Genesis G70

With the arrival of the compact 2019 Genesis G70 sport sedan to its growing lineup, Hyundai’s luxury brand has suddenly gained the respect of critics and competitors who weren’t yet convinced by the larger G80 and G90 sedans that came before it. The G70 is a proper sports sedan, and even without the pedigree of a BMW or Mercedes-Benz, it’s an instant contender in its class.

Genesis, Chapter 3:

2019 Genesis G70 3.3T Design Edition Review: Land Of Hopes And Dreams

2019 Genesis G70 First Drive: A Satisfying Stepping Stone

That is, if we’re talking about the G70 3.3T, which is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 producing 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque. Not much has been said, though, about the base G70, which is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing a more modest 252 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque.

The G70 2.0T, though, can be had with a manual transmission – the G70 3.3T cannot – and it’s lighter and less expensive. When we sat down to weigh its Pros and Cons, though, we realized this isn’t one of those cases where less is more. Instead, you get what you pay for with the G70 2.0T: a lesser car than the 3.3T.

Pros

Unlike the automatic-only G70 3.3T, the only available transmission on my G70 2.0T Sport trim is a six-speed manual. The 2.0T Sport adds an extra $3,000 over the base, eight-speed-automatic model (although you'll also get a lot more gear beyond the do-it-yourself transmission) and requires rear-wheel drive; if ...