Compare the2023 Genesis G70VS 2022 Volkswagen GTI

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 GTI 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 GTI 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 GTI doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The G70 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The GTI doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

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 GTI 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 GTI 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 and driver alert 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 GTI 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 GTI’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 GTI. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the GTI 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 GTI 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 GTI (3/36,000 vs. 2/20,000).

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the G70 has a standard 800-amp battery. The GTI’s 680-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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 GTI’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 GTI.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the G70 second among compact premium cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The GTI 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 2.0T’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 11 more horsepower (252 vs. 241) than the GTI’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The G70 3.3T’s standard 3.3 turbo V6 produces 124 more horsepower (365 vs. 241) and 103 lbs.-ft. more torque (376 vs. 273) than the GTI’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the G70 3.3T 3.3 turbo V6 is faster than the Volkswagen GTI (automatics tested):

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

The G70 has a tether attaching its gas cap to prevent its loss. The GTI’s gas cap isn’t tethered, so it can be left at a gas station if the driver forgets to screw the cap back in.

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

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 GTI.

For better stopping power the G70 3.3T’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GTI:

The G70 stops much shorter than the GTI:

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

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

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

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the G70 is 2.4 inches wider in the front and 4.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the GTI.

The G70’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51% to 49%) than the GTI’s (60.9% to 39.1%). This gives the G70 more stable handling and braking.

The G70 handles at .94 G’s, while the GTI Autobahn pulls only .92 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The G70 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the GTI Autobahn (24.9 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 25.5 seconds @ .72 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 GTI (.31) 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 GTI Autobahn:

The G70 has 4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GTI (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 GTI.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the G70. The GTI 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 GTI doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

The G70 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The GTI uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the G70 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the GTI. 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 GTI 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 GTI’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

The G70 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the GTI Autobahn.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Genesis G70, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volkswagen GTI isn't recommended.

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