Topic: Test Drive: 2019 Genesis G70 3.3T Sport AWD

[dougjp]

The highly powerful 3.3t probably masks the non-sportiness I found in the $47K 2.0t Elite. Unlike the reviewer, I found it had to be pushed to go hard around corners, it was not eager. It would do it but it did not invite driving hard. The wind noise is indeed well-controlled, which made the ridiculous tire noise stand out in relief. That noise was my biggest annoyance - I could drive around the other shortcomings I found. The transmission was weird after a power run when you lifted the accelerator - a whoomp followed by a slight slowdown before the thing upshifted to coast. Tried it 4 times under different circumstances, 4 times it got it wrong. Decent tires might help with the noise/roar, but who wants to lease, buy new tires and then find out, nope, that ain't the problem, body insulation is,

The back seat is well-trimmed indeed. Now try getting out of it - it's minute and I got my foot stuck between B-pillar and driver's seat and gave it a nasty wrench. OK I'm old and not that agile, but still.

There seems to be a need for something well made to take on the Germans. That's why I went for a test drive. That's why the brochure still sits here on my table - I had hoped for some liveliness and it didn't deliver at first blush.

And here all I read is 7 pages of drivel on manual transmissions. Too bad. Has anyone else driven the 2.0t? I'd like to hear your impressions in case I decide I need to try again, putting away my negative impressions for a fresh start. There's no competition at the price and I wish the car had made a better impression on me, so I'm willing to give it another try.

I have to agree with you, its annoying for anyone serious about a car to have to sift through pages of irrelevancy. Seldom will you ever see comments in this forum, when there are divergent views on any topic, like " hmm, yes you have a good point there ". Its the nature of the place, unfortunately, and nobody ever "wins". Of course this is not new news to anyone. 

Great post, on topic. I haven't driven any yet, but research points to expecting some of your observations. The version you drove was an AWD automatic with all season tires. AWD adds weight, often 150-200 lbs., but in this case 100 lbs. more than the RWD manual transmission version (which also comes with completely different size and better traction performance tires). AWD also adds parasitic drag, and of course more traction in some situations too, and very often adds to understeer. The Elite 2.0T is also relatively heavy compared to other 2.0T cars, especially FWD or RWD ones, at 3,673 lbs. Combine all of this and you wish for more power to offset! The old adage "there is no free lunch" comes to mind. 

I look forward to others' observations about road noise and automatic transmission behavior.

 

[ChaosphereIX]

as much as jaeger really got on an "offensive-defense" position, I'm with him... and your tone GBA has been fine, but Chaos has definitely come across as a hater on the brand/model with a shame on them mentality... so I get where he is coming from with his approach. 

I have stated many times that the G70 looks to be a fantastic offering in the arena where the Germans have had it mostly to themselves for so long. I do not hate the brand whatsoever, where did you get that? I am just as hard on BMW, Audi, and even my beloved Alfa for not offering a manual in their dedicated sport sedans. Alfa doesn't even offer a manual in the QV FFS, which is a real "shame" and frankly pathetic from a brand that is supposedly to be all about the "drive." I also have said it is great they offer a manual at all, but think it would be much better suited in the 3.3T as a real knockout sport sedan vs the 335i or the S4 etc. That is the shame, as I see it as a missed opportunity to get a lot of conquest sales and really immediately separate them from the sea of sameness that the midsize sport sedan market has become: pick your badge, and everything else is kinda the same. So yes, without the manual, it is yet another competent entry in a sea of competent cars that are all roughly the same: ie "also ran."

As should be evident by now,  I do not shy away from spouting off my opinions, especially when it comes to manual transmissions. I have said so in many other threads, it is not just a Genesis thing.

Anyways, I think we have exhausted the subject. Lets get back to discussing how Genesis did so well with their first offering in the segment, especially in terms of aesthetics: it really is a looker.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

FWIW I've always been consistent on wishing there were manuals on certain Audi's, etc. I was also annoyed back when the ATS came out that you could only get the manual on the ATS-V or the 2.0 but not on the 3.6.

Although to be fair Audi and BMW on just dropped the manual on some of their offerings. (A4 and 3 series)

Anyway, time has moved on and no one is doing it so yes it's certainly not Genesis's fault in that regard.

Yep - when I said they don't offer a manual, I meant not on cars that compete against the G70.  I don't recall the 3 series and A4 being dismissed as a pointless "also ran" for lack of a stickshift.   And yes, you are consistent. But show me a thread on an A4 or 3 Series where Chaosphere and GBA and the like spout off for 8 pages about how facking ludicrous it is for them not to offer a stick.  You won't find one.

I'd like you to find one where I do.  Hint: You won't find one.

[Jaeger]

as much as jaeger really got on an "offensive-defense" position, I'm with him... and your tone GBA has been fine, but Chaos has definitely come across as a hater on the brand/model with a shame on them mentality... so I get where he is coming from with his approach. 

