The sport sedan segment has always been dominated by the Germans with the BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, and the Mercedes C-Class being the default trio that buyers were directed to. Genesis attempted to shake things up with the first-generation G70 sedan. The G70 had the look, luxury, and the technology to bring the fight to the Germans but it was dogged by some early teething pains and a manual transmission that was the bane of enthusiasts everywhere. The 2024 model is attempting to add more polish to the model, but is this G70 the model that finally shifts the nameplate into overdrive?
G70’s exterior styling smooths out the wrinkles
The 2025 Genesis G70 is just now entering showrooms but with the bulk of those updates being limited to minor items, the bulk of the 2024 model’s core formula carries over largely intact. The exterior gets muscular styling with the revamped headlights working together with the bigger shield-shaped grille to project a more composed personality. The lower bumper gets revised intakes and the side profile is muscular and more composed than before. The rear styling also gets tweaked taillights and a reworked trunk lid with the styling back here also looking sharper and more composed than before.
Bigger wheels are also part of the package and our tester arrived with a slick matte paint job. Like other vehicles with matte paint, car washes are not an option and you have to hand wash it to help keep the car clean. When compared with its rivals, the G70’s design occupies a very interesting place in the segment with the G70’s svelte beauty outshining the BMW 3-Series and the Mercedes C-CLass though it still comes up a bit short when compared to the Audi which we feel has more tech and balance in its styling than the upstart Korean.
G70 interior goes upscale in its bid to impress
Slip inside the G70 and you’ll find that the cabin has been overhauled and is a noticeable step up from what you saw in past G70 efforts. Higher-quality plastics replace what was used in the outgoing model and softer leather accents and decorative stitching further drive home the point that the G70 is aiming for the top of the heap in the segment. There’s also no pandering here either with Genesis resisting the urge to add items like a flat-bottomed steering wheel and faux carbon fiber trim and keeping things simple and handsome.
The front seats offer plenty of room but the rear seats follow the same established tire tracks as others in its segment with the space being cramped for taller occupants due to the sloping roofline and the backs of the front seats eating into the rear footroom. The door pockets are also small and the center console storage bin lacks a central organizer to separate and store smaller items. Every G70 gets a 10.3-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard. The screen is laid neatly onto the dashboard and the subscription-based Genesis Connected Service enhances it with even more apps and features. Genesis’s Digital Key feature is also available on the G70, but buyers have to move up to the bigger V6 engine to get access to that particular item.
Four-cylinder fun
Our tester arrived with the entry-level 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 300 hp and is hooked up to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard but our car had the optional all-wheel drive system which helped improve power delivery and made our tester feel sprightly in the corners. The suspension and steering do a good job delivering crisp feedback to the driver and while the 2.5-liter is not as strong as the V6, it’s still plenty for most buyers.
Braking in our tester was also strong and stable but fuel economy is a bit lower than some of its rivals with models like our tester getting 20 mpg and 28 mpg on the freeway which is also lower than the 2.0-liter engine it replaces. When viewed against rivals, the engine is firmly in the hunt and is more powerful than the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder in the BMW 330i which has long been considered the main benchmark in the segment.
Value Quotient
Pricing for the 2024 Genesis G70 starts at $41,500 with the 2025 model starting at $42,000. Like other Genesis models, the core of the G70’s identity is dependent on what packages are equipped to the car with buyers being able to choose from two packages: Advanced, and Sport Prestige. Our tester arrived with the Sport Prestige package which adds $4,200 to the price of a G70 and is a rung higher than the Advanced Package.
In addition to the Sport Prestige package and the optional all-wheel drive system our tester also had several other optional extras (including the matte paintwork) which caused the final price to go over $50,000. This pricing is higher than the outgoing model (2025 models see a slight bump up in price) but is on par for the segment with the Genesis actually undercutting a comparably equipped BMW 3-Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
With this high amount of value and style, the 2024 Genesis G70 continues to be a compelling value play for Genesis and if Genesis chooses to bring the Magma treatment to it, it might perhaps be a potent contender to the M3.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.