2020 Genesis G70 RWD 3.3T Sport Review by David Colman +VIDEO

Dollar For Dollar, You Can't Do Better Than this

By David Colman
Special Correspondent to THE AUTO CHANNEL

Some cars have a sweet spot the size of a Hershey Kiss. If you drive them just right, in a situation they're designed to master, you'll be forever happy. A Mazda Miata on a winding back road comes to mind. But try to move more than two people or, a couple of suitcases, and the Miata's sweet spot melts faster than that chocolate Kiss. The Genesis G70, on the other hand, has a sweet spot bigger than a Hostess Twinkie. Here is a spectacular new addition to the ranks of sports sedans, with enough sheer speed to leave in its dust any Audi A4, Mercedes C Class or BMW 3 on a winding country lane. Yet the appeal of this genteel Genesis far exceeds mere speed and handling trials. This four door, five passenger sedan will ingratiate itself to you on a daily basis, with such a host of convenience and luxury features that most of the time you'll forget all about its blinding performance potential when the road begins to twist.

The G70 is available in multiple grades of increasing excellence. The bottom rung of the ladder is occupied by the turbocharged 4 cylinder model which produces a rather underwhelming 252hp. This base model, carrying a price of $35,450, can be ordered with a 6-speed manual gearbox, all wheel drive and dynamic torque vectoring control. But the G70 you'll want to own replaces that 4 cylinder engine with a whirlwind powerplant: a 3.3 liter V6 breathing through twin turbochargers. This engine puts the "Sport" in the G70's name, with 365hp (@6000rpm) and 376lb.-ft. of torque (@1300rpm). The power-to-weight ratio of the G70 variants tells the story. The turbo 4, at a curb weight of 3,770lbs., offers a p/w ratio of 14.96lb/hp, while the 3,887lb. twin turbo V6 drops that ratio to a rocket ship number: just 10.64lb/hp.

So it's no wonder that when you floor the accelerator in the 3.3T you'd better have your reflexes under strict control, because this Genesis comes out of the chute faster than a Brahma bull at Frontier Days. Of course, with such an explosive motor, you'll want to have all the ancillaries upgraded as well, and Genesis sees to that mandate as well, equipping the G70 Sport with an optional ($1,300) Sport Package that puts 19x8 inch (front) and 19x8.5 (rear) sport design 5-spoke black alloys shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 radials (225/40R19 f./255/35R19r. Those tires (Treadwear 320) are gummier than library paste. Behind the black rims lie a set of red caliper Brembo disc brakes. The Sport Package also contributes an exceptionally well conceived Electronically Controlled Suspension activated by a simple rotary dial on the center console. For freeway jaunts we selected the "Comfort" setting, but for back roads, "Sport" maximizes stability under cornering duress.

Though the handling of this Genesis plants it firmly in the sport sedan hall of fame, the éclair-sized sweet spot of the top line G70 covers far more than just quick motoring. This is an exceptionally comfortable ride. The supportive leather front seats are upholstered in a quilted pattern, with boxed red stitching that neatly matches the design of the door panels. These seats offer 16 modes of adjustment for the driver and 8 for the passenger. Both front seats also offer 4-way lumbar control. The dashboard is laid out with Aristotelian logic. All HVAC controls are clearly labeled and easy to operate. The programming system for the Infotainment Center is without question the easiest to program we have yet encountered. You will have your favorite channels installed in just seconds, while Mercedes, BMW and Audi owners will be driving to their dealerships for special training. Operational simplicity and efficiency is very much a part of the sweet spot syndrome, and the G70 RWD 3.3T has this course aced.

For the money you can't do better than this latest product from the fertile Korean minds at Genesis. The upcoming 2022 version of the G70 will add quad LED headlights and tail lights, and a larger 10.25" touchscreen, but the engine choices will remain identical to those of the 2020 model year. Hint: with the '22 models on the way, this would be a great time to snag a bargain on the 2020 G70 3.3T that we so thoroughly enjoyed.

2020 GENESIS G70 RWD 3.3T SPORT

ENGINE: 3.3 liter V6, twin turbocharged
HORSEPOWER: 365hp@6000rpm
TORQUE: 376lb.-ft.@1300rpm
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 17MPG City/26MPG Highway
PRICE AS TESTED: $51,245

HYPES: Super Motor, Extras Galore

GRIPES: Proximity Fob Inactive

STAR RATING: 10 Stars out of 10