You know, you’ve got to hand it to Genesis. The brand, a subsidiary of Hyundai, was only a year or two old in the mid 20-teens, when they launched the G70 sport sedan, putting the established sport sedan makers on notice. Now, some 8 years later, the G70 is a serious rival to those vaunted sedans from Europe.
In that period, it has had one “refresh”, but is still largely the same in design concept as it was at launch. As before, it comes with either a turbo four (upgraded a couple of years ago) or the engine in our tester, a 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6. We’ve always loved the smooth ‘whoosh’ of a turbo V6 at full throttle, and this one doesn’t disappoint. In this era of 500-plus horsepower cars, most of which have some form of electrification, the all-gasoline Genesis V6 pumps out 365 hp, which is enough to feel very quick, confirmed by a zero-100 km/h run in about five seconds. The power goes out to all four wheels (with a rear-wheel bias) through a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters. Unlike those rivals from Europe, there is no hybrid option, but one has to think that if there is to be a new G70, a hybrid with more power would be part of the equation.
To play in the high-end sport sedan arena, the G70 3.3T Sport would need a high-end chassis, and that it has. At the corners are attractive (in design and non-blackness) 19-inch wheels shod with summer performance tires, and big Brembo brakes. The suspension is an electronically-controlled adaptive design, and the rear differential is a mechanical limited-slip unit. The end result is a very agile and responsive sedan. We didn’t have the chance to experience it on a closed course, but out on the road, we enjoyed it nonetheless, far from its performance limits.
The 3.3T Sport’s interior is as enthusiast-oriented as all the mechanical pieces are. The front seats are very supportive, with the driver’s adjustable 16 ways, including under-thigh and side bolsters. Ergonomics were great for this taller driver, and the quilted nappa leather was pretty classy. There are a series of buttons on the centre stack to control the major functions, and the rest, some duplicated, are on the two touchscreens. Some of the HVAC controls are a bit small and finicky, with lights for heated seat strength, for example, being hard to see in any sort of light above darkness. The Drive Mode knob is right where you would want it, on the centre console, allowing you to choose from among Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus, and Custom.
One thing about the interior, though, and this is perhaps the main indication that the G70’s design goes back several years, is that there is not much leg room in the back seat, unless the front seat is at least half way towards the front of its travel. Which is to say, no adult person will want to sit behind a tall driver with the seat most of the way back. Nor is there much room under the front seats for rear passengers’ feet. For that matter, the trunk is towards the less capacious end for cars in this class. This is almost more of a description of a sport coupe than a sedan, so the G70 owner has to accept a sedan design with coupe compromises in space.
Fuel consumption was a pleasant surprise, as our combined number in about 80 percent highway driving was 10.8L per 100 km, versus the 12.7L number that Transport Canada says it should get in combined. Maybe they had more city driving, but in any case, we were impressed with that consumption. Expect lower than 10 in steady driving at legal highway speeds.
Another thing to be impressed with is the 3.3T Sport’s price. At $65,500, it is lower than European sport sedans of similar equipment and power. If you can do without the cachet of those famous nameplates, in the G70 3.3T Sport you’ll be getting one of the industry’s most well-rounded and capable sport sedans, at a great price.
