PHOENIX — in the highly competitive midsize luxury car segment that includes varsity brands such as the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series and Lexus IS among others, the Genesis G70 with the most powerful base engine, flush with sophistication and design style with richly luxurious cabin environs, excellent warranty, along with the lowest price in its class makes it the convincing choice you may not have expected.

The GV70 is a small to midsize 4-door sports sedan available with rear-wheel-drive or optional all-wheel-drive, powered by a choice of a standard 300-horsepower 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder or a 365-horsepower 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V6. Both are paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The 3.3T has a top speed of 168 mph and will bolt 0-60 mph win 4.5 seconds, besting its German competitors including the M3 BMW along the way when engaging its launch control technology.



For this review we tested the more powerful 3.3T model with a base price of $50,450. Regardless of which G70 you choose buyers will get a long list of standard active and passive safety features and driver comfort amenities including Genesis's stop-and-go Highway Driving Assist System, Brembo brakes, 19-inch sport alloy wheels, leather seating upholstery, heated seats, Lexicon Premium audio system, 12-way adjustable electric driver's seat, sunroof, and more.

Upgrading to all-wheel-drive is a $2,199 uncharge on any model, and our test G70 added the Sport Prestige package ($4,400) that included electronically controlled suspension, limited slip differential, head-up display, quilted Nappa leather seating surfaces, microfiber suede headline & pillars, surround view camera, blind spot view monitor and power trunk. It was finished in the optional Bond Silver matte paint (($1,500) that looked fabulous.



Inside, the G70 oozes class, sophistication, technology and luxury. The look is top-shelf quality and materials that's unique and alluring to behold. Every touch point, dial, switch, control smacks of a vehicle priced considerably at six figures yet its clean, modern — befitting Armani benchmarking.

Behind the wheel there's no shortage of driver satisfaction with a superb blend of luxury refinement and credible, properly sorted handling thanks to apex-seeking torque-vectoring and mechanical limited-slip differential all properly tuned and combined thanks to its Nurburgring breeding and grooming engineering.

At highway cruising speeds cabin noise is so well controlled, hushed and absent wind noise you might think you're in an electric vehicle. Want sporting noise? The twin-turbo V6 rasps audibly as it revs past 6,500 rpm as the eight-speed automatic goes through the upshift gears. There's no manual mode, but clicking through the wheel-mounted paddle shifters affords a temporary override - smoothly and logically with a proper sporting accelerating surge.

To be sure, the G70 isn't a track car, however the car returned excellent handling with direct on steering and ride settings to the individual expectations of individual driver tastes. Overall, excellent acceleration, balance, agility and pleasingly playful as it navigated the carved and twisty blacktop two-lane of Arizona's mountainous Apache Trail Highway. It all comes to a safe, controlled and short stopping distance thanks to the standard Brembo brakes.

Compared to most modern day sedans the G70 is absolutely wonderful to drive and seems to beg you to push it for limits with confidence seldom experienced with its competitors. it seems a shame most prospective buyers and owners won't drive it with the verve the vehicle enjoys being driven.

Still, with all this goodness not all is perfect such as the old-school Type A USB connector rather than the new Type C cables that most phones utilize. The rear seat isn't as generous with room for the legs as its rivals and the front grille is a massive maw that some find to be wonky.

With an as tested price of $58,450 it seems the car bargain of the decade for what it delivers. For comparison the BMW M440i Gran Coupe with its 3.0-liter twin-turbo 386-hp V6 starts at $62,600 without a single option added and the Germans' are famous for price gouging its options. We highly recommend you add the G70 to your "test drive" list when shopping for a smaller luxury sport sedan.

Vital Stats
Base Price: $50,450
Price as Tested: $57,600
Engine/Transmission: 3.3-Liter Twin-Turbo 365-hp V6 connected to an 8-speed automatic transmission.
EPA Fuel Economy: 18/27/21 mpg City/Highway/Combined.
Seating: 5
Where Built: Ulsan, Korea

Crash Test Safety Rating: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety - Crashworthiness, Crash avoidance & mitigation: Good.

Competes With:
Alfa Romeo Giulia
Audi A4
BMW Gran Coupe
Lexus IS
Mercedes C-Class
Volvo S60

Likes:
Sleek styling, luxurious interior
Excellent driving dynamics
Value pricing

Dislikes:
Small back seat
No hybrid option
Sold-serviced via Hyundai dealer

— Jim Prueter