2024 Genesis G70 2.5T Prestige AWD

Who said cars aren't affordable these days? Well at least relatively speaking, a vehicle like this 2024 Genesis G70 2.5T Prestige AWD is an incredible deal when you compare it against the Germans. I got to spend an extended week with this compact executive car to see how the refreshed G70 feels with this new 2.5L turbo engine. I quickly realized that this car is a no brainer; the de facto choice if you're shopping for a new luxury sedan and in this review I'll do my best to convince you of that. It'll be well worth it.

Since I drove the G70 last it's gotten a facelift, a new exterior look to match the larger G80 and G90 sedans, with the diamond point grille, sleek two horizontal bar lights, and an updated interior. The big change coming into 2024 is the 2.5L turbo 4 cylinder engine which replaces the 2.0L from before. Power numbers are 300 horsepower, and 311 lb-ft of torque, up about 50 horsepower and torque from the previous engine, and 45 horsepower more than the BMW 330i and Mercedes-Benz C 300, but more on that shortly.

Our test model comes with 1 all-in price of $58,000 CAD with a number of paint options. Ours is finished in Capri Blue with Obsidian Black & Dune Beige Nappa Leather. Our Prestige is the top-line for the smaller engine, with plenty of luxury features you'd expect to find on a well-equipped luxury sedan. LED lighting, remote starter, keyless entry, and Genesis Connected Services along with a suite of safety tech like active cruise control, lane keep assist, blind view monitor, 360º cameras, and more. Our G70 also has a power trunk.

The interior is a great place to be, with soft, comfortable seating and an airy feel thanks to the light-coloured interior. Only complaint was the position of the steering wheel, sticking out about an inch too far from the dashboard than I'd like, making egress a little more difficult than it needed to be. The front seats have ventilation and heat along with driver memory, and rear passengers get heated seats. A 10.25" infotainment system adorns the top of the dashboard running the familiar Genesis UI we've come to love. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is accessed via USB cable, which would be the only negative for some buyers.

The heating controls come off the larger Genesis SUVs, with capacitive touch feedback and a digital readout for airflow. Going up to the Sport model not only gives you the 3.3L twin-turbo V6, sport tuned suspension and limited slip differential, but you'd get the larger 12.3" digital gauge cluster over the 8" semi-digital cluster found on this model. The 15 speaker Lexicon audio system sounded great with Bluetooth audio but there wasn't as much of an oomph when listing to satellite radio.

To keep it simple, Genesis has designed an interior for drivers, with easy to reach controls and thoughtful elements to complement the materials and textures in the cabin. We're glad Genesis is refraining from sticking a large tablet on the dash that replaces all physical buttons, and we hope it stays that way.

So how does the competition stack up. A zero-option 2024 BMW 330i xDrive sedan starts at $58,780.00, and adding the features found here to bring it up to a similar spec as the Genesis would put the 3 Series around $70k. A zero-option 2024 Mercedes-Benz C 300 4matic sedan starts at $61,000, and a similar-spec would be over $73k. Both BMW and Mercedes use 2.0L turbo engines that produce 255 hosepower and 295 lb-ft of toque, noticeably less than this Genesis G70.

So if price isn't enough for you, let's talk about the overall experience on the road. The Genesis G70's new power plant provides a smooth, efficient drive with more get up and go in Sport mode, and better fuel efficiency in eco mode. 7.4L/100km is what we achieved on our 100km test loop, significantly better than the 8.7L the 2023 Acura TLX Type S achieved.

The driving dynamics aren't sporty, and that's exactly what this trim needs. The ride is comfortable with enough play in the suspension to avoid feeling major bumps, but not so floaty that you lose all feedback while driving. The cabin noise level is low, with pumped in fake engine audio available if you want it. My family and I have been very happy spending time in this vehicle, opting to take this over the larger SUV we currently have at our disposal. Both driver and passengers will be comfortable in this car, and I highly recommend going with this lighter interior colour.

It's not often that I come to such a definitive conclusion, but the 2024 Genesis G70 2.5T Prestige AWD is the way to go if you're in the market for a new compact executive car. The price difference between the German offerings is staggering, and if your budget is truly $70k you could save the money you spend on the Genesis for an outstanding warranty, maintenance plan, and gas for the life of the car. This is the car I'd take if I were in the market for it, and you should seriously consider it too. There's a reason why Genesis has been growing at such an impressive rate since they launched, they've done what Lexus took 20 years to achieve and made it happen in 5. Say hello to the new face of luxury.

You can check out our full review of the Genesis G70 over on our YouTube Channel to see how much I love this car, and some awesome clips of the car in the sunshine.