Compare the2023 Genesis G70VS 2022 Audi S3

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the G70 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The S3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The G70 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The S3 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The G70 3.3T Sport Prestige has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The S3 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The G70 has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the S3’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the G70 has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the S3.

The G70’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The S3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the G70 and the S3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available all wheel drive.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the G70 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 81 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The S3 has not been tested, yet.

The G70 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes free 24-hour roadside assistance. The S3’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Genesis’ powertrain warranty covers the G70 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Audi covers the S3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the S3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Genesis pays for scheduled maintenance on the G70 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Genesis will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the S3.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the G70 second among compact premium cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The S3 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 83 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 31st, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 77 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Genesis 9 places higher in reliability than Audi.

The G70 3.3T’s standard 3.3 turbo V6 produces 59 more horsepower (365 vs. 306) and 81 lbs.-ft. more torque (376 vs. 295) than the S3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

The G70 has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the S3 (15.8 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Genesis G70, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the S3.

For better traction and acceleration, the G70 has larger rear tires than the S3 (255/35R19 vs. 225/40R18). The G70’s rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the S3 (255/35R19 vs. 235/35R19).

The G70’s 255/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the S3’s standard 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the G70 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the S3.

The G70 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the S3; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the S3 don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the G70’s wheelbase is 8 inches longer than on the S3 (111.6 inches vs. 103.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the G70 is 2 inches wider in the front and 4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the S3.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the G70 a Compact car, while the S3 is rated a Subcompact.

The G70 has 9.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S3 (95.9 vs. 86).

The G70 has 3 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the S3.

The G70 has a much larger trunk than the S3 (10.5 vs. 8.3 cubic feet).

The engine in the G70 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the S3. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The G70 has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The S3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The G70 3.3T/Sport Prestige’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The S3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the G70 3.3T Elite/Prestige/Sport has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The S3 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The G70’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The S3’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

Both the G70 and the S3 have standard heated front seats. The G70 Prestige/Sport also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the S3.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the G70 Advanced/Sport Prestige keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The S3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the G70 AWD/3.3T Sport Prestige’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The S3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The G70 is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The S3 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Genesis G70, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The G70 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” in 2019. The S3 has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

Motor Trend selected the G70 as their 2019 Car of the Year. The S3 has never been chosen.

The Genesis G70 outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by over two to one during the 2021 model year.