Luxury sedan comparison: Genesis G70 v BMW 3 Series v Mercedes C-Class

There is a new maker entering Australia’s luxury car market, but can this surprise entrant dethrone two of Australia’s most popular prestige cars.

Badges are important in the luxury car game. The three-pointed star or blue and white roundel of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3 Series are immediately recognisable around the world.

But the folks on the putting green at a golf course hosting our photo shoot weren’t sure what to make of the winged emblem on a new challenger.

The new Genesis G70 looks the part, but can it really compete with the established luxury players?

Genesis G70

Brand recognition will be a problem for Genesis, which distanced itself from Hyundai by plucking “H” emblems off cars and removing vehicles from dealerships stocked with lesser metal.

A boutique shopfront on Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall is the place to buy a Genesis. Sharing the neighbourhood with fashion labels, the manufacturer will spend $10 million in the first year of a retail space far from any Sonata or Elantra.

Other points of difference include five years’ free servicing and a version with an affordable twin-turbo V6 engine. The model we’re testing has a 2.0-litre motor — par for the course in this class.

The G70 comes with a choice of a four- or six-cylinder engine.

In common with the BMW 3 Series in its crosshairs, the standard Genesis G70 features a four-cylinder turbo, eight-speed auto transmission and rear-wheel drive.

Peak outputs of 179kW/353Nm are accompanied by a relatively thirsty 8.7L/100km official fuel figure.

The luxurious “Ultimate” spec of the test car brings heated and ventilated memory seats, wireless phone charging, panoramic roof and more for $69,300 plus on-road costs.

You get a lot of kit for your cash in the Genesis, including 15-speaker premium audio and comprehensive driver aids.

But evidence of cost-cutting looms large in driver instruments and seven-inch infotainment screen borrowed from Hyundai.

It wins points for comfortable seats with diamond-stitched dark brown leather sections and, in the back, valet-style seat controls.

The Genesis interior is a let down, with evidence of shared elements from much cheaper Hyundais.

You sit high in the Genesis, taking hold of a thick wheel adorned with a complex array of buttons plus paddle-shifters, as found in any car with sporting pretensions.

Keen drivers will work those paddles from time to time, as the dozy tune of the transmission can fail to keep up with what’s happening on the road.

There’s more road noise than rivals. The impressive composure from the suspension can’t disguise its noisy action — you hear bumps, rather than feel them.

Heavier than rivals, the Genesis feels planted and confidence-inspiring, with meaty steering and plenty of grip from Michelin rubber.

BMW 3 Series

Released overseas in 2017, the Genesis’s development benchmarks included previous iterations of the 3 Series. The compact sedan was not at its best in recent years but this year’s G20 generation is a cracker.

The BMW 3 Series has restored its former reputation as the world’s premium driving car.

Weighing in 213kg lighter than the Genesis, the new 3 Series feels more agile and athletic at every turn. Multi-mode shock absorbers help the more powerful BMW feel like the car the Genesis hoped to be.

The $70,900 330i brings stout outputs (190kW/400Nm) to serve up a straight-line advantage when pressing on. It also uses 26 per cent less fuel.

More than that, the BMW’s sporting intent shines through. Enter a corner and, as you squeeze powerful monoblock brakes, its intuitive gearbox programming drops through the gears with a pop and crackle from the exhausts.

The steering, though quick, isn’t as satisfying as it could be and there are plusher alternatives for long drives.

Few can match the BMW’s cabin, with its sports seats, thick-rimmed steering wheel, 12.3-inch digital dash and 10.25-inch central display.

Outstanding on paper but sometimes frustrating in daily use, the set-up can delay smartphone connections and the touchpad near the gear selector requires a firm hand.

The new 3 Series has a slick cabin but the infotainment can be fiddly.

The 330i has the best driving position here, with a wide range of adjustment that allows you to sit much lower than the Merc or Genesis.

