Compare the2023 Genesis G70VS 2021 Mercedes C-Class Sedan

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 C-Class Sedan 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 C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The G70’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the C-Class Sedan.

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 C-Class Sedan.

Both the G70 and the C-Class Sedan 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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 C-Class Sedan is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

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 C-Class Sedan’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 Mercedes covers the C-Class Sedan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the C-Class Sedan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The G70’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the C-Class Sedan’s (7 vs. 5 years).

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. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the C-Class Sedan.

The battery on the G70 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the G70’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The C-Class Sedan’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the G70’s reliability 25 points higher than the C-Class Sedan.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the G70 second among compact premium cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The C-Class Sedan isn’t in the top three.

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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 19th, 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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 40 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Genesis 15 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The G70 3.3T’s standard 3.3 turbo V6 produces 110 more horsepower (365 vs. 255) and 103 lbs.-ft. more torque (376 vs. 273) than the C-Class Sedan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the G70 3.3T 3.3 turbo V6 is faster than the Mercedes C-Class Sedan:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Genesis G70 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The C-Class Sedan requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The G70’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the G70 3.3T’s brake rotors are larger than those on the C-Class Sedan:

The G70 stops shorter than the C-Class Sedan:

For better traction and acceleration, the G70 has larger rear tires than the C-Class Sedan (255/35R19 vs. 225/50R17).

The G70’s 225/40R19 front and 255/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the C-Class Sedan’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the G70 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the C-Class Sedan.

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 C-Class Sedan; 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 C-Class Sedan don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

The G70 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The C-Class Sedan’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the G70 is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the C-Class Sedan.

The G70 handles at .94 G’s, while the C 300 Sedan 4MATIC pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The G70 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the C 300 Sedan 4MATIC (24.9 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 26.3 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

The design of the Genesis G70 amounts to more than styling. The G70 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .28 Cd. That is lower than the C-Class Sedan (.3) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the G70 get better fuel mileage.

The G70 has 5.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the C-Class Sedan (95.9 vs. 90).

The G70 has 2.7 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front legroom and 1 inch more front shoulder room than the C-Class Sedan.

Both the G70 and the C-Class Sedan 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 C-Class Sedan.

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 C-Class Sedan has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

Motor Trend selected the G70 as their 2019 Car of the Year. The C-Class Sedan has never been chosen.