In the sporty luxury sedan segment, power is always an important factor. For Genesis, a brand now approaching a decade in existence yet still viewed as a challenger to industry stalwarts, it needs all the power it can get. Thankfully, that’s precisely what the 2024 Genesis G70 brings.
Photo: Tim Stevens
Changes for the 2024 G70 include:
The 2024 G70 offers a new, entry-level 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. That's a nice boost over the outgoing version's 252 hp. However, with few other changes made since the car's 2022 refresh, is an up-rated motor enough to make the revised G70 compete? That's what we're going to find out.
As is a constant theme across the Genesis range, options and packages on the G70 are straightforward. You can choose a 2.5-liter four-cylinder or a 3.3-liter V6 and rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). Beyond that, the only real option is the $4,200 Sport Prestige package that adds bigger wheels, parking-distance sensors, and several other quality-of-life improvements.
A base G70 with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and RWD starts at $41,500. At the other end of the spectrum, a 3.3-liter V6 with AWD starts at $52,050. Prices do not include the $1,250 destination charge.
Previously, JD Power reviewed the 2022 Genesis G70. This review focuses on the G70’s updates for 2024 and how they potentially impact its overall consumer appeal.
In the sections that follow, our independent expert analyzes a 2024 Genesis G70 2.5T AWD equipped with the following options:
The test vehicle's price was $49,700, including the $1,250 destination charge to ship the sedan from the Ulsan, Korea, assembly plant to your local dealership.
The most significant change to the 2024 Genesis G70 is the new turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which produces 300 hp and 311 pound-feet of torque. While that doesn't make for an utterly ballistic experience with the accelerator to the floor, the G70 has reasonable throttle response and excellent mid-range torque, much more so than before, which makes it a joy to drive quickly through mid-speed sweeping turns.
The engine makes a decent sound when pushed hard too, and the eight-speed automatic transmission is generally a willing partner. In the sportier modes, it does an excellent job of selecting the correct ratio. And, if it's lagging, the steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles make it easy to override. The gearbox generally makes manual shift requests promptly, though the transmission will auto-upshift if you stray too close to the engine's redline.
Photo: Tim Stevens
With more power comes more speed, and Genesis has kindly considered the flip side of that equation: braking. Previously, only buyers of the larger 3.3-liter V6 engine received a larger set of Brembo brakes as standard. In 2024, those brakes are standard on even the base model.
On the Kawah Blue test machine pictured here, the red brake calipers look great tucked behind the 19-inch wheels, another subtle nod to the G70’s driving dynamics. But they’re more than a visual upgrade.
The G70’s brakes provide good feel and the kind of easy modulation that you need on a performance sedan, enabling you to bring the car cleanly and smoothly to a stop. When driving a little harder, the G70’s brakes offer a strong, responsive feel. The brake pedal is reassuringly firm, and while I didn’t test the G70 in a proper track environment, pedal fade was never an issue, even under extended sessions of spirited driving.
Photo: Tim Stevens
While the G70’s big refresh came in 2022, for 2024, Genesis makes a few subtle but meaningful improvements to the interior. The most notable is the revised climate controls. Gone is the three-knob setup found in the 2022 model, replaced by one that relies on a small touchscreen.
Two physical knobs are still present for adjusting temperature, but things like changing climate modes or toggling seat heating and ventilation are handled via the capacitive display. It’s a cleaner, more modern look yet still offers the tactility of knobs for quick and easy temperature changes.
When it comes to those seats, the ventilation is unfortunately barely noticeable, even on a mildly warm day. The heating, however, is prodigious, enough that I quickly dropped it down from full strength on a chilly day. The heated steering wheel is similarly effective.
Other subtler changes in the 2024 G70 include a frameless rearview mirror and a switch to more modern USB-C ports throughout.
From a performance standpoint, the driving experience is a notch more aggressive than before, while the G70's hallmark engaging handling remains. And that's a good thing. The G70 has a simple feel to it, a kind of raw engagement frequently lacking in this class of sedan. The steering is light and doesn't overwhelm with feedback, but it is quick. Combined with the engaging chassis tuning, it creates a car that is always playful and responsive to your more eager moments.
As your moods change, the car's breadth of driving modes will be able to keep pace. In Sport+ mode, the automatic transmission is at its most aggressive, holding gears for longer and working hard to ensure the four-cylinder engine stays on boost and in its happy RPM range.
The car similarly settles down as you cycle through Sport, Comfort, and Eco. Without adaptive suspension (available only on the 3.3T), the car’s basic response to the road doesn't change that much. However, the changes in throttle mapping, transmission shifting, and AWD behavior create a respectably broad spread of car behavior. There's also a Custom mode for you to select your own.
Toggling through those modes is quick and easy with the dedicated knob. There's none of the lag when cycling between driving modes that so commonly plagues performance-oriented sedans from other high-end manufacturers.
In Comfort mode, cruising in the G70 is calm and relaxed but not particularly frugal. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the G70 in 2.5T AWD trim returns 23 mpg combined. In my mixed testing loop, I fell short of that mark, scoring 20.1 mpg.
Photo: Tim Stevens
In some ways, the Genesis G70 is getting a bit dated, but that also gives it a raw, connected feel that is increasingly missing in this segment. It has just enough luxury appointments and safety chops to keep up with the competition, with distinctive styling that still stands out. However, with some mediocre interior materials and lackluster fuel economy, it's not a standout.
Compared to the competition, like the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the G70 still has a somewhat budget feel throughout. It's still the value choice, and with that position comes some compromises. Still, for anyone looking for something genuinely fun to drive while being roomy, comfortable, and making a strong statement, the G70 delivers as well as it ever has.
Tim Stevens is a veteran automotive and technology journalist with over 25 years of experience covering everything from smartphones to supercars. In addition to JDPower.com, his expert perspectives have appeared in numerous national and international outlets, including print, online, and broadcast television.
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