In the rear there is more headroom, if less shoulder room, but passengers get twin USB-C outlets, a 12V power socket and dedicated aircon controls rivals can’t match. It even has the biggest boot.

Metallic paint adds $2000 (it’s nearly half that in the Merc, and free in the Genesis). The sunroof ($2900), heated seats ($700) and servicing — all free in the G70 — raise questions over the 3 Series’ value.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

We asked Mercedes for a mid-range C300 sedan which costs $71,800, has 190kW/370Nm grunt and similar standard features to the BMW and Genesis. But that car wasn’t available, so we made do with an entry-level C200 powered by a smaller 1.5-litre (135kW’280Nm).

Cabin shortcuts include faux leather seats with less adjustment and a basic safety suite, which includes AEB but not active cruise control and lane keeping assistance.

The C-Class has been the benchmark small luxury sedan for a number of years.

The trade-off is the Benz is significantly cheaper at $63,700 plus on-road costs. Again, you’ll need to get ticking on the options sheet to match the Genesis or BMW.

The Mercedes does not play at being a sports sedan, instead riding beautifully on smaller wheels with softer suspension allowing more roll and compliance than the other cars.

It feels delicate in a way, light and sweet with dynamics that encourage a flowing, effortless style as opposed to a dominant hand.

That smaller engine has a fine partner in the nine-speed auto which, like the BMW, has a good sense for choosing the right gear.

Piano black trim in the cabin looks plain alongside the textured rivals but the digital dash and 10.25-inch central screen operate flawlessly.

The Merc’s interior is a tad basic.

The rear, devoid of power outlets, feels basic but the seats are comfortable and there’s less cabin noise than in the Genesis.

It may be the oldest car here by some margin but the C-Class’s enduring appeal is reflected on the sales charts — it delivers a genuine Mercedes experience for less outlay than larger models.

And the range is as sporty as you want — or can afford — it to be, culminating in the fire-breathing V8-powered C63.

Verdict

Genesis’s debut junior sports sedan, well-rounded and value-packed, is let down by its flat transmission and interior components shared with the i30 hatch. The base C-Class is polished but can’t quite compete with the rivals’ broader package. The 3 Series — brilliant to drive, with an impressive cabin and plenty of practical touches — is the winner.

The Genesis is a solid new player in the luxury car market.

Genesis G70 vitals

Price: $69,300 plus on-roads

Warranty/servicing: 5 years/unlimited km, free servicing

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo, 179kW/353Nm

Safety: 5 stars, 7 airbags, rear camera, rear sensors, front and rear AEB, adaptive cruise, rear cross traffic alert

Thirst: 8.7L/100km

Spare: Space-saver

BMW 330i vitals

Price: $70,900 plus on-roads

Warranty/servicing: 3 years/unlimited km, $1565 for 5 years

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo, 190kW/400Nm

Safety: 5 stars, 8 airbags, AEB, adaptive cruise, lane keeping assistance, rear cross traffic alert

Thirst: 6.4L/100km

Spare: None; run-flats

Mercedes-Benz C200 vitals

Price: $63,700 plus on-roads

Warranty/servicing: 3 years/unlimited km, $2450 for 3 years

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo, 135kW/280Nm

Safety: 5 stars, 9 airbags, AEB (adaptive cruise etc optional)

Thirst: 6.4L/100km

Spare: None; run-flats

Let’s talk about six

Want one with grunt? Genesis will sell you a G70 with 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 (272kW/510Nm) for a tempting $72,450. Mercedes wants $108,600 for its C43 AMG (287kW/520Nm), Audi’s S4 (260kW/500Nm) is $99,240 and BMW’s coming M340i sedan (275kW/500Nm) will be about $100,000.

We’ve been here before

It can be a tough gig selling a high-end brand in Australia. Having launched in 2012, Nissan’s luxury spin-off Infiniti sells about 50 cars a month — fewer than the Mercedes daily tally. Alfa Romeo struggles to shift 75 beautiful and driver-focused cars a month. Jaguar tells a similar tale.