Genesis G70 review: New rival to BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class

A new luxury rival to the established German brands has launched in Australia, and there is one big incentive for new buyers.

Selling luxury cars in Australia is a tough gig, the competition is strong and the Germans hold the dominant position. But that hasn’t stopped upstart luxury brand Genesis from mounting an invasion. Here are five things you need to know about the Genesis G70.

A new name in luxury

Genesis, a luxury offshoot of Hyundai, has had a long and convoluted introduction to Australia. It launched with a two-vehicle range last June and there is only one store at the moment — in Sydney’s Pitt St Mall. A Melbourne outlet is planned for the end of the year and in the meantime Genesis “experience executives” can organise test drives at convenient locations for prospective customers. Cars can be ordered online, while owners are treated to a complimentary pick-up and courtesy car when their car is serviced. Its five-year warranty shades the skinny three-year coverage offered by some rivals.

Genesis is the newest luxury car brand in Australia.

The price is right

Slow sales mean prices have been cut in recent months. Current discounts aren’t as sharp as they were in June and July. For August and September the entry level 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo is $57,670 drive away, a saving of roughly $8000, while the top-of-the-range 3.3T Ultimate, which is powered by a twin-turbo V6, is $77,645, a drop of almost $11,000. That is seriously good value — a German luxury sedan with six-cylinder turbo power will set you back more than $100,000.

Prices have been slashed to entice buyers.

The club is exclusive

Luxury car owners look for exclusivity and you’re unlikely to come across too many G70s in your travels. In the first seven months of this year, 60 were sold, compared with 122 Ferraris and 66 Lamborghinis. That’s a fraction of the sales logged by the popular 3-Series and C-Class.

Sales of the G70 have been slow so far.

It’s an entertaining drive

Genesis says the G70’s 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 puts out 272kW and 510Nm, enough to propel you to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds. The G70 comes with a conventional 8-speed auto, which means smoother shifts around town, but less crisp and decisive changes at speed on a winding road. The rear-drive set-up is well balanced and there’s plenty of grip from the Michelin tyres in the twisty stuff, while the adaptive suspension offers a good mix of comfort and control on uneven road surfaces and the brakes are strong and fade-free. It’s not in the same class as a 3-Series for poise at the limit, but that’s no disgrace. Fuel economy isn’t great. The official average is 10.2 litres per 100km but you’ll use a lot more around town.

The cabin is let down by a few outdated pieces.

The cabin is a mixed bag

There are some quality touches inside. The heated and ventilated seats are covered in perforated Nappa leather with red diamond-pattern stitching, while the aluminium cabin highlights look suitably up-market. But the centre screen looks like it’s been plucked from a Hyundai i30 and there’s no space-age digital dash in front of the driver. It’s not so much down-market as a little dated — a midlife update is due some time next year. It makes up for any shortcomings in presentation with a stack of standard equipment including head-up display, premium 15-speaker audio system, satnav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and wireless phone charger. All the necessary driver aids are standard and the active cruise control will take off and come to a complete stop in city traffic. Boot space is tight, though.

Originally published as Genesis G70 review: New rival to BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class