Sacramento, California – I'm often asked to name my "favorite" motor
vehicle, and of course that's an impossible task. I have been spoiled getting into so many
autos over so many years.
In a nutshell, I guess I want too much out of my
"perfect" car.
But the recently tested 2019 Genesis G70 comes as
close as anything to being a dream car, in my view.
Why? Because
while other cars have the things I like here and there, the G70 covers all the
bases. It pleases on so many levels: beautiful styling, perfect fit and finish,
high performance, superb handling, luxurious interior, excellent safety
technology, plentiful comfort/convenience features and, yes, affordability.
My ride was the rear-driving, twin-turbo Dynamic
Edition, with a 3.3-liter V-6 engine rated 365 horsepower. That's the same top-end engine you'll find in
the wonderfully responsive Kia Stinger.
But that doesn't really tell the tale. The first time I nailed the accelerator hard
in the G70, I was transported from the roadway to the drag strip.
The acceleration was a gut punch, downright shocking
to the senses. Motorists around me
reacted the same way. One second I was
there, the next I was long gone.
If it was just that, I'd be impressed. But the G70 is so much more.
The bottom line on the sticker was $51,245, and
frankly, I thought that was a steal, given the package, a package that included
top-tier Brembo brakes, surround-view monitor, driver attention warning, LED
lights, a sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, a head-up display and much, much
more. A sticker of $65,000 would be more
like it, in my opinion.
Does it look good?
It looks fabulous with sporty-elegant panel sculpting and accents on the
exterior lights. Throw in the generous
Genesis warranties, and you have the makings of the practically perfect compact
luxury sport sedan.
OK, if it was just me saying this, you might have
plenty of ammunition to disagree. But
the editors of Motor Trend magazine named the G70 the 2019 Car of the Year,
citing many of the same things you're hearing from yours truly.
The Motor Trend testers, who tend to be much harder
to impress than I, were blown away by this all-new, South Korean-made sedan
that not only challenges the long-standing superiority of the BMW 3 Series in
this segment, but does so in a way that heavyweights Toyota, Honda, Nissan and
General Motors have not. Yup, that's
high praise.
The only drawback some might find is the fuel
mileage, which came in at 18 miles per gallon in the city and 26 mpg on the
highway for the tested G70. But given
the power of the 3.3-liter two-turbo V-6, I submit that those numbers are
pretty good.
So, everything considered, this G70 makes a strong
run at perfection in so many ways.
Needless to say, I enjoyed the ride.
