Compare the2025 Genesis G70VS 2024 Lexus IS

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 IS 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 IS doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The G70 has standard whiplash protection, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the whiplash protection system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The IS doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the G70 has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist with automatic braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Rear Cross-Traffic Braking costs extra on the IS.

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 IS doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the G70 and the IS have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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 IS’ 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Genesis’ powertrain warranty covers the G70 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Lexus covers the IS. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the IS ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

The G70’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the IS’ (7 vs. 6 years).

Genesis pays for scheduled maintenance on the G70 for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the IS (3/36,000 vs. 1/10,000).

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 IS’ battery is in the hot engine compartment.

The G70 has more powerful engines than the IS:

As tested in Motor Trend the G70 3.3T 3.3 turbo V6 is faster than the Lexus IS:

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

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the G70 2.5T’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The IS doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The G70 3.3T’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 IS doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the G70’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the IS:

For better traction and acceleration, the G70 has larger rear tires than the IS (255/35R19 vs. 235/45R18).

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 IS 300’s standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the G70 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the IS 300.

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the G70’s wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the IS (111.6 inches vs. 110.2 inches).

The G70 handles at .95 G’s, while the IS 500 Performance pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The G70 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the IS 300 AWD (24.9 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 25.9 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 IS (.28 to .3) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the G70 get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the G70 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The IS doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The G70 has 5.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the IS (95.9 vs. 90.2).

The G70 has 1.6 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.8 inches more rear headroom, 2.6 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the IS.

The G70 has a larger trunk than the IS (11.7 vs. 10.8 cubic feet).

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 3.3T Sport Prestige also has a standard power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The IS doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

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

The power windows standard on both the G70 and the IS have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the G70 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The IS prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The G70’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The IS’ cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 IS doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The G70 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the IS. 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 IS.

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

Insurance will cost less for the G70 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the G70 will cost $920 less than the IS over a five-year period.

The G70 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2019. The IS has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the G70 as their 2019 Car of the Year. The IS has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the G70 as the 2019 North American Car of the Year. The IS has never been chosen.