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To develop a new brand, it takes guts, courage and a huge stack of cash. To make it a secure investment, one would need a car that exceeds the unexpected. When the name Genesis broke away from Hyundai back in 2015 as a new global premium brand, it was a bold, bonkers move in a world already saturated with superior marques. To achieve success, Genesis needed a car that would triumph all others in its segment – something that would make someone stop for a moment and question “what the h.e. double hockey sticks is that?”

It’s the all-new 2019 Genesis G70!

Unlike the G80 and G90, the G70 is a completely new established product sharing similar development alongside the Kia Stinger. Outside of perhaps the infotainment software and turn signal indicator sound from any typical Hyundai conception – the G70 shares no noticeable counterparts with its sister company. Starting off on the right foot, the G70 is one heck of an eye-catching sedan. Its proportions are small putting its wheel base dimension just over 111-inches – thus making it competitive against other premium cars like the BMW 3-Series, Lexus IS, Audi A4, and the Infiniti Q50.

The Genesis G70 has some mighty big shoes to fill if it were to keep up with brands that have been doing the premium compact sedan for a while. Good thing Genesis took their time with the G70 and made sure everything was right before revealing it to our hypercritical domain. Starting at $34,900 the G70 is a hot tamale – its entry-level 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine develops 252-horsepower and serves up just the right amount of keenness we look for in a premium sedan.

While other brands are losing sight of what’s important when it comes to us aficionados, enthusiasts can appreciate that the G70 is offered with a manual – it is, however, not without a $3000 option package. However, Genesis knowing that buyers who prefer to row their own gears, the G70 manual is presented with upgraded 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, a limited-slip differential, Brembo brakes, and a sports exhaust. Sadly, the manual only extends to the turbo-four cylinder and not the beastly, performance juicing 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 that develops 365-horsepower.

At a nearly additional $6000, the 3.3T starts at $43,750 and like everything else, it can go up from there – a top spec’d G70 3.3T Sport will reach its highest price of $50,495 – give or take a few dealer add-ons. Our sampler here arrived as the middle-child, Prestige, offering more luxury extravagance than a sporty opposition. With or without its luxurious appointed optional packages, the G70’s 3.3T twin-turbo V-6 is not a force to be reckoning with. Its rear-wheel drive demeanor is like looking at an adorable kitten – it may look sweet and friendly, but its claws are sharp and it’s ready to pounce. Changing the selectable drive mode into sport, the G70 launches to 60 mph in just over 4.5 seconds, swiftly exchanging gears through its eight-speed automatic like a blackjack dealer shuffling cards. And just when one might think the G70 runs out of breathe; the heads-up display reports rapidly changing numbers as it continues to pull ever so fiercely.

Keeping up with the performance propaganda, the chassis development here is one tight dynamic duo. Shared with the Kia Stinger, the G70 showcases solemn sport sedan integrity. Its short stature and low center of gravity cultivates quick reflexes and tight responsiveness. Supporting an electronically controlled sport suspension, it copes well with the road irregularity while keeping a uniform composure through the corners. Paring well with the suspension, the steering is nimble, tight and responsive – supporting all the right fundamental qualities of a sports sedan. Changing the drive select mode through Smart, Eco, Normal and Sport – Sport encourages rambunctious behavior urging the driver to be more adventurous. While one encourages turning off traction control, the G70 can get frisky even with it on. Sliding sideways is as easy as taking our pants off – it takes little effort and leaves us satisfied with a smile. Gear changes can get playful in Sport mode and is effortlessly managed through the steering wheel paddle shifters, if one choses to be in control. When it came time for stopping, the Brembo brakes do what they do best – the red painted calipers aren’t just for show after all.

Turning our attention to the interior, the G70 offers a serene dose of superior comfort. Our diamond quilted Nappa leather interior featured on this Prestige was soft and relaxing – fitted with adjustable lateral side bolsters that would inflate whenever engaging sport mode, we felt wrapped in a cocooned. Its center stack dash design caters around the driver with a tapered angular approach; everything is well within reach of the driver. Soft touch materials and attractive accents complete the ambiance of its premium display, while all the switch gear features quality touches and an array of exceptional provisions.

If the interior seems a bit of squeeze, that’s because it is – given is smaller dimensions, the G70 is more of a compact premium sedan – its lesser physique requires calling shot gun as rear seat passengers may have to forgo a limb – not like we needed a left leg anyways, right? When it comes to controlling music, navigation, or scrolling through the menus, most premium brands have gone towards the ways of using a touch pad, knob or other forms of fingerprint free adjustments. The G70 on the other hands sticks to a responsive touch screen – working with 8-inches, it’s not like we have to go very far to reach.

Enlighten by most premium brands offering advance safety packages as an available option, the G70 is offered with Forward Collision Avoidance, Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, and Smart Cruise Control with Stop n’ Go functionality as a standard feature – even on the entry level 2.0T.

Despite having a power hungry V-6, the G70 showed that it can be semi-economical when it comes to sipping its fuel. After enduring a 200-mile highway trip, the G70 revealed over 26 mpg. After nearly 500 mixed highway and city miles, 22 mpg was our final read out number. Not too shabby considering its EPA rating is only at 18 mpg. Seeing how the competition stacks up, the G70 is a new fierce competitor in an already tight niche segment – standing tall, it has all the right rudiments of a premium sports sedan to take on the big superior giants.

VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS

Model: 2019 GENESIS G70
Starting Price: $34,900 – 2.0T / $43,750 – 3.3T)
As Tested: $48,995 (3.3T PRESTIGE)

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 3.3-LITER TWIN TURBOCHARGED V-6
Horsepower/Torque: 365-HORSEPOWER / 376LB-FT TORQUE
Transmission: 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC
Fuel Economy: EPA RATED: 18-CITY / 26-HWY / 21-COMBINED
(AS TESTED: 21.4 MPG COMBINED)
Fuel Range: 350 MILES
0-60 MPH: ±4.5 SECONDS