Text by Tom Appel
2025 Genesis G70 AWD 2.5T Sport Prestige
Class: Premium Compact Car
Color: Cavendish Red
Seating Capacity: 5
Miles driven: 194
Real-world fuel economy: 19.8 mpg
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | C |
| Power and Performance | B |
| Fit and Finish | A |
| Fuel Economy | B |
| Value | A |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide’s impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | B- |
| Tall Guy | B- |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. “Big” rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, “Tall” rating based on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 300-horsepower 2.5-liter |
| Engine Type | Turbocharged four |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Driving mix: 65% city, 35% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 20/28/23 (city, highway, combined)
Fuel type: Premium
Base price: $44,100 (not including $1250 destination charge),
Options on test vehicle: Special paint ($650) Sport Prestige Package ($4200)
Price as tested: $50,200
Pros and Cons
The great: Beautiful cabin, sporty character
The good: Refined on the road, plenty of power
The not so good: Limited 2nd-row space
Review
Sometimes, swimming with the big fish isn’t enough. You can’t just hope that swimming in the same waters as legends will bring you the acclaim you may deserve. And so it goes with the Genesis G70.
The Korean luxury carmaker’s sporty small sedan is very much worthy of association with the likes of the BMW 3-Series and more sublime Lexus IS. It’s wouldn’t be wrong to throw the Cadillac CT4 into this conversation either.
For 2024 Genesis upped the power numbers on its base-engine models, replacing the standard 252-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with a decidedly punchier—though no less refined—2.5-liter unit. Also available, and unchanged, is a 3.3-liter V6 rated at a healthy 368 horsepower. Both engines make exclusively to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The G70 comes standard with rear-wheel drive; AWD is available.
Those power numbers compete well with the likes of the BMW 3-Series, but the numbers that impress most are the G70’s prices. For 2025—Genesis has pulled ahead ’25 production—the base 2.5T starts at $43,250, the better appointed 2.5T Sport Prestige at $47,450. Six-cylinder models start at $51,700 (Sport Advanced) and $56,100 (Sport Advanced Prestige).
With a less-powerful 2.0-liter engine, the base BMW 330i starts $46,675. This will less standard equipment. The 6-cylinder M340i starts at $60,775. As we’ve noted in print, and on the Car Stuff Podcast, while Genesis cars are no longer bargains, they remain great values.
One note: Genesis is reportedly dropping the G70 from its lineup after the 2025 model year. The car accounted for 13,000 sales in 2013, which isn’t dismissible, is just half the volume seen by the brand’s excellent GV70 compact crossover.
Here we’d like to share five cool things about the G70 sedan, all of which, we’d argue, earn the small performance sedan a place on your test-drive short list.
2025 Genesis G70 2.5T Sport Prestige: 5 Cool Things
More Power
In base 2.5T form, the Genesis G70 outpowers the BMW 330i by a significant 45 horsepower. On the road, the G70 feels robust, pulling cleanly from stops and serving up ample on-ramp and passing power. The largish 4-cylinder engine also sounds good when pushed. In 6-cylinder trim, the G70 gives up its power edge, but not my much. The 3.3T feels very strong, and is priced considerable mower than the BMW.
Roomier Cabin
While the back seat of both the Genesis G70 and the BMW 3-Series is tight for adults, the front seating area of the ’70 is meaningfully more accommodating. The Genesis boasts more head and legroom than the BMW, plus, its larger door openings mean that ingress and egress are easier, and big-and-tall-folk will enjoy easier access.
Better Handling
Perhaps not than the BMW 3-Series, which arguably maintains its long-held position as the most flingable of small sedans, but the G70—in any trim level—us a delight to drive, and handles better than 95 percent of vehicles on the market today. We especially appreciated the firm-feeling responsive steering, solid-feeling brakes, and general body control in corners. This is sporty machine that, despite its athleticism, still serves of a controlled and comfortable ride. Any reputation Korean makers once endured for poor ride and handling balance is now, officially, old news.
Nicer Cabin
BMW plays the “stark and serious” cabin-décor card a little confidently. While we appreciated that the “Ultimate Driving Machine” rap puts function before form, but, that said, the Genesis cabin is just much nicer. The fluted-leather seats, the cool metal pedals, the contrasting red stitching…everything about our test car’s cabin was premium in look and feel, and still plenty sporty. Also, we’re coming to appreciate the Genesis infotainment-system interface, which features primary menu items presented in an easy-to-swipe-to row. That said, choosing the media function should not include the options of heating nature sounds. That function can easily buried in a menu way down on the list.
Better Value
Value: As noted above, the Genesis G70 remains a solid value compared to other premium sedans, including—and especially—the BMW 3-Series. And, as also noted above, that price includes a higher standard level of equipment, more base horsepower, and a better-appointed cabin. Does the BMW handle better? Maybe, to enough for most people to notice. That said, it’s safe to say the G70 swims with the big fish.
Listen to the Car Stuff Podcast
2025 Genesis G70 2.5T Sport Prestige Pictures
Click below for enlarged images