Cheers. 

FWIW I've always been consistent on wishing there were manuals on certain Audi's, etc. I was also annoyed back when the ATS came out that you could only get the manual on the ATS-V or the 2.0 but not on the 3.6.

Although to be fair Audi and BMW on just dropped the manual on some of their offerings. (A4 and 3 series)

Anyway, time has moved on and no one is doing it so yes it's certainly not Genesis's fault in that regard.

Yep - when I said they don't offer a manual, I meant not on cars that compete against the G70.  I don't recall the 3 series and A4 being dismissed as a pointless "also ran" for lack of a stickshift.   And yes, you are consistent. But show me a thread on an A4 or 3 Series where Chaosphere and GBA and the like spout off for 8 pages about how facking ludicrous it is for them not to offer a stick.  You won't find one.

I'd like you to find one where I do.  Hint: You won't find one.

Didn't you claim that you and Chaos had "stopped" lo these many pages ago?    What does not stopping look like? 

[Jaeger]

G70 review from The Straight Pipes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmaG_SQpePQ&t=16s

[ChaosphereIX]

as much as jaeger really got on an "offensive-defense" position, I'm with him... and your tone GBA has been fine, but Chaos has definitely come across as a hater on the brand/model with a shame on them mentality... so I get where he is coming from with his approach. 

Cheers. 

FWIW I've always been consistent on wishing there were manuals on certain Audi's, etc. I was also annoyed back when the ATS came out that you could only get the manual on the ATS-V or the 2.0 but not on the 3.6.

Although to be fair Audi and BMW on just dropped the manual on some of their offerings. (A4 and 3 series)

Anyway, time has moved on and no one is doing it so yes it's certainly not Genesis's fault in that regard.

Yep - when I said they don't offer a manual, I meant not on cars that compete against the G70.  I don't recall the 3 series and A4 being dismissed as a pointless "also ran" for lack of a stickshift.   And yes, you are consistent. But show me a thread on an A4 or 3 Series where Chaosphere and GBA and the like spout off for 8 pages about how facking ludicrous it is for them not to offer a stick.  You won't find one.

I'd like you to find one where I do.  Hint: You won't find one.

Didn't you claim that you and Chaos had "stopped" lo these many pages ago?    What does not stopping look like? 

I (and I am sure GBA too) am more than happy to stop talking about it, but it seems you need the last word...

I like the guys from Straight Pipes. Good review.

[rrocket]

I think the only guy who likes getting the last word in more than me is Jaeger! LOL [emoji38]

Goes with his chosen career I guess.

[Jaeger]

as much as jaeger really got on an "offensive-defense" position, I'm with him... and your tone GBA has been fine, but Chaos has definitely come across as a hater on the brand/model with a shame on them mentality... so I get where he is coming from with his approach. 

Cheers. 

FWIW I've always been consistent on wishing there were manuals on certain Audi's, etc. I was also annoyed back when the ATS came out that you could only get the manual on the ATS-V or the 2.0 but not on the 3.6.

Although to be fair Audi and BMW on just dropped the manual on some of their offerings. (A4 and 3 series)

Anyway, time has moved on and no one is doing it so yes it's certainly not Genesis's fault in that regard.

Yep - when I said they don't offer a manual, I meant not on cars that compete against the G70.  I don't recall the 3 series and A4 being dismissed as a pointless "also ran" for lack of a stickshift.   And yes, you are consistent. But show me a thread on an A4 or 3 Series where Chaosphere and GBA and the like spout off for 8 pages about how facking ludicrous it is for them not to offer a stick.  You won't find one.

I'd like you to find one where I do.  Hint: You won't find one.

Didn't you claim that you and Chaos had "stopped" lo these many pages ago?    What does not stopping look like? 

I (and I am sure GBA too) am more than happy to stop talking about it, but it seems you need the last word...

I like the guys from Straight Pipes. Good review.

What does anything I say have to do with whether you choose to keep posting?  Are you somehow obliged to respond to my every post?  You keep saying you have stopped, but you don't, even though nobody is forcing you on.  You guys really do crack me up.    I really need to know what not stopping looks like for you guys. 

Yes, the Straight Pipes duo turns out some very watchable reviews.

[dirtyjeffer]

There seems to be a need for something well made to take on the Germans. That's why I went for a test drive. That's why the brochure still sits here on my table - I had hoped for some liveliness and it didn't deliver at first blush.

why not try the 3.3T model??...there's only two trims, and i think the lower one is $52k...i know $5k isn't chump change, but hey, if you're already at $47k, and extra $5k should be doable if you like it much better...think about it this way, you're already 90% of the way there.

[ChaosphereIX]

as much as jaeger really got on an "offensive-defense" position, I'm with him... and your tone GBA has been fine, but Chaos has definitely come across as a hater on the brand/model with a shame on them mentality... so I get where he is coming from with his approach. 

