Genesis G70 Named 2019 Motor Trend Car of the Year

[Sal Collaziano]

LOS ANGELES, Calif., November 27, 2018 – Last night, MotorTrend named the 2019 Genesis G70 the recipient of its 2019 Car of the Year award at the annual MotorTrend Awards ceremony held in conjunction with the Los Angeles Auto Show. It marks the first time that a Genesis has taken the coveted and respected honor.

“At Genesis, we are focused on delivering premium vehicles that rise to the top of their respective segments,” said Erwin Raphael, executive director, Genesis Motor America. “We are so proud that G70 was named MotorTrend Car of the Year and can’t wait to hear how happy our customers are with their new purchases.”

G70 competed against 19 other Car of the Year award contenders in MotorTrend’s evaluation of the most competent, desirable, and capable vehicles to debut for the 2019 model year. As part of testing, MotorTrend editors put eligible vehicles through their paces on both the street and on the test track to determine a verdict.

“The G70 proves you don’t have to compromise; you can have world-class driving dynamics and a smooth, comfortable ride. Power and efficiency can be found in the same luxury vehicle,” said Ed Loh, MotorTrend’s editor-in-chief. “Genesis G70democratizes safety, technology, and luxury, with a price point that will surprise and delight everyone – but its competition.”

The 2019 Genesis G70 luxury sport sedan resets benchmarks and expectations in its class for the holistic integration of leading performance, refined luxury, and aerodynamic style. G70 is the third of six new Genesis models to debut by 2021 and is the final sedan of the lineup. As the first Genesis model in the highly-competitive entry-level luxury segment, G70outperforms legacy luxury sport sedans with driver-focused performance.

 

[Beefer]

Congrats G70 !!! I knew you could do it.

 

[MG8]

GO GENESIS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tx_boy]

This is actually the second time a Genesis has won this award. The 2009 Hyundai Genesis also won this award but I guess they mean Genesis as a brand and not a vehicle.

 

[GenesisYEG]

Thank you to all of those that have put your faith with us in the very beginning! Enjoy this moment and perhaps go for a victory lap in your G70s!

 

[Dpaulc]

Enjoy this moment and perhaps go for a victory lap in your G70s!

Oh yes, rub it in Canada.

 

[GenesisYEG]

Oh yes, rub it in Canada.

I'll do a victory lap especially for you!

 

[Beefer]

I did mine about 20 minutes ago.

 

[PMCErnie]

This is actually the second time a Genesis has won this award. The 2009 Hyundai Genesis also won this award but I guess they mean Genesis as a brand and not a vehicle.

Great point. Somebody is just being stupid. We demand redress!

 

[steintm12]

This is actually the second time a Genesis has won this award. The 2009 Hyundai Genesis also won this award but I guess they mean Genesis as a brand and not a vehicle.

Looks like the Hyundai Genesis did not win Motor Trend Car of the Year in 2009 (or any other year). This honor went to the 2009 Nissan GT-R. However, the 2009 Hyundai Genesis did win North American Car of the Year.

Motor Trend - Past Car of the Year Winners
North American Car, Utility and Truck Winners & Finalists

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[PMCErnie]

Looks like the Hyundai Genesis did not win Motor Trend Car of the Year in 2009 (or any other year). This honor went to the 2009 Nissan GT-R. However, the 2009 Hyundai Genesis did win North American Car of the Year.

Motor Trend - Past Car of the Year Winners
North American Car, Utility and Truck Winners & Finalists

Okay, we’ll take it.

 

[Electrode]

"Democratizes safety, tech and luxury..." Well said.

 

[SirFrederick]

It's like a cherry on top to see the car you just purchased get named the COTY.

 

[Gen127]

Per the link to past winners of the MotorTrend COTY, I see the Lincoln LS won in the year 2000. Reason that COTY caught my attention was my son owned that vehicle new. Nothing but constant costly problems with the LS and by the third year of his ownership, the Jaguar-made V8 engine self-destructed at around 52k miles. What a miserable vehicle. Lincoln finally bailed on the LS a few years later.

 

[PMCErnie]

It's like a cherry on top to see the car you just purchased get named the COTY.

Yes, I’m sure Chevy Volt owners are celebrating their purchase.

