Compare the2023 Genesis G70VS 2021 Volkswagen GTI

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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.

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 GTI doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

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 last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

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).

Reliability

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 26 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.

Engine

The G70 2.0T’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 24 more horsepower (252 vs. 228) and 2 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 258) than the GTI’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The G70 3.3T’s standard 3.3 turbo V6 produces 137 more horsepower (365 vs. 228) and 118 lbs.-ft. more torque (376 vs. 258) than the GTI’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the G70 3.3T 3.3 turbo V6 is faster than the Volkswagen GTI (automatics tested):

	G70	GTI
Zero to 60 MPH	4.5 sec	6 sec
Quarter Mile	13 sec	14.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	108.5 MPH	98.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

Transmission

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.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	G70 3.3T	GTI
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	13.4 inches
Rear Rotors	13.4 inches	12.2 inches

The G70 stops much shorter than the GTI:

	G70	GTI
70 to 0 MPH	151 feet	163 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	106 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction and acceleration, the G70 has larger rear tires than the GTI (255/35R19 vs. 225/40R18).

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. Only 18-inch wheels are available on the GTI.

Suspension and Handling

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 2.2 inches wider in the front and 4 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 (60.4% to 39.6%). This gives the G70 more stable handling and braking.

The G70 handles at .95 G’s, while the GTI SE pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Road and Track skidpad test.

The G70 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the GTI (24.9 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 26.1 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

Chassis

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 GTI (.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 GTI:

	G70	GTI
At idle	37 dB	52 dB
Full-Throttle	77 dB	81 dB
70 MPH Cruising	65 dB	67 dB

Passenger Space

The G70 has 2.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GTI (95.9 vs. 93.5).

The G70 has 1.4 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.

Cargo Capacity

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.

Servicing Ease

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.

Ergonomics

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.

When two different drivers share the G70 3.3T/Sport Prestige, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster) and outside mirror angle. The GTI doesn’t offer a memory 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 GTI doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The G70 3.3T Sport Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The GTI doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The G70’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The GTI has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

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.”

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the G70 has standard extendable sun visors. The GTI doesn’t offer extendable visors.

When the G70 3.3T/Sport Prestige is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The GTI’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The G70’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The GTI offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the G70 and the GTI 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 GTI.

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 GTI 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 GTI doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

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.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Genesis G70 Advance/Sport Prestige has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The GTI doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

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 GTI was Car of the Year in 2015.