2.0T Advanced 4dr All-Wheel Drive
2019 Genesis G70

Over the past few months, we've spent a lot of time behind the wheel of the Genesis G70. We first drove the car in New England last fall. We also spent some time on the West Coast in pair of G70s, one fitted with the turbo 2.0-liter and the other fitted with the twin-turbo 3.3-liter — the latter being the same engine that's in our long-term Kia Stinger GT. When the car finally arrived at our home office in Detroit, we were right in the middle of the polar vortex. Winter might not be the best time to test sport sedans, but rear-wheel drive can be quite fun in the snow. Our test car was the G70 Sport with the 2.0-liter turbo and a manual transmission. The last element is key, not just for a car enthusiast perspective, but because the manual is only available in one trim that basically blends the Elite trim (second from the bottom) with the various handling and brake upgrades included with the V6. Reasonably priced at $38,895, you get heated and ventilated seating, leatherette upholstery, a power-adjustable wheel, a digital instrument cluster, an 8-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 15-speaker audio system. It's actually better equipped than our long-term Stinger GT, a car that costs roughly $10,000 more. Senior Editor, Green, John Beltz Snyder: I drove the G70 in Maine and New Hampshire for our First Drive review, and loved it. I only drove the 2.0T with a manual transmission, however, for a couple of autocross laps on Club Motorsports' converted karting track. I probably shifted the car a half-dozen times, and while I found the engine to be plucky and fun, I suspected the manual transmission left a lot to be desired. I was super excited to hear we were getting one in the office to try again. The car is just as good as I remember it, and the manual transmission is about as lackluster, but I found the latter to matter less in real-world driving. There's not a lot of feel to the shifter. It falls into place softly, but I found myself quickly forgetting about it after a few miles as the act of rowing the gears blended quietly into the rest of the driving experience. The clutch is easy to use, too, feeling very natural in its easy heft and clutch take-up. My only complaint was that revs felt a little high when traveling on the highway in sixth gear. It sounds cliché at this point, but having a manual transmission did, of course, mean I got to better appreciate this 2.0-liter turbo engine. It's got a lot of pep, and it only takes a quick beat for the turbocharger to pipe up and give the car a kick in the pants. I'd still rather have the twin-turbo V6, though, even if it can only be had with an automatic transmission. %Slideshow-899772% Assistant Editor Zac Palmer: Rear-wheel drive, manual transmission, a powerful engine, snow-covered …
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