I Poked a Genesis G70

"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
10/12/2018 at 17:06 • Filed to: Genesis

I noticed that Alexandria Hyundai had quite a few Genesis G70s around so I figured I’d take a couple of minutes and give a few cars the old Scandinavian Frisk. For me, the G70 felt like its own thing and harmonized well with the larger Genesis sedans. Im still not getting a sense of brand identity, just brand values. If you’re looking for passionate then be warned that you will receive thoughtfulness instead.

The G70 comes across as an easy sell, not requiring any research prior to shopping because everything is intuitive to the point of being evident at a glance. No obvious hidden features or secrets, and if there are any, you don’t need to unlock them in order enjoy the car. Materials are what you expect. Build is what you expect. The car is what you expect! Everything is satisfying as a whole but this car only shifts gears not paradigms.

I remember back in 2012 when the RK was proposed as a future 3-Series competitive Hyundai coming in 2014. Great news after the Kia GT Concept was said to become another RWD Kia around the same time (the K9 had just launched in Korea in 2012). To all of you complaining about long gestation periods, remember that I have been waiting for the Stinger and G70 since 2012!! SIX YEARS!!! That’s 1-2-3-fooorrrrever plus two more years! No! No! Don’t you tell me to calm down and put away the juice box! I bought it with my grown man money, gitdimmit!!! I’m so peeved! Gah....

But yeah, the G70 is filled with content you can be content with! This is yet another Genesis that does great quality nonchantly. It feels like what you’re supposed to be getting for your money, but nothing about the car ellicts an emotional attachment nor buyer’s remorse (initially, anyways).

The most critical win that the G70 delivers is the realization that the G80 is a better car than it. In fact, now that the G70 is a well-built premium car at the bottom of the Genesis lineup, the G80 appears as an authentic luxury car without apologies. We really undervalued the DH generation of the Genesis Sedan. I think that the G70 will leave owners extremely satisfied and yeild an outstandingly high customer loyalty percentage when people decide to trade-up.

I point this out because competitors such as the IS or Q50 dont make you crave a GS or Q70. Instead, they make you want a car in the same class but nicer which requires a performance specification, an all new generation of the model series, or leaving the brand. To anyone studying product planning or brand building, I will say that Genesis is nailing it at the product level but should admit that Genesis as a standalone luxury brand in the US is a complete loss. The buying experience feels like a Hyundai subbrand, looks like a subbrand, sounds like a subbrand, and tastes like microwaved toothpaste from extract instead of concentrate. The product does a sweet job but the system inherently produces sour delivery.

DISCUSSION (10)

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Wobbles the Mind
10/12/2018 at 17:07

Oh good they FINALLY started showing up at dealerships. The Genesis makeover has been a real shitshow by Hyundai. Hopefully growing pains.

I am excited for the G70 because I feel they have created the Q50 that I always wanted.

How’s the space (legroom and headroom for an adult) in the back seat? I heard some reviewers say it’s tight but not ATS-tight.

Wobbles the Mind > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
10/12/2018 at 17:18

It’s very tight in back but front leg room is gigantic! Very wide car too. I think it’s fine for most of the population since, contrary to car reviews, not everyone is 5'10-plus grown men and front seats aren’t fixed into the back of their tracks. That said, yeah, no one would ever be sitting behind me if this car had the stick.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Wobbles the Mind
10/12/2018 at 17:25

How’s the trunk? Big, small, medium? How many dead bodies strollers can you fit in the back?

Chariotoflove > Wobbles the Mind
10/12/2018 at 17:38

I may have to go take a look.

Wobbles the Mind > Future next gen S2000 owner
10/12/2018 at 17:50

I didn't check the trunk space, sorry.

dogisbadob > Wobbles the Mind
10/12/2018 at 21:41

The G70 is out now? Their G70 configurator still isn ’ t live yet :(

for Michigan > Wobbles the Mind
10/13/2018 at 12:13

Genesises. Geneses? Whatever the plural of Genesis is, they still suffer from pretty severe depreciation, right? This might make a nice replacement for my 1-series in a few years.

for Michigan > dogisbadob
10/13/2018 at 12:14

They don’t seem to have configurators on their website at all. You can select a trim level for a G80 or G90 and request a quote, but they won’t let you build anything yourself.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Wobbles the Mind
10/15/2018 at 10:12

Time for another test drive!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Wobbles the Mind
10/15/2018 at 11:53

I’d drive one (with the manual - hopefully they can be convinced to pair it with the big motor).