2022 Genesis G70 RWD 3.3T Sport Prestige - Review by David Colman +VIDEO

Twice as good, but half as expensive as the German competition

Photos and Story By David Colman
Special Correspondent to THE AUTO CHANNEL

Dave Colman

Locked and loaded, ready to explode. Zero to Sixty? 4.5 seconds. Standing Start Quarter Mile? Mid-12 second range at over 115mph. The 2022 Genesis sport sedan is unquestionably the most fun car I have driven in the last 52 weeks. Genesis has done an amazingly competent job of turning last year's good product into next year's great one. Styling is vastly improved, interior treatment likewise. But the biggest difference for 2022 is the addition of a comprehensive Sport+ Drive Mode Select that reconfigures every aspect of the driving experience, from handling to shifting to throttle application. This is not the kind of watered down addendum so many manufacturers tout these days. You know - the "Sport" buttons you see on TV purporting to transform pachyderm SUVs into lithe road runners. Unlike those fairy tale hoaxes, this Genesis' Sport+ really does convert the G70 into a snarling beast, ready to pounce on slower traffic like a cheetah on a wildebeest.

The beauty of this G70 is that you can just as easily dial yourself out of hyper mode and back to something approximating normal street behavior. When you reset the Mode Select knob from boil to simmer, the G70 assumes a velvet demeanor. Road imperfections are smoothed, exhaust noises squelched, and throttle pedal response dialed back from nervous to relaxed. How the same sedan can assume two distinctly different personalities at the twist of a single dial is worthy of psychoanalytic investigation.

To duplicate this chameleon like behavior, you will need to order your G70 (Base Price $42,700) with two pricey option packages that definitely earn their keep. The first is the Sport Advanced Package ($4,300), which equips the G70 with charcoal 19 inch Sport Alloy Wheels shod with Michelin Primacy Tour A/S radials (225/40ZR10). This option group adds a variable exhaust valve system which produces a pronounced snarl in Sport+ Mode. Cosmetic improvements include genuine aluminum door panel and center console trim. Genesis embosses the aluminum with an engine turned motif that perfectly complements the quilted red stitching of the sports seats. Finally, this four thousand dollar option adds a 15 speaker Lexicon premium audio system, ventilated front seats, wireless device charging, and wide sunroof.

Equally essential to the performance of the G70 is the Sport Prestige Package ($4,000) which contributes that most important performance component to the drivetrain - a limited slip differential. Equally essential to high performance is the Sport Prestige Package's Brembo braking system upgrade, including four puck front discs. Finally, this option group improves suspension behavior with an electronically controlled ride system tied into the Drive Mode Select dial. Add Nappa Leather seats and a head up display, and you've definitely gotten your money's worth here. When driven vigorously, the G70's 3.3 liter turbo is no mileage champ. With the magic dial in Eco Mode, you will at best record a highway mileage of 27MPG. Once you twist the Drive Mode to Sport+, you'll be intrigued at how fast the gas gauge plummets from full to empty. In its most aggressive state of tune, the paddle-shifted 8 speed automatic transmission drops one or two gears in every situation to provide instant throttle response. That pay-to-play hair trigger readiness will keep you constantly focused on your gas gauge. The federal government confers a 4/10 rating on the G70 for Fuel Economy and a 3/10 for Smog Rating.

We had an opportunity to drive this Genesis on a night when the moon was full. Even with the extra ambient moonlight, the headlights of the Genesis proved inadequate for fast travel due primarily to their flat cut-off pattern that kept the road directly in front of the car brightly illuminates at the expense of objects in the distance. This effect was compounded by the car's semi-automatic system that over-controlled light beam choice. Aside from this one consideration, however, we found the G70 3.3 liter turbo to be the deal of the 21st century for the enthusiast driver. With its new parabolic exterior styling, exquisite interior, and superlative drive train, the Sport Prestige equipped G70 is a sport sedan twice as good and half as expensive as the vaunted competition from Germany.

2022 GENESIS G70 RWD 3.3T SPORT PRESTIGE

ENGINE: 3.6 liter V6, Turbocharged, GDI
HORSEPOWER: 365hp
TORQUE: 376lb.-ft.
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 18MPG City/27MPG Highway
PRICE AS TESTED: $51,945

HYPES: Stellar Handling and Zoom

GRIPES: Low Cut-Off Headlights

STAR RATING: 10 Stars out of 10