To fill as much of the white space between existing vehicles as possible, automakers have developed models that blend elements that previously never went together. We’ve grown used to seeing “four-door coupes,” such as the Mercedes-Benz CLS, sedan/hatchback hybrids like the Toyota Crown, and SUVs with supercar power and fast rooflines that make them more racy and less roomy. There was a time when the luxury sport sedan was introduced as a portfolio gap-filler, but that was a long time ago. The battle between the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, and others has been going on for a while. A relative latecomer to the altercation is the Genesis G70, which came to the U.S. market as a 2019 model. After a 2022 restyling, it’s been updated for 2024. Given its seemingly mutually exclusive goals of being a cushy cruiser as well as an athletic performer, it raises a few questions: Is the refreshed 2024 G70 more luxury than sport? The other way around? Or neither?
LUXURY
Price
It helps to answer some other questions first, such as what exactly is luxury? Yes, it’s typically associated with items of a certain price. Relative to its down-market Hyundai and Kia corporate cousins, the G70 certainly qualifies in that category. The base 2.5T RWD model starts at $41,500. The more powerful G70 RWD 3.3T has a starting price of $49,950; the car covered in this review came with the optional Bond Silver matte finish and the Sport Prestige package, which increased its as-tested price – after a $1,250 freight and handling fee – to $57,100.
Design
To some, a luxury item is a loud declaration of, “Look what I have!” They might shout that at others with an oversized, ridiculously complicated, garishly colorful Swiss watch. To others, it’s something that’s both distinctive and low-key at the same time – think stainless steel Rolex Submariner. Our G70 tester fit the latter definition. The large crest grille stood out, but the restrained dimensions and simple dual-stripe LED headlights and taillights weren’t visually exhausting.
The Bond Silver matte paint struck a similar balance between eye-catching and self-effacing. However, like certain luxury goods, it requires special care and maintenance. You can’t throw a Ralph Lauren Purple Label cashmere sweater into the washing machine and you can’t take the Bond Silver finish through a hands-free car wash without doing damage to it.
Materials
Not only should these feel pleasant to the touch, but they should also have a degree of exclusivity. Ask any well-dressed man if he’d rather have a pair of Rockport oxfords or shell cordovan Alden long wings.
The Sport Prestige package elevated our G70 press car’s Obsidian Black and Fog Gray interior by upgrading the seats to diamond-quilted Nappa leather, a full-grain variety known for its softness. Everything around those was similarly upscale, from the padded windowsills and suede-like microfiber pillar wrap, sun visors, and headliner to the soft-touch dash pad.
Details
These small touches communicate an extra effort from a car company to make a vehicle feel more special. As part of a series of updates for 2024, Genesis added some flourishes to the G70, such a key fob that matches the quilting pattern of the seats, a new front badge with guilloche engraving, and decorative elements on the HVAC vent directors, the rings around the cup holders, and other areas.
Features
In the 1987 Oliver Stone movie “Wall Street,” there’s a scene in which Michael Douglas’ character, corporate raider Gordon Gekko, tells Charlie Sheen’s character, Bud Fox, about how much money he can make if he does things Gekko’s way. Gekko says Fox can be “rich enough not to waste time.” In automotive terms, that means not doing something you can have a luxury vehicle do for you. Our G70 media vehicle’s head-up display made looking down at the main gauge cluster unnecessary. Auto Hold kept the brake engaged at stop lights. Highway Driving Assist was there to make long drives easier by maintaining a set speed and following distance and keeping the G70 centered in its lane. Opening the power trunk was as simple as waving a foot under the rear bumper; closing it required only the push of a button.
However, there were some missing features that would’ve saved even more time. The G70 lacked soft-close doors. And the 10.25-inch infotainment screen’s lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto came as a shock.
Power
Gekko’s view of what money can buy also applies here. When someone spends luxury-car money, they don’t expect to wait when they put their right foot down. Patience is not required in the G70 3.3T Sport Prestige. Not only was the twin-turbo 3.3-liter V6’s output of 368 horsepower (thanks to the variable exhaust system adding three horsepower) and 376 lb-ft of torque potent, but it was also quickly accessible. The G70 pulled with a delightful ferocity without spinning its tires, even under full throttle.
SPORT
Features
Some of the same elements that define luxury make up the sport half of a luxury sport sedan. While comfortable and generously furnished, the cabin of our G70 media loaner also had several sporty components, such as the head-up display, red-tipped gauge needles, thumb-stops on the steering wheel for 9-and-3 driving, and metal pedals.
Transmission
Power is not everything. It needs to be paired with a transmission that works well with the output coursing through it. Whether it was left to figure things out itself or shifted with the paddles attached to the steering wheel, the eight-speed automatic responded quickly.
Driving Dynamics
There’s more to a satisfying driving experience than just going fast. Communicative steering, responsive brakes, and adept handling can make that speed so much more engaging. Even in its Sport and Sport+ drive modes, the G70’s steering felt as if it had the right weight to it instead of having an exaggerated heaviness to it, which some cars get in their all-out performance settings. The Brembo brakes, which are standard across the 2024 G70 lineup, were easy to modulate and inspired confidence when bringing “enthusiastic” speeds down to less feverish levels.
Throwing the G70 into broad, sweeping curves at high speeds revealed something surprising about the Sport Prestige package’s upgraded Electronically Controlled Suspension. Those were the perfect environment for the G70, but the suspension did such a great job of keeping the car planted that it made any speed feel 10-15 mph lower – just like how the 2015 Audi R8 V10 plus can alter the perception of physical forces. While the suspension made blasting through back roads less exciting than initially expected, it did nothing to lessen the desire to keep driving. In fact, it only strengthened the urge to spend hours with the speedometer needle past the 12 o’clock mark and Arizona’s mountain views streaking past the windows.
OVERALL
In trying to balance luxury car comfort with athletic prowess, the 2024 Genesis G70 3.3T Sport Prestige tipped the scale toward the former. That didn’t come as a disappointment, though. The G70 was a tasteful, well-equipped, and powerful sedan that made driving it addictive in its own way. What kept it from nailing that ideal split is just a testament to its composure and refinement.
