Compare the2023 Genesis G70VS 2022 Volkswagen Golf R

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 Golf R doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Genesis G70 has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Golf R doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Golf R 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 Golf R 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.

Both the G70 and the Golf R have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors 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 front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the G70 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 112 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Golf R is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

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 Golf R’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 Volkswagen covers the Golf R. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Golf R ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The G70’s 7 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Golf R runs out after 100,000 miles.

Genesis pays for scheduled maintenance on the G70 for 1 year and 16000 miles longer than Volkswagen pays for maintenance for the Golf R (3/36,000 vs. 2/20,000).

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 Golf R’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the G70 second among compact premium cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Golf R 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 Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 74 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 30th, 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 Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 62 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 21st.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Genesis 19 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

The G70 3.3T’s standard 3.3 turbo V6 produces 50 more horsepower (365 vs. 315) and 81 lbs.-ft. more torque (376 vs. 295) than the Golf R DSG’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

The G70 has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Golf R (15.8 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Genesis G70 comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Golf R.

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 Golf R.

The G70 stops shorter than the Golf R:

For better traction and acceleration, the G70 has larger rear tires than the Golf R (255/35R19 vs. 235/35R19).

The G70 has standard front gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Golf R’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the G70’s wheelbase is 8.1 inches longer than on the Golf R (111.6 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the G70 is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Golf R.

For better maneuverability, the G70’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the Golf R’s (36.3 feet vs. 39.3 feet). The G70 AWD’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the Golf R’s (37.7 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

The design of the Genesis G70 amounts to more than styling. The G70 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .28 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Golf R (.33) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the G70 get better fuel mileage.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the G70 is quieter than the Golf R:

The G70 has 4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Golf R (95.9 vs. 91.9).

The G70 has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Golf R.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the G70. The Golf R doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the G70’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The G70 Advanced/3.3T Sport Prestige also has a standard power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Golf R doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

The engine in the G70 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Golf R. 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 Golf R doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The G70’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Golf R’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

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

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

Motor Trend selected the G70 as their 2019 Car of the Year. The Golf R was Car of the Year in 2015.