Road Test: 2022 Genesis G70 RWD 3.3T
Expressively Designed Premium Sedan
Genesis says the 2022 G70 sport sedan is “designed to perform, tailored to be driven, engineered to care.” Clean Fleet Report is cautious when reading auto manufacturer press releases, but in this case Genesis is on to something. We spent a week in the smallest Genesis sedan that is designed to take-on the BMW 3-series and Mercedes-Benz C-class sports sedans and found it was a lot of well-engineered car for the money.
Power Options
The 2022 Genesis G70 comes with two gasoline engine options. The base 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder puts out 252 horsepower (hp) and 260 pound-feet (lb.-ft.) of torque with a 0-60 time of 6.4 seconds. Clean Fleet Report was treated to the G70 with the 3.3-liter twin turbo V6 with a robust 368 hp and 376 lb.-ft. of torque. Both engines deliver strong, smooth acceleration, and in the case of the 3.3 V6 with rear-wheel drive, we hit 60 miles per hour in 4.6 seconds.
The 8-speed automatic, with paddle shifters, has the Drive Mode Integrated Control System, which helps you get the most performance from the engine with choices of Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Custom. Opting for Sport and Sport+ maximized the steering effort, transmission shift points and throttle response. Out on the freeway, Comfort provided a comfortable ride and was preferred to Eco, where the acceleration response, gearshift points and air conditioning were reduced to get the best fuel economy.
These are the fuel economy ratings for each engine, with rear wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD.) The mpg ratings are for city/highway/combined.
The take-away from these numbers is the least amount of 95 octane fuel will be used with the base engine and rear-wheel drive. But heck, the 3.3-liter twin turbo is so delicious, it may just be worth the sacrifice if corners and twisties are your thing.
During our time in the G70 3.3T RWD we drove 225 miles through Southern California, averaging 24 mpg. But in a 110-mile all-freeway run with the adaptive cruise control set to 65 mph, and using Stop and Go, we achieved 29.3 mpg. The slippery aerodynamics are partially due to the 0.28 coefficient of drag and smooth body design. Fuel economy numbers reported by Clean Fleet Report are non-scientific and represent the reviewer’s driving experience using the dash gauge computer. Your numbers may differ.
Impressive Performance
The well-distributed 3,887-pound weight gave the G70 a solid and confident ride, with the power-assisted steering direct and precise. The grippy Michelin Pilot Sport summer tires were staggered, 225/40ZR on the front and 255/35ZR on the rears. They were mounted on 19-inch lightweight multi-spoke alloy wheels. The summer tires and the driver-adjustable adaptive dampers resulted in no noticeable body roll when pushing corners to their limit. The Brembo brakes are part of the ABS system, and the MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension added to the road confidence. The dynamic torque vectoring, only available on the all-wheel drive model, will take the handling up a notch.
The 8-speed transmission is well-tuned for torque to be available through the full shift band. When opting for Sport or Sport+ and using the paddle shifters, some serious fun driving takes place. The 2022 Genesis G70 is a very well-engineered car.
Exterior Statement
The Genesis wing emblem sits above the large grille, which sports a diamond cross-hatch pattern. The grille is bordered by quad, horizontal LED head and daytime running lights, which sit above air inlets and a narrow functioning grille in the lower fascia.
The hood has wing-shaped character lines, with two lines running the length of the smooth sides, which have a functioning air outlet on the lower front fenders. The lightly raked roof with a sunroof and a body-color shark fin antenna leads to the trunk lid with a small integrated lip spoiler.
The dual-level horizontal LED tail lights wrap from the fender onto the hands-free power trunk lid that sports the subtle G70 and 3.3T emblems. The lower edges of the fascia, with diffusers, house chrome-tipped dual horizontal exhaust ports. Available in 11 exterior color options, Clean Fleet Report’s G70, painted in Verbier White, had an overall design which will age well for years to come.
Clean, Refreshing Interior
Simplicity and clean lines are complemented with multiple surfaces that work without being busy or overwhelming. Our Genesis G70 interior in Seville Red with quilting on the seats and door panels was joined by black soft touch materials, perforated leatherette door inserts and patterned aluminum trim that was a nice respite from carbon fiber.