 

[MG8]

The Genesis sedan has received numerous awards and recognitions. Among them:

• Named one of the top five luxury sedans in 2008 by the National Automobile Dealers Association
• USA Today stated Hyundai proves it's a master of luxury 2008
• Named as Consumer Reports 'Top-Rated Upscale Sedan' (2009)
• Ranked No. 1 midsize premium car by JD Power 2009 APEAL study (beating out the BMW 5 Series, Jaguar XF),
• Given 9.5 out of 10 points in 2009 by Edmunds.com, which stated it features a cabin comparable to a top-of-the-line Lexus, but pointed to lack of "brand cachet" as its main drawback
• According to Edmunds.com in 2009: "With badges removed, the Genesis could easily pass as a Lexus or Mercedes-Benz, although we doubt many brand-conscious people would give a Hyundai a second glance
• Named the 2009 North American Car of the Year
• Ranked tops in JD Power's Vehicle Launch Index
• Automotive, Performance, Execution awards by J.D. Power,
• Car of the Year by Autotropolis.com,
• Named AutoPacific ideal vehicle 2009 award winner
• Recognized as a best new model for 2009 by Kiplinger's Personal Finance
• Won top Safety Award by the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
• Cars.com New Car of the Year 2009
• Luxury and Value on the 2009 Best New Car List by About.com
• Car of the Year at the 2009 Urban Wheel Awards by Wheels Media
• Named a "Top 5 Luxury Car for 2009" & "Car of the Month (April)" & "Best Car Buy" by the U.S. National Automobile Dealers Association (NADAguides.com)
• 2009 "Best Bet" award from The Car Book,
• Won MyRide/Autobytel 2009 Editors' Choice award
• Named a Consumer Guide recommended buy 2009,
• Consumers digest (luxury segment) 2009 best buy,
• America's Top 40 New Cars by Motor Trend 2009,
• Assessed as having the highest residual value by the 2009 Automotive Lease Guide
• According to the editor-in-chief blog of Motor Trend, "Hyundai Genesis: A Car Detroit Can Now Only Dream of Building?", The Genesis came close to winning the 2009 Motor Trend Car of the Year title.
• Hyundai Genesis sedan awarded as segment leader for the 2009 near-luxury car class of vehicles by Strategic Vision
• AutoPacific's 2009 consumer Vehicle Satisfaction survey of Hyundai owners placed the Genesis at the top of its class in Awards (VSA)
• Named "Best Luxury Sedan" in MotorWeek's 2009 Driver's Choice Awards.
• Named 2009 North American Car of the Year, the first for Hyundai.
• Won 2009 Canadian Car of the Year after winning its category of Best New Luxury Car under $50,000.
• Won 2009 Car of the Year award by China's Autoworld magazine.
• Hyundai's V8 Tau engine received 2009 Ward's 10 Best Engines award.
• Named "Best Deal for the Boss" in the Cars.com 2010 annual Best Lifestyle Vehicle Awards
• Based on automotive journalist reviews, The Genesis received a score of 89% on Seven Car Garage, making it one of the best reviewed cars in its class.

 

[Electrode]

Per the link to past winners of the MotorTrend COTY, I see the Lincoln LS won in the year 2000. Reason that COTY caught my attention was my son owned that vehicle new. Nothing but constant costly problems with the LS and by the third year of his ownership, the Jaguar-made V8 engine self-destructed at around 52k miles. What a miserable vehicle. Lincoln finally bailed on the LS a few years later.

In 1971, the Chevy Vega won Car Of The Year.

 

[EdP]

In 1971, the Chevy Vega won Car Of The Year.

"Past performance is no guarantee of future results."
My brother's wife had a Vega. When they moved to California I drove it out there for him from Philly. It was never the same after some long highway cruising. It was not built for 700 to 800 miles a day.

 

[Jon at RosenGenesis]

This award is just another notch in the cap for Hyundai / Genesis with more to come hopefully with the Genesis Cuv's coming out sometime around 2020 with possibly a Genesis version of the 8 passenger Palisade that was just announced in LA auto show the past few days. That is still just a thought in the making but hopefully it will become reality.

There are a lot of exciting things happening and more to come. It's very cool to be apart of history in the making and also to watch all the doubters changing their views about our great brand!!

 

[YEH]

This award is just another notch in the cap for Hyundai / Genesis with more to come hopefully with the Genesis Cuv's coming out sometime around 2020 with possibly a Genesis version of the 8 passenger Palisade that was just announced in LA auto show the past few days. That is still just a thought in the making but hopefully it will become reality.

There's not going to be a Genesis version of the Palisade as the Palisade is FWD.

If Genesis were to build a GLS/X7 competitor, it would be the platform of the next gen G90.

Aside from the life-style, small pick-up Santa Cruz heading for development, seems like Hyundai is going ahead w/ a proper BoF pick-up and SUV, tho it remains to be seen if they'll be headed for the US (due to the chicken tax).

Another recent award that Hyundai has picked up is Top Gear's Manufacturer of the Year.