Genesis has redesigned the G70 sedan for model year 2022, and it’s a winner. The newest iteration of this award-winning luxury sedan dials up both its look and attitude with a lower and wider grille, stacked quadruple LED headlights, restyled back end, and more dramatic body lines. Its status as a premium performance vehicle has also been enhanced with a newly available variable exhaust valve system and Sport+ drive mode. Plus, the standard infotainment touchscreen is now 10.25 inches, which is superlative in this class.
Trims and Powertrain
The Genesis G70 will start its second generation with the same trim lineup as before: the 2.0T and 3.3T. But, because redesign years are something to celebrate, there will also be a limited-run Launch Edition until they run out. The 2.0T is eligible for a Prestige Package, while the 3.3T qualifies for Sport Advanced and Sport Prestige packages (see below for more details on each). The 2.0T comes with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 252 hp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, while the 3.3T and Launch Edition have a turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 that makes 365 hp and 376 lb.-ft. of torque. Both engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available.
Notable Equipment
Naturally, the base 2.0T will be stocked generously with standard features. Some of these include 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, a hands-free trunk, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable heated front seats, a rearview camera with parking guidance, and simulated-leather upholstery. The Prestige Package mentioned above can be opted for to add 19-inch wheels, a moonroof, rain-sensing windshield wipers, leather upholstery, a wireless smartphone charger, and a 15-speaker Lexicon audio system.
The 3.3T comes standard with the 19-inch wheels, rain-sensing wipers, and leather seats, and it also has a sport-tuned suspension, the Sport+ drive mode, and performance brakes. This trim can be upgraded with a choice of packages. The Sport Advanced Package will issue some of the contents mentioned in the 2.0T’s Prestige Package (the moonroof, wireless smartphone charger, and Lexicon audio system), plus 19-inch sport wheels, a variable exhaust valve system, dark chrome accents, ventilated front seats, alloy pedals, and Digital Key, which lets your smartphone take over as the vehicle’s key fob.
The Sport Prestige Package will supply the contents of the Sport Advanced Package, in addition to Brembo brakes, a limited-slip differential, Nappa leather upholstery, a microfiber suede headliner, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display, a surround-view camera system, and a blind-spot view monitor. The limited-production Launch Edition will have the features from the Sport Prestige Package, as well as lightweight 19-inch wheels, a matte-finish paint job, and a bold red Nappa leather interior.
Driver-Assistive Features and Infotainment
Each trim will get a full suite of active safety features, which includes forward collision -avoidance assist, lane following assist, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, highway driving assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, driver attention warning, automatic high beams, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, rear occupant alert, and safe exit warning. As for infotainment, all 2022 G70s have a 10.25-inch touchscreen with integrated navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming, and a six-speaker audio system (the Lexicon system will be optional for both).
2022 G70 vs. Competitors
Luxury vehicles used to be reserved for those in the elite class, but today they’re becoming far more accessible to everyday driver. Consider the redesigned 2022 Genesis G70. It’s sumptuous inside and out, with a refined cabin that’s filled with deluxe amenities. Its performance and handling also entertain the true driving enthusiast, especially since it can still be ordered with a manual transmission. But while the ’22 G70 is certainly an appealing choice among luxury-level sport sedans, it must compete with the 2022 versions of the iconic BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Acura TLX, Lexus IS, Cadillac CT4, and Infiniti Q50. Let’s look in more depth at how closely these vehicles compete.
Cost and Coverage
Most of the models in this comparison are pricier than the ’22 G70, which presents a manageable base MSRP of $37,775. Some of its rivals are close in price, like the Audi A4 ($39,900), Lexus IS ($38,775), and Acura TLX ($37,700), while others – the BMW 3 Series ($41,450) and Infiniti Q50 ($42,100) – are on the higher end of the pricing spectrum. Although the only domestic make in this comparison, the Cadillac CT4, is the least expensive with a starting MSRP of $33,695, it lacks many of the key features found in the ’22 G70 (as we’ll get into below).
What’s more, the G70 has one of the best warranty plans in the game. Its basic warranty is good for 5 years/60,000 miles, while its powertrain coverage lasts for 10 years/100,000 miles. The 3 Series and A4 new vehicle warranties expire after 4 years or 50,000 miles The TLX’s, IS’s, and CT4’s basic warranties have the same terms as BMW’s and Audi’s but with the added coverage of a powertrain warranty that caps at 6 years/70,000 miles. The Q50’s coverage is similar to Cadillac’s and Acura’s. In a nutshell, none of the listed competing manufacturers comes close to Genesis in warranty protection.
To top it off, the ’22 G70 also comes with a 3-year/36,000-mile complimentary maintenance plan that covers factory-scheduled oil and filter changes and tire rotations. The 3 Series is the only other model in this comparison to get a similar maintenance plan. Lexus only covers the first two maintenance visits for the IS, and Audi and Cadillac charge extra for their respective maintenance plans. Infiniti declines to offer any complimentary coverage for the Q50.
Luxury and Safety
Even though the ’22 G70 is one of the least expensive models in this competition, it supplies some of the most impressive features. It matches at least some of its rivals with desirable standard amenities, like heated and ventilated front seats, wireless phone charging (not available in the 3 Series, IS, or Q50), a heated steering wheel, automatic climate control, and rain-sensing windshield wipers (absent in the A4). But the G70 offers a few exclusive amenities as well, such as smartphone-based Digital Key, a hands-free trunk, a convenient front passenger walk-in device where the driver or rear occupants can adjust the front passenger seat without stepping out of the vehicle, and a blind-spot view monitor that displays a live video of the vehicle’s blind spots in the gauge cluster.
Not only that, but the ’22 G70 has a standard infotainment system with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, which is larger than the base touchscreens in the 3 Series (8.8 in.), IS (8 in.), and CT4 (8 in.). This infotainment system includes navigation, which is not standard in the A4, TLX, IS, or CT4. The ’22 G70 was also awarded the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ accolade – the highest distinction the organization gives. The only other models in this comparison with the Top Safety Pick+ designation are the TLX and IS.
Athleticism
The 2022 G70 is one of the most potent vehicles in this competition, especially if you opt for the 3.3T model, which has a turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 engine that puts out 365 hp and 376 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine upgrades in the A4 (261 hp and 273 lb.-ft. of torque), TLX (355 hp and 354 lb.-ft. of torque), IS (311 hp and 280 lb.-ft. of torque), and CT4 (310 hp and 350 lb.-ft. of torque) are all less powerful. While the 3 Series and Q50 take the cake in terms of output, they come up short in other key areas that might be more important to drivers shopping in this class. Additionally, all models are eligible for all-wheel drive.