By Paul Gover.
There are times when it is good to take a second look at a car.
When that review is built around a long run down the east coast, from Queensland border to the harbour city in Sydney, it provides plenty of extra perspective.
Lots of cars seem good when they are close to home, but hit the highway and the seats get grumpy, the lights go dim, and there are shortcomings and frustrations you never notice in the ‘burbs.
These are the conditions when ordinary cars become very ordinary, but good cars prove their value.
The G70 is parked on the positive side of the fence.
It’s a lovely companion for a long-distance run, with everything from supportive seats to a twin-turbo V6 blow that can knock out any overtaking challenge.
The lane-keeping assistance is annoying and intrusive, but there is also an excellent ‘coasting’ feature which saves fuel – and money – on long downhill stretches.
The G70 was the second Genesis model into Australia, following the larger and stodgier G80 which which found most of its friends among the country’s hire-car drivers. They enjoyed the space and smoothness, as well as the five-year warranty and service package that was the same as the one for private buyers.
Not many Genesis have been sold over the past year, but that’s not down to the car.
Genesis took a unique launch path without traditional dealers, focussing on an inner-city showroom in Sydney that was more like an art gallery. It looked impressive but it’s not the way Aussies like to find and test their cars, and so the G70 has become a hidden gem.
It’s deliberately pitched into the historic prestige heartland where the BMW 3 Series usually ruled, until Audi went all glam and Mercedes arrived with its sledgehammer C63 as a headliner and backed it with a brilliant compact Benz.
Genesis leaders know the best place to conquest a prestige buyer is at the bottom end, since they are usually welded to a brand by their late forties, and the G70 picks up that theme.
The G70 family starts just below the psychological $60,000 barrier, although my test car is the fully-loaded 3.3-litre turbo that takes it just short of $80,000.
Apart from the well-focussed driving package, the Ultimate Sport model gets a sunroof and great leather and all the other luxury stuff as well as sports suspension, big brakes and alloys with Michelin tyres.
It’s a complete package that is well engineered and well finished, and although Genesis is the upscale spin-off from Hyundai – did I forget to mention that? – there is not a single Hyundai badge on the car and it feels nothing like the i30 or impressive new Venue city SUV.
It’s a car which can get up and go on any road, with particularly taut responses in twisty country conditions, and is a relaxing long-distance tourer.
I have the proof from my interstate run and just on that experience, without all the other good news, I’d be happy to recommend the car to my best friends.
The resale is unproven, and it faces some of the toughest opposition in Australian showrooms, but the Genesis G70 is a car that deserves a look.
THE BASICS
Genesis G70
Price: from $72,490
Power: 179W/450Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Position: prestige sports sedan
Plus: drives very well, great value
Minus: intrusive lane assistance, challenger brand
THE TICK: an old friend
Score: 8.5/10
