GENESIS – an origin, creation, or beginning. Born in 2015, the Genesis brand was once part of Korean car giant Hyundai, but now exists as a stand-alone operation, with the luxurious 2019 Genesis G70 3.3T Ultimate Sport its latest creation.
But before we get started, this writer has an admission to make. There was some presumption about what to expect from the G70, and to be honest, expectations were low, despite what we’d read about it.
For the record, yours truly is ecstatic to report that this extraordinary offering has decimated all my prior misconceptions. The package that Genesis has put together has converted the non-believers, including me.
With Dr Victor Frankenstein at the helm, the Genesis design team have created a new monster. The G70 looks to be part Mercedes, part INFINITI, part BMW, with hints of other brands, with the end result a luxurious beauty disguising the beast within.
Dressed in Mallorca Blue, it has a regal look to it, but its athletic curves and Brembo brakes provide a hint that first impressions don’t mean shit. The G70’s dark chrome exterior trim compliments the gorgeously stanced 19-inch dark grey alloys.
With wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport tyres, the G70 is ready for business or pleasure, both inside and out, and the interior is the perfect combination of cutting-edge tech meets high-class sophistication.
Once you are seated comfortably in the quilted, leather appointed, 12-way powered (with 4-way power lumbar support) heated and vented front seats, make sure your tray tables are stored and you’re seated is in an upright position as take-off is imminent.
Leave your mobile in the wireless charging bay and turn up the beats on the 8-inch touch-screen infotainment system, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and let the Lexicon by Harman 15-speaker sound package make your journey that much more pleasurable.
Pump the base if your buttocks require gentle massaging, as dual sub-woofers are positioned directly below the front seats. There’s also DAB+ digital radio, Bluetooth, SatNav with SUNA live traffic and key-less operation.
Genesis Connected Services and an 8-inch colour head-up display complete the technology package, and it’s all pretty easy to use. Genesis should be congratulated for removing the complexity.
Once on the open road, smooth handling, soft suspension, classy feel, build materials, design and minimal cabin noise, make the G70 an absolute pleasure to drive. The driveability and comfort would easily rival high-class European competitors.
Turn the drive mode switch to Sport and the G70 3.3T comes alive, acceleration equals speed, speed equals enjoyment, enjoyment leads to the standard 255/35 rears struggling to find the road whilst the LSD is pushed to its limits.
The G70’s 3.3-litre twin turbo V6 emits 272kW of power and 510Nm of torque, and the engine doesn’t fail to please. Genesis claim a 0-100km/h time of 4.7 seconds and we believe it’s quite possible.
The car is extremely responsive and a true pleasure to drive, and it’s quite amazing as to how quiet the in-cabin sound is, even under aggressive acceleration.
With a claimed fuel economy of 10.2-litres/100km, our mix of city, country and spirited driving racked up 11.1-litres/100km.
Throw the family in, and there’s plenty of room up front for both the driver and passenger, while in the back it’s easy to fit two child seats or three adults, as long as they don’t need too much leg room.
Thanks to its lower roof line and the interior layout, it’s a little pokey for tall people. The rear seats also split fold 60/40 to increase your storage space if the 330-litre boot isn’t enough. Just note the boot doesn’t have a lot height in it.
The safety and equipment package is outstanding on the 2019 Genesis G70 3.3T Ultimate Sport too, and includes a hands-free smart boot opener, panoramic glass sunroof with tilt and slide, and Bi-LED with auxiliary LED high-beam headlights.
There’s ventilated disks with 4-piston front and 2-piston rear Brembo brakes, a 360-degree surround view monitor (SVM), forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian detection, and lane keeping assist (LKA) with steering assist.
You’ll also find blind-spot collision warning (BCW), rear crossing-traffic collision warning (RCCW), front and rear parking distance warning (8x sensors), seven airbags, and smart cruise control (SCC) with full stop and go.
It’s why the G70 has scored a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. The luxury sedan comes with a 5-year warranty, roadside assist and schedule servicing (for the life of the warranty). The care package includes a valet/concierge service.
Keeping in mind there is no haggling with Genesis, if the $88,162.99 drive away price tag makes you feel queasy, then you can look at one of the eight other G70 variants, in a range that starts with the a couple of 2.0-litre model variants.
You can colour your G70 to suit your taste, in Casablanca White, Uyuni White, Santiago Silver, Saville Silver, Himalayan Grey, Victoria Black, Vik Black, Black Forest Green, Havana Red and Mallorca Blue.
Interior finishes are based on the external colour you choose. There’s Sport Grey or Sport Red as the single choice for some, while others also offer the option of either. If you are still not convinced, book a test drive at one of the Genesis’ limited dealerships.
The G70 is sure to excite and entice anyone wanting to be a little different, stand out from the crowd, and spend money but still get their money’s worth. Don’t overlook the 2019 Genesis G70 3.3T Ultimate Sport.
Our test vehicle was provided by Genesis Australia. To find out more about the 2019 Genesis G70 3.3T Ultimate Sport, contact your local Genesis dealership. Images courtesy of J_Hui Design/Photography.
