A SUBTLE OVERHAUL
WHILE THE GENESIS G70 STANDS PAT STYLISTICALLY FOR 2024, OTHER FEATURES GET A BIG BOOST
When the Genesis G70 arrived in 2018, it sent a clear message — this upstart purveyor of luxury vehicles intended to disrupt the status quo. This sports sedan earned a reputation for being quick, luxurious and it arrived with a sharper price than its German rivals. This explains why the G70 has accounted for 29 per cent of all Genesis Canada sales to date.
The G70 is still in its first-generation after sixyears. This could be considered a drawback and a long time between generations were it not for the fact it was extensively overhauled in 2022 and it gets another refreshing heading into 2024. This time around the changes are small individually, but together they do make a big difference.
WHAT’S NEW FOR 2024?
Stylistically, the G70 stands pat. The changes are found under the hood, in the cabin and the fact it now gets Brembo brakes and a digital key as standard fare. The biggest change is the base engine. Out goes the somewhat wheezy 2.0 L turbo-four in favour of a new engine that puts some needed spring in the G70’s step.
The biggest change is the base G70 now uses the 2.5-litre turbo-four found in the larger G80. It twists out 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. That’s 48 h.p. and 51 lb-ft of torque more than the outgoing 2.0 L turbo-four. The larger engine does have a hint of turbo lag off the line, but the instant the turbo spools up to speed, the power comes on line smoothly and very quickly. The other thing that helps things along is the 2.5T is roughly 150 kilograms lighter than the V-6-powered 3.3T. In the end, the new engine makes the G70 0.6 seconds faster to 100 km/h than the engine it replaces. The bonus is the extra power and speed arrive with a very slight increase in the average fuel economy — it goes up by just 0.2 L/100 km, which really is no penalty at all!
The alternative is the 3.3 L twin-turbo V-6 — if it isn’t broken why fix it? This silky mill twists out 365 h.p. and 376 lb-ft of torque. This puts some real fire under the G70’s hood. The Sport model’s variable exhaust system adds another three horsepower and puts some bite in the tailpipe’s bark. When pressed the G70 3.3T runs the riders to 100 km/h in five seconds, which is very good. More impressive is the 80-120 km/h passing move comes in at 3.3 seconds and it just keeps pulling towards impounding speeds!
Both engines work with an eight-speed automatic transmission and an advanced all-wheel-drive (AWD) system.
COMMUNICATIVE STEERING
The handling is, in a word, sorted. Out on the track the G70 came into its own. It’s very quick in a straight line and when you turn into a corner it tucks in with authority. First, the tester’s P225/40R19 front tires and P255/35R19 rear Michelin tires provided monster amounts of grip. The suspension took advantage of this by keeping things flat and unflustered even as the G70 was pushed toward its surprising limits. Out on the street the suspension has what I will call a sporty feel — it’s taut but comfortable. The 2.5T models use a fixed suspension; the 3.3T models benefit from an adaptive suspension that delivers an even sharp response to driver input.
The steering feel is equally precise. There’s none of the on-centre vagueness that brings an unwanted numbness to the feedback — Genesis obviously took what the Germans learned and put it into practice with the G70’s steering setup. The difference boils down to the fact the communication between driver and car is loud and clear, so there’s no guessing at what’s happening where rubber meets road. The other track plus are the now-standard Brembo brakes. They haul the vehicle down from speed time and again without running headlong into the dreaded wall of fade.
FIRST-CLASS CABIN
The G70 is tastefully attired and typical of Genesis with the materials coming off the top shelf. In the test cars it was a case of rich leather and an array of complementary finishes to the accenting trim. It all speaks to a cabin that’s a cut above its station in life.
All models feature a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen. The widescreen format gives the information some welcome space and it works with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. However, unlike recent Hyundais tested, it must be wired in the G70. That nit aside, the operation is fast and there are proper knobs for radio volume/tuning and driver/passenger temperature settings — the rest of the climate control functions are now done through a new touch interface. It’s a slick affair that’s more in keeping with the rest of the cabin.
PRICING AND FINAL THOUGHTS
The pricing starts with the turbo-four G70 2.5T Advanced at $53,000 and moves up to the G70 2.5T Prestige at $58,000. The turbocharged V-6 models come in at the same $58,000 for the G70 3.3T Advanced and tops out at $64,000 for the loaded 3.3T Sport. All models have all-wheel-drive as standard. The hot proposition is the 3.3T Advanced — it’s very nicely attired and very quick.
Yes, the changes to the 2024 Genesis G70 are small in nature, but cumulatively they do make a big difference. The base engine finally has the punch it should have had from Day 1. Throw in the dialed-in handling and a sophisticated cabin, and this sports sedan has the wherewithal to run with any of its premium European rivals.