Cheers. 

FWIW I've always been consistent on wishing there were manuals on certain Audi's, etc. I was also annoyed back when the ATS came out that you could only get the manual on the ATS-V or the 2.0 but not on the 3.6.

Although to be fair Audi and BMW on just dropped the manual on some of their offerings. (A4 and 3 series)

Anyway, time has moved on and no one is doing it so yes it's certainly not Genesis's fault in that regard.

Yep - when I said they don't offer a manual, I meant not on cars that compete against the G70.  I don't recall the 3 series and A4 being dismissed as a pointless "also ran" for lack of a stickshift.   And yes, you are consistent. But show me a thread on an A4 or 3 Series where Chaosphere and GBA and the like spout off for 8 pages about how facking ludicrous it is for them not to offer a stick.  You won't find one.

I'd like you to find one where I do.  Hint: You won't find one.

Didn't you claim that you and Chaos had "stopped" lo these many pages ago?    What does not stopping look like? 

I (and I am sure GBA too) am more than happy to stop talking about it, but it seems you need the last word...

I like the guys from Straight Pipes. Good review.

What does anything I say have to do with whether you choose to keep posting?  Are you somehow obliged to respond to my every post?  You keep saying you have stopped, but you don't, even though nobody is forcing you on.  You guys really do crack me up.    I really need to know what not stopping looks like for you guys. 

[ChaosphereIX]

I may be very late to this, but I just noticed Patrick was in the Straight Pipes G70 review. Nice.

[Scaerio]

Hey now, Patrick has done more for sticks than the rest of us combined.

Speak for yourself. 

[ChaosphereIX]

Hey now, Patrick has done more for sticks than the rest of us combined.

Speak for yourself. 

I KNEW you were going to say that... 

[Scaerio]

Hey now, Patrick has done more for sticks than the rest of us combined.

Speak for yourself. 

I KNEW you were going to say that... 

I have a (terrible) reputation to uphold.

[Patrick_D1]

I've had 19 new cars with manual gearboxes... have I done my part? 

I don't think so... have you bought any of those 19? 

Hey, I bought one of them! 

Joking aside, I do technically generate new vehicle demand sales my demo cars. Each one ultimately finds its way into the market to be resold, so by ordering it from the factory I'm generating an incremental unit of production.

I'll keep my 3.3T Sport AWD through the winter but will likely switch to the 2.0T Sport 6MT next summer.

[Gurgie]

^fair enough... will give you a point for that... plus I saw you on a repeat of Motoring TV yesterday so you get an extra thumbs up for being on TV 

[Patrick_D1]

^fair enough... will give you a point for that... plus I saw you on a repeat of Motoring TV yesterday so you get an extra thumbs up for being on TV 

  I feature way too prominently in that piece. For those who want to judge (no one will judge me more harshly than myself!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=U-xXeazkxtQ&ab_channel=MotoringTV

[tortoise]

And the SavageGeese shout out: https://youtu.be/I5dgVx9F0WI?t=1226

[dirtyjeffer]

^fair enough... will give you a point for that... plus I saw you on a repeat of Motoring TV yesterday so you get an extra thumbs up for being on TV 

  I feature way too prominently in that piece. For those who want to judge (no one will judge me more harshly than myself!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=U-xXeazkxtQ&ab_channel=MotoringTV

the only thing i don't like about that motoringtv segment is the pricing sheet at the end of it...it mentions the 3.3T engine and AWD features, but then states the price as "Starting at $42,000"...the 3.3T AWD does not start at $42,000, that's for the 2.0T, RWD, Manual transmission model...i know what they are getting at, but i still don't like the way they have presented it and i can see it possibly causing confusion for consumers who may look into a Genesis vehicle...there should be mention of the 2.0T engine in there, and perhaps have both prices shown, like "Starting at $42,000 - 2.0T" and "Starting at $52,000 - 3.3T/AWD".

[Patrick_D1]

^fair enough... will give you a point for that... plus I saw you on a repeat of Motoring TV yesterday so you get an extra thumbs up for being on TV 

  I feature way too prominently in that piece. For those who want to judge (no one will judge me more harshly than myself!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=U-xXeazkxtQ&ab_channel=MotoringTV

the only thing i don't like about that motoringtv segment is the pricing sheet at the end of it...it mentions the 3.3T engine and AWD features, but then states the price as "Starting at $42,000"...the 3.3T AWD does not start at $42,000, that's for the 2.0T, RWD, Manual transmission model...i know what they are getting at, but i still don't like the way they have presented it and i can see it possibly causing confusion for consumers who may look into a Genesis vehicle...there should be mention of the 2.0T engine in there, and perhaps have both prices shown, like "Starting at $42,000 - 2.0T" and "Starting at $52,000 - 3.3T/AWD".

No, the manual isn't the $42k model - it's more at $45,500. The base model is AWD, automatic, with quite an extensive list of standard equipment.