There is no 2026 Genesis G70. Instead, the most current version bears a 2025 badge, and is based on a 2024 update. That’s why it’s unlikely to be named in a poll of car fans about the best things in the medium luxury sedan space right now, and that’s a travesty.
While it’s available in a shooting brake, with that model scoring a 2.0-litre engine, the sedan is a standout. It gets a 3.3-litre twin turbo on a rear-wheel drive platform. It shares much with the Kia Stinger GT, and is both sophisticated and sporty.
The stance of the car, the sporty and rather beautiful 19-inch wheels (with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres), and signature twin line headlights give it a hunkered down and somewhat aggressive appearance.
Our example was finished in a Ceres Blue, although there is a choice of no less than ten exterior colours, both in gloss and matte. The interior wore Fog Grey trim, which is best described as cream.
If the exterior is all about performance and aggression, that interior is focused on cosseting the occupants in a sophisticated and upscale cabin. The soft, diamond stitched Nappa leather seats are pure sports luxury.
They’re adjustable in more ways than are almost necessary (16 in total), including cushion length and being able to shape the backrest side bolsters. Befitting a car of its premium stature, they include heating and cooling functions.
The former extends to the rear outer seats. Diamond stitched Nappa leather extends onto the door cards, adding to the upmarket feel of the cabin. A sophisticated and practical blend of technology and physical controls enhances the experience.
It’s easy to forget that luxury isn’t bigger screens and more tech, rather it’s about making the driving experience easy and enjoyable. To that end, the commonly used controls, such as climate, are mostly physical.
Importantly, they have a tactility about them that again elevates. Temperature settings get their own smaller screen that is both intuitive and easy to use. There’s no menu to swipe through, just clear graphics on a dedicated interface.
The rear of the cabin continues the same premium feel, but is also where this car stumbles. Although the G70 measures 4,685mm in length, it only has a modest 2,835mm wheelbase, meaning second row passengers suffer. Leg room is adequate at best.
At 185 cm tall, this writer found there was not enough room behind his own driving position to feel comfortable. For convenience, the front passenger seat can be moved forward, from the rear, allowing occupants to free up some space, if there’s no one sitting that side.
There are some nice touches though, including a panoramic sunroof, a power adjustable heated steering wheel, a 2-position memory driver’s seat, and a real alloy effect finish in the dashboard and door inserts.
There’s a 15-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, as well as Genesis Connected Services. The latter includes a digital key, the remote operation of climate controls, and remote locking and unlocking, all via a smartphone app.
It will notify emergency services if the deployment of the airbags is detected too. Even the boot contains some unexpected niceties, including a comprehensive first aid kit, and a ‘roadside assistance kit’ that contains, among other things, a reflective safety vest.
There’s a pair of gloves, a torch, a hazard warning triangle and even a mat that has the Genesis logo on it so that you don’t get your clothes dirty in there too. The spare wheel is an 18-inch temporary offering. Boot space is a rather small 330-litres.
Driving the G70 is where all of the elements of the car come together. Driver-focused, it’s powertrain offers 274kW and 510Nm, with delivery bordering on brutal. It propels the car to 100km/h in around 4.5 seconds.
Whether pulling out of an intersection or overtaking on one of Sydney’s motorways, the engine responds with a relentless surge of torque that never feels strained. It feels genuinely effortless to drive.
Around town and at highway speeds, the cabin remained quiet, with wind, tyre and engine noise remaining low. Even with the excellent audio system at a low volume, the cabin remains a calm and relaxing place to be.
Five different drive modes offer a range of experiences, with the front seat bolstering tightening around the driver when Sport or Sport+ are selected. The latter disables the car’s traction control system, for some added fun.
For those wanting a sportier setup, Custom allows for the powertrain, steering and suspension to be set to its most aggressive offering, while still keeping traction control active. The adaptive suspension does a solid job too, in all but its most extreme setting.
Handling is another strength. The car responds immediately to steering inputs, inspiring confidence when entering a corner at speed. Body roll is well controlled, with the Genesis staying flat through bends, and the chassis remaining planted when pushed hard.
Australian-specific suspension, steering and chassis tuning certainly helps. It’s a little skittish when you give it plenty of punch through the accelerator pedal, particularly over poor concrete roads though.
Some real thought has gone into the safety tech on-board the G70 though. For example, the head-up display indicates when there is another vehicle in the car’s blind spot. This is in addition to the monitoring in the exterior mirrors.
In a practical sense, it means the driver is aware of the other vehicles around them, without having to take their eyes off the road. When indicating to change lanes, a blind spot view monitor is activated in the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
In reality, it’s hard not to be genuinely impressed with the performance and luxury credentials of the G70, its thoughtful technology and genuine craftsmanship. It’s a credible competitor to the likes of the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
For those in the market for a premium sports sedan, we’d put it high on the shopping list, despite its $96,000 drive away price tag. It comes with Genesis Care, including a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty, and 5-years of complimentary scheduled servicing.
You also get 24/7 roadside assistance. You can find out more on the Genesis Australia website, or by talking to your local dealership. To get a low rate finance quote, talk to Australia’s best reviewed car finance broker; Credit One.
To see a great range of vehicles for sale, check out OnlyCars.com.au.
Our test vehicle was provided by Genesis Australia for independent review purposes. Exhaust Notes Australia has not been paid to review this vehicle. Images supplied.
