The 2019 Genesis G70 marked the debut of this luxury sports sedan, quickly establishing itself as a strong contender in its class. For prospective buyers, safety is paramount, and the 2019 G70 has undergone rigorous testing to ensure occupant protection. This article delves into the safety performance of the 2019 Genesis G70, drawing upon data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to provide a comprehensive overview.
The Genesis G70 shares its structural underpinnings with the Kia Stinger, and safety ratings apply to both models. Let’s examine the results across various crash test scenarios.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts an object, like a tree or pole. This is a demanding test that assesses how well the car’s structure protects the driver. The 2019 Genesis G70 earned a “Good” rating in the driver-side small overlap front test, the highest rating possible.
Key findings from the driver-side test include “Good” ratings for structure and safety cage integrity, as well as for all driver injury measures (head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot). Technical measurements confirm minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment. For example, the maximum intrusion at the lower hinge pillar was only 3 cm, and the steering column showed no intrusion. Driver injury measures were also excellent, with low values for head and neck injury criteria and minimal chest compression.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures (Head/neck, Chest, Hip/thigh, Lower leg/foot) | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side
The passenger-side small overlap test mirrors the driver-side test but evaluates protection for the front passenger. The 2019 Genesis G70 again achieved a “Good” rating in this critical assessment.
Similar to the driver-side results, the passenger-side test showed “Good” performance in structure and safety cage, passenger injury measures, and driver injury measures. Intrusion measurements remained low, with a maximum of 3 cm at the lower hinge pillar on the passenger side. Injury measures for both passenger and driver dummies were also within safe limits, indicating effective occupant protection in a passenger-side small overlap crash scenario.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Passenger injury measures (Head/neck, Chest, Hip/thigh, Lower leg/foot) | G |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
| Driver injury measures (Head/neck, Chest, Hip/thigh, Lower leg/foot) | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Test
The moderate overlap front crash test involves a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end impacting a deformable barrier. This test is designed to simulate a common type of frontal collision. The 2019 Genesis G70 once more secured a “Good” rating in the moderate overlap front test.
The G70 demonstrated “Good” ratings across the board in this test, including structure and safety cage, driver injury measures (head/neck, chest, and leg/foot for both left and right sides), and driver restraints and dummy kinematics. Measurements of occupant compartment intrusion were minimal, with footwell intrusion limited to 2 cm or less and negligible rearward movement of the instrument panel or A-pillar. Driver injury measures remained low, indicating effective protection in a moderate frontal impact.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures (Head/neck, Chest, Leg/foot left & right) | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
Side Impact Crash Test: Original Test
Side impact crashes are particularly dangerous, as there is less structure to protect occupants compared to frontal collisions. The 2019 Genesis G70 performed admirably in the side impact test, achieving an overall “Good” rating.
While the overall rating was “Good,” the driver torso protection received an “Acceptable” rating. All other aspects, including structure and safety cage, driver head/neck and pelvis/leg protection, driver head protection, and rear passenger injury measures and head protection, were rated “Good.” Technical measurements indicated a B-pillar intrusion of 19 cm towards the driver’s seat centerline. Driver injury measures for head and neck were good, but torso deflection and viscous criterion were in the “Acceptable” range. Rear passenger injury measures were all “Good,” suggesting solid side impact protection for rear occupants as well.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures (Head/neck, Pelvis/leg) | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures (Head/neck, Torso, Pelvis/leg) | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
| Driver injury measures (Torso) | A |
Roof Strength Test
Roof strength is crucial for rollover protection. The 2019 Genesis G70 demonstrated excellent roof strength, earning a “Good” rating.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|
With a strength-to-weight ratio of 5.53, the roof of the 2019 G70 can withstand over five times the vehicle’s weight, indicating a strong and protective roof structure in the event of a rollover.
Head Restraints & Seats
Whiplash protection is an important aspect of safety, and head restraints play a vital role. The 2019 Genesis G70’s head restraints and seats were evaluated as “Good” for dynamic rating and seat/head restraint geometry.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | G |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G |
This “Good” rating signifies effective protection against whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions.
Headlights
Headlight performance is a critical factor in nighttime driving safety. The 2019 Genesis G70 offers different headlight options depending on the trim level, and ratings vary accordingly. Models equipped with LED projector headlights, particularly those with curve-adaptive and high-beam assist features (available on Prestige, Dynamic, Sport, and Elite packages), received a “Good” overall rating.
However, the base 2.0T AT trim with Halogen projector headlights received a “Poor” overall rating.
| Headlight Type | Overall Rating |
|---|---|
| LED Projector (with Curve-Adaptive & High-Beam Assist) | G |
| LED Projector (with High-Beam Assist) | G |
| Halogen Projector (with High-Beam Assist) | P |
Prospective buyers should be aware of the headlight variations across trim levels and prioritize models with LED projector headlights for optimal nighttime visibility and safety.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle & Pedestrian
The 2019 Genesis G70 comes standard with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection, a crucial safety technology. In vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention tests, the system earned a “Superior” rating.
| Overall evaluation (Vehicle-to-Vehicle) | Superior |
|---|
The system successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests, demonstrating its effectiveness in preventing or mitigating frontal collisions with other vehicles.
In pedestrian front crash prevention tests (daytime), the system achieved an “Advanced” rating.
| Overall evaluation (Pedestrian – Day) | Advanced |
|---|
The system avoided collisions with a crossing child and a crossing adult in 12 mph tests. In 25 mph tests, it avoided collision with a crossing adult and significantly reduced impact speed in the crossing child scenario. It also showed effectiveness in parallel adult scenarios, mitigating impact speed at higher test speeds.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchor ease of use is important for families. The 2019 Genesis G70’s LATCH system was rated “Marginal.”
| Overall evaluation (LATCH) | M |
|---|
While the vehicle has LATCH hardware in multiple rear seating positions, the lower anchors were noted as being too deep in the seat and difficult to maneuver around, contributing to the “Marginal” rating.
Conclusion
The 2019 Genesis G70 demonstrates strong safety performance, achieving “Good” ratings in most IIHS crash tests. Its robust structure and effective safety systems provide excellent occupant protection in various collision scenarios. Areas for potential improvement include headlight performance on base trims and child seat anchor accessibility. Overall, the 2019 G70 is a safe vehicle choice, particularly when equipped with LED projector headlights and the advanced driver-assistance systems. For buyers prioritizing safety, the 2019 Genesis G70 offers peace of mind and solid protection.
