The BMW 3 Series has more unconventional competitors than ever before, especially for the U.S. market. The Alfa Romeo Giulia (Alfa hasn’t been sold in America for a long time), Jaguar XE, Cadillac ATS and now the Genesis G70 are all brand-new 3 Series competitors that are new to the game. The Genesis being the most unconventional, as it’s an offshoot of Hyundai, a brand once known for cars so terrible they were almost disposable. Now, though, the South Koreans have a great sport sedan on their hands and are so confident in it, they’ve priced it exactly in line with the 3 Series.
Starting at $34,900, the Genesis G70 wears the same base sticker price as a BMW 3 Series. However, it’s not an exact apples-to-apples comparison and the G70 still holds a value edge.
Powering the base model Genesis G70 is a 2.0 liter turbocharged engine that makes 252 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The base model 3 Series is the BMW 320i, which packs a 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder as well, except the Bavarian only has 180 horses. Both cars get eight-speed automatics and rear-wheel drive as standard.
Both cars get leatherette seating and dual-zone climate control but the Genesis gets power front seats as-standard, while the Bimmer gets manual seats, and it even gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included. The BMW 320i charges extra for Apple CarPlay and BMW doesn’t even offer Android Auto on any vehicle. Even more, the Genesis G70 gets snazzy LED headlights as-standard and 18-inch wheels.
We haven’t driven the Genesis G70 yet but we would very much like to and, from what we’ve heard, it’s just as dynamic as the 3 Series and is likely better to drive than the base-model 320i. It’s faster, far better equipped, better looking (that’s right, I said a posh Hyundai is better looking than the 320i) and more exciting to drive. All for the same price? If it were my money, as much as I love BMW as a brand, there’s no way I’m taking the 320i over the G70.
