2026 Genesis G70: 3 Pros and 1 Con

When the G70 burst on the scene in late 2017, it changed everything for Genesis. It showed that the upstart Korean manufacturer was a serious luxury automaker, despite the brand’s relative infancy and minimal experience. The G70 had the style, luxury, and most importantly, driving characteristics to rival the best compact luxury sedans on the market.

Many brands had tried to build a BMW 3 Series and/or Mercedes-Benz C-Class competitor, only to come up a bit short. Genesis though, nailed the formula on the company’s first attempt.

But time waits for no car and the G70 has now been on the market for nine years. Sure, there have been updates including a significant refresh along the way, but the G70 is essentially the same core model we fell in love with nearly a decade ago. After all this time, is it still any good? Or has it been left behind?

To find out I grabbed a 2026 Genesis G70 2.5T Prestige AWD for a week’s worth of evaluation. After many hours behind the wheel, I found there is still a lot more to like about this luxury sedan there isn’t. Below I’ve summed up my top 3 pros for the G70, as well as one glaring con.

PRO: Standard Power

The entry level 2026 Genesis G70 comes equipped with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 300 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. That’s a good bit more standard power than an Audi A5, BMW 330i, Cadillac CT4, or Mercedes-Benz C 300.

On the road the extra power can be felt under hard acceleration. Around town, there's decent grunt, even from a standstill, but its once the turbo is spooled up that the party really kicks off.

The engine note is kept rather quiet on the exterior, but like many of the G70’s competitors, some augmented sound can be fed into the cabin.

PRO: Driving Dynamics

A fun-to-drive, yet refined driving experience balance. That's where many brands fail when creating a modern small luxury sedan. Genesis is not one of those brands. Even after all these years, the G70 reminds me immediately how good of a car it is to operate.

The steering is well weighted and provides good feedback while the wheel itself is nice to grip. The car responds to driver inputs and during spirited driving even the all-wheel drive models have the back end eagerly willing to rotate the car through the corners.

On the refinement side, the suspension does not punish passengers, and outside vibrations and noises are kept to a minimum.

PRO: Technology Simplicity

This topic could be a Con to some, but to me, it’s a major Pro. Since the Genesis G70 has been around for a while, the interior user interface is not 100% touchscreen reliant which is a major plus in my books. There’s a prominent row of buttons on the centre of the dashboard that conjures up all the important menu screens. Flanking them are dials for both volume and tuning, and the dual-zone climate control also features dual dials for temperature control.

The rest of the climate controls are house in a dedicated, well laid out small screen within the dashboard. While on the topic of small screens, the G70’s main infotainment system utilizes a modest 10.25-inch widescreen unit.

Some may view this set-up as dated, out-of-touch, or low-tech. I think it’s refreshingly easy to use and feels more like a proper luxury car compared to the endless stream of overly-tech laden computers on wheels.

Con: Age Creeps Up

Not everything is rainbows and sunshine when it comes to the Genesis G70’s aged platform. Some key features have never made their way into the vehicle, like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Despite there being a wireless phone charging pad, the G70 still requires a USB cable to connect to either of those advanced smartphone systems.

With some of the lowest-priced new vehicles on sale today now offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, hopefully the G70 gets it in an upcoming update soon.

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