The Nappa leather-trimmed, heated and ventilated front seats had driver-side memory, with the driver getting 12-way power adjustments, including side bolsters and a lower leg extension. The front passenger seat gets 12-way power adjustments including 4-way lumbar. The G70 has the Front Seat Easy Access feature that moves the seat and steering wheel to make it easier to enter and leave the car.
Rear seat access was excellent, with comfortable sculpted seats that are best for two adults under six foot. Air vents and USB ports are found in the rear of the center console, with cup holders in the fold-down center armrest. Cargo room was ample, even more-so when the 60/40 split rear seat is folded flat. The temporary spare tire is found in the trunk.
The low slung dash has a nicely placed 10.25-inch horizontal LCD touchscreen that houses the navigation and the Lexicon by Harmon premium audio system. The 660-watt, surround sound 15-speaker system has multiple tweeters and woofers, including subwoofers located under the two front seats, and an 11-channel digital external amplifier. Sounds come from SiriusXM, AM/FM/HD radio, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with Bluetooth voice commands for the radio and telephone.
The leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel has controls for audio, telephone and adaptive cruise control. The radio can also be controlled by voice, touchscreen and has a very short learning curve for this outstanding entertainment system.
Other interior features are an 8.0-inch color LCD instrument cluster that included easy-to-read gauges with white backgrounds and black numbers, a proximity key with push button start, USB and 12V power outlets, dual zone automatic temperature control, power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, a color head-up display, heated and power side mirrors with turn signals and wireless phone charging.
Technology features continue with the Smart Key, which provides access to vehicle systems including remote start, and the Digital Key that provided extra convenience and safety. The Homelink auto-dimming rear view mirror is an integrated transceiver (a transmitter and receiver) that can be programmed to activate radio frequency (RF) devices such as garage doors, estate/community gates, entry door locks, home/office lighting, security systems or other RF devices.
Safety
The G70 comes with an extensive list of advanced safety features that your dealer sales representative should go over with you in detail. Some of them include rain sensing wipers, front passenger, driver knee and side airbags, rear side impact airbags, anchors and tethers for child car seats and child door locks. There is a surround rearview monitor with blind spot detection, forward collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic avoidance assist, lane keep assist, lane following and hill start assist, a tire pressure monitoring system and electronic stability control.
The G70 has a semi-autonomous driving system, which works very well. Check out the Genesis Highway Driving Assist.
The 2022 Genesis G70 is a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), its highest overall rating. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not rated the G70.
Warranties
The 2022 G70 comes with these warranties:
- Powertrain – 10 years/100,000 miles
- New Vehicle – Five years/60,000 miles
- Maintenance – Three years/36,000 miles
- Roadside Assistance – Five years/Unlimited miles
- Anti-perforation – Seven years/Unlimited miles
Pricing
The 2022 G70 has these base prices, including the mandatory $1,045 freight and handling fee.
2.0T Standard RWD – $38,570
2.0T Prestige RWD – $42,570
2.0T Standard AWD – $40,670
2.0T Prestige AWD – $44,670
3.3T Standard RWD – $43,145
3.3T Sport Advanced RWD – $47,445
3.3T Sport Prestige RWD – $51,445
3.3T Standard AWD – $45,245
3.3T Sport Advanced AWD – $49,545
3.3T Sport Prestige AWD – $53,445
Observations: 2022 Genesis G70 RWD 3.3T
The 2022 Genesis G70 is a lot of car for the money. The high-end interior, sharp exterior design, deft handling, 30+ mpg from the base engine with rear-wheel drive, standard driver safety systems and an outstanding warranty make it a great value.
Go into a Genesis dealer and become acquainted with this luxury sport sedan. When comparing it with non-sporty sedans, the step-up in price will seem well worth it.
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Story and Photos by John Faulkner.
Other Luxury Sport Sedans We’ve Tested:
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Road Test: 2021 Cadillac CT5
Road Test: 2015 Infiniti Q50
Road Test: 2022 Lexus ES 300h
Disclosure:
Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.
Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and diesels. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.
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