By Paul Gover.
The first Genesis in Australia was underwhelming at best.
The original G80 sedan was like a giant Korean Camry, very well priced and with a long warranty but really only popular with hire-car dealers who could see a good deal.
Things changed dramatically with the arrival of the G70, a smooth sedan in the size and style of the BMW 3-Series that was intended to prove that Hyundai could be more than just a dollar-driven family brand.
The G70 has since had a mid-life tickle, and Genesis has also developed a wagon called the Shooting Brake, although it knows its big sales successes in Australia will be the SUVs badged as GV models.
Even so, time with the G70 is proof that Hyundai has made a smart move in copying the Toyota-Lexus model with an upscale brand to sit above its price fighters.
The G70 is a good looking four-door sedan with a very plush and comfy cabin, and the top-end model is available with a 3.3-litre twin-turbo V8 engine for some driving entertainment.
The mid-life facelift saw the G70 range cut from six models to just two, with a 2-litre engine in the $63,000 starter car, and a much bolder nose added at the front.
It’s a car that now stands out in traffic, although it’s still hard to find because Genesis – in a risky move – has decided against using a traditional dealership model and instead only has two display rooms in Sydney and Melbourne. This approach is intended to make the cars more exclusive, but in reality means most people have never heard of Genesis or don’t know what it is and what it’s doing.
The G70 does a lot of good stuff, from a classy arrival at a special function to effortless highway cruising and some nicely entertaining curve carving with the twin-turbo engine.
Apart from its Hyundai roots, Genesis is also connected to Kia and some of the G70 stuff – including the engine – is nearly identical to the Kia stinger which has been a slow-burn replacement with a number of Holden Commodore fans and also popular with police for Highway Patrol work.
What makes the G70 so good, and truly a hidden gem in a country where most prestige shoppers only make visits to the Audi-Benz-BMW showrooms, is the overall package.
It’s a mid-sized sedan with a sporty chassis tune, a quiet and cosseting interior, and all the prestige stuff you expect in a car that sits over the Luxury Car Tax threshold.
That includes 10-way adjustable electric front seats with heating and cooling, infotainment with smartphone integration, and a pair of big and clear display screens with a heads-up display for the driver.
The central display is one of the best in any car of 2021, both clear and concise and not over-sized and intrusive. The steering wheel has lovely leather. All of the cabin trimming work it top-class and worthy of a lounge room.
As a drive, the G70 – and the test car is the twin-turbo six – is a creamy combination of pace and refinement. It’s very quiet and frugal on the highway at around 7 litres/100km and when the turbos kick into action it is seriously quick.
The boot is not great and the rear-seat legroom is plain awful, but even the headlights are top-class.
In so many ways, the G70 reminds me of the best 3 Series cars from BMW. And it’s way better looking than the current 3 and 4-Series cars.
It’s a winner in almost every way, just waiting for people to discover this hidden gem.
THE BASICS
Genesis G70
Price: from $63,000
Engine: 3.3-litre twin-turbo petrol V6
Power: 274kW/510Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Position: prestige sedan
Plus: classy cabin, solid performance
Minus: miserable back seat space, challenger brand
THE TICK: a hidden gen
Score: 8.5/10
