boot
• Cramped rear
• Head up display not standard
• Can’t set intersection in navigation
• Difficult to reach door handle at full extension

The bottom line?

This is a car to watch.

With beautiful, quilted leather trim and shiny stainless and brushed aluminium finishes, it really is a lovely thing.

In fact, with its throaty, twin turbo, bellowing performance, we reckon G70 offers better value than a BMW 3 Series — at a fraction of the price.

G70 will appeal to buyers who want something different, that are tired of the same old fare and as the Genesis brand continues to grow — it is sure to grow in stature.

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