Compare the2024 Lexus ESVS 2023 Genesis G70

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus ES have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Genesis G70 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Lexus ES has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The G70 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The ES has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The G70 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The ES offers optional Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The G70 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

Both the ES and the G70 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 around view monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the ES the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 54 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The G70 has not been fully tested, yet.

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 Lexus ES Hybrid’s reliability 12 points higher than the G70 and the Lexus ES is rated 17 points higher than the G70.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the ES third among midsize premium cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The G70 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Genesis vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles, Genesis is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Genesis vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in overall reliability. Genesis is ranked 12th.

As tested in Consumer Reports the ES 350 3.5 DOHC V6 is faster than the G70 2.0T 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the ES gets better mileage than the G70:

The ES can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 1.6 miles. The G70 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the ES Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The G70 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Lexus ES uses regular unleaded gasoline. The G70 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus ES higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Genesis G70 (3). This means the ES produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the G70 every 15,000 miles.

The ES 300h has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The G70 doesn’t offer a CVT.

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The ES has standard Brake Assist to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The G70 doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

The ES stops shorter than the G70:

For better traction, the ES’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the G70 (235/45R18 vs. 225/40R19).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the ES’ wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the G70 (113 inches vs. 111.6 inches).

The ES F Sport uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The G70 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the ES a Mid-size car, while the G70 is rated a Compact.

The ES has 4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the G70 (99.9 vs. 95.9).

The ES has .9 inches more rear headroom and 4.4 inches more rear legroom than the G70.

The ES has a much larger trunk than the G70 (13.9 vs. 10.5 cubic feet).

With its sedan body style, valet key and remote trunk release lockout, the ES offers cargo security. The G70’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Genesis. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 61% lower rating, Genesis is ranked 23rd.

If the windows are left open on the ES the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Lexus service department.) The driver of the G70 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the ES and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the ES Ultra Luxury to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The G70 doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

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

The Lexus ES outsold the Genesis G70 by over three to one during 2022.