2020 Genesis G70 3.3T Sport review

One mate says it looks like a Bentley while another swears it bears a striking similarity to an Aston Martin.

Starting at $59,300, the Genesis G70 certainly doesn’t share the price tags of those luxury stalwarts.

The entry price gets you into the 2.0-litre four-cylinder base model, but I was in the more expensive version with a bigger 3.3-litre six-cylinder turbo pumping out 272kW.

And it hummed.

Hyundai’s answer to luxury medium sedans such as the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the rear-wheel drive Genesis G70, arrived last year after several false starts.

It’s undoubtedly a fine-looking vehicle, one that has already gained plaudits in the US with car of the year honours at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit last January.

Sports programs beamed into Australia have carried ads for the brand for some time, particularly golf shows ... which was ironic because my first issue was not being able to fit the TaylorMade clubs and buggy across the boot.

But this is designed as more of a driver’s car, a sporty executive sedan.

The G70 mirrors those prestige brands but sticks with the Hyundai theme to the extent that it competes for those on a budget — albeit a luxury car budget.

All models come with a five-star safety rating, seven airbags and a pile of safety features such as autonomous emergency braking, radar cruise control with traffic stop-and-go, blind-zone warning, rear cross-traffic alert, individual tyre pressure monitors, front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera.

Speed sign warnings are handy but based on built-in navigation data rather than camera-detected.

It ticks many other upmarket boxes — leather upholstery, digital widescreen display, electronic park brake, sensor key with push-button start, LED door handle which reflects the fancy winged motif at night, and boot release on the key ring.

Then there’s red Brembo brakes, 19-inch alloy wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 high-performance tyres, and a mechanical limited-slip diff.

It has some quirks which set it apart.

The piano tune which chimed every time I got in and out of the Genesis wasn’t my cup of tea but it never bothered me enough to work out how to turn it off .

Another surprise was the boot opening itself when I walked up to load up after finishing golf — with the key inside the golf bag.

The company says there are no plans to sell Genesis vehicles across its national network of 167 independent Hyundai dealers.

Instead, Genesis plans to sell vehicles through factory-owned stores at a fixed price — no matter how hard buyers haggle.

The impressive after-sales service tops the other luxury models — a five-year warranty with complimentary five-year servicing.

The G70 was a stylish and pleasurable car to drive. The main issue would be if you’re going to spend over $70,000 on a luxurious executive sedan, would this be the top of your list? Comparable vehicles at established brands like Audi, Mercedes, Lexus and BMW are still likely to grab most of this market share.

They’re hard nuts to crack.

VERDICT

Good looker with power to burn. A pleasure to drive, but will luxury sedan buyers care?

2020 GENESIS G70 3.3T SPORT SPECIFICATIONS

• Price $72,450
• Engine 3.3-litre six-cylinder turbo petrol
• Outputs 272kW/510Nm
• Transmission Eight-speed automatic
• Thirst 10.2L/100km