The 2021 Genesis G70 stands out in the luxury sport sedan category, not only for its performance and styling but also for its commitment to safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has conducted rigorous testing on the Genesis G70, providing valuable insights into its crashworthiness and safety features. This article delves into the IIHS safety ratings for the 2021 Genesis G70, offering a comprehensive overview of its performance in various crash scenarios and preventative safety technologies. These ratings are applicable to models from 2019 to 2025, highlighting the consistent safety engineering of this vehicle.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side
The small overlap front crash test evaluates how well a vehicle protects the driver in a collision involving the front corner of the vehicle. In this challenging test, the 2021 Genesis G70 earned a “Good” rating, the highest possible.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/thigh | G |
| Driver injury measures – Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
The G70 demonstrated excellent structural integrity in this test, with minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment. Measurements of occupant compartment intrusion on the driver side confirm the robust structure. For instance, the lower hinge pillar max intrusion was only 3 cm, and the steering column showed 0 cm of intrusion.
Driver injury measures were also exceptionally low across all body regions. The Head Injury Criterion (HIC-15) was a low 226, and chest compression was measured at just 35 mm. Femur forces and tibia index values were also minimal, indicating a low risk of leg injuries.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side
The passenger-side small overlap test mirrors the driver-side test but assesses protection for the front passenger. Again, the 2021 Genesis G70 achieved a “Good” overall rating, mirroring its driver-side performance and showcasing consistent safety for all front occupants.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Passenger injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Passenger injury measures – Chest | G |
| Passenger injury measures – Hip/thigh | G |
| Passenger injury measures – Lower leg/foot | G |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
| Driver injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/thigh | G |
| Driver injury measures – Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
Similar to the driver-side test, structural performance was excellent. Occupant compartment intrusion measurements on the passenger side were minimal, with the lower hinge pillar max intrusion at 3 cm and upper dash intrusion at 2 cm.
Passenger injury measures remained low, with a HIC-15 of 282 and chest compression of 25 mm. Driver injury measures, also recorded in this test, were equally impressive, with a HIC-15 of just 170 and chest compression of 31 mm, emphasizing the balanced safety design for both front occupants.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Test
The moderate overlap front test simulates a more common type of frontal collision where the impact is spread across a wider area of the front of the vehicle. The 2021 Genesis G70 once again secured a “Good” overall rating in this test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/foot, left | G |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/foot, right | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
The G70’s structure held up well, with minimal footwell intrusion. The footrest intrusion was only 1 cm, and brake pedal intrusion was 3 cm. Steering column movement was also well-controlled.
Driver injury measures were again very low. The HIC-15 was 148, and chest compression was 28 mm. Leg injury measures were also minimal, demonstrating comprehensive protection in a moderate frontal impact.
Side Impact Crash Test: Original Test
The side impact test assesses occupant protection in a collision with another vehicle or object striking the side of the car. The 2021 Genesis G70 achieved a “Good” overall rating, with “Good” ratings for most driver and rear passenger injury measures. Notably, the torso protection for the driver was rated as “Acceptable”.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Torso | A |
| Driver injury measures – Pelvis/leg | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Torso | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Pelvis/leg | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on the driver side showed a B-pillar movement of -19.0 cm, indicating effective structural resistance to side impact forces.
Driver injury measures were generally low, except for torso protection which was “Acceptable”. Head HIC-15 was 236, and neck forces were within safe limits. Rear passenger injury measures were all “Good”, indicating strong side impact protection for rear occupants as well.
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test measures the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash. The 2021 Genesis G70 earned a “Good” rating, indicating a strong roof structure.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 3,627 lbs |
| Peak force | 20,068 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.53 |
The G70 demonstrated a strength-to-weight ratio of 5.53, significantly exceeding the IIHS requirement for a “Good” rating, ensuring robust protection in rollover scenarios.
Head Restraints & Seats
Evaluations of head restraints and seats are crucial for preventing whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions. The 2021 Genesis G70 with power leather seats received a “Good” overall rating for head restraints and seats.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | G |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G |
Both dynamic rating and seat/head restraint geometry were rated “Good”. Technical measurements showed a backset of 36 mm and a distance below the top of the head of -18 mm, indicating effective head restraint positioning.
Headlights
Headlight performance is critical for nighttime driving safety. The IIHS evaluates headlight systems for visibility and glare. The 2021 Genesis G70 has been tested with two different headlight variations.
For the trim levels equipped with the Prestige package (2.0T AT and 3.3T AT), Elite package (3.3T AT), and Sport package (3.3T AT), the G70 received a “Good” overall headlight rating. These models feature LED projector low and high beams, curve-adaptive headlights, and high-beam assist.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | Yes |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | G |
Both low beams and high beams provided good visibility on straightaways and curves. Glare was never exceeded with the low beams. The high-beam assist feature compensates for any limitations of the low beams.
For the trim levels including 2.0T MT, 2.0T AT, and 2.0T AT equipped with the Elite package, which feature LED projector headlights but are not curve-adaptive, the overall headlight rating is also “Good”.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | G |
These headlights also provided good to fair visibility in various driving scenarios, with high-beam assist helping to compensate for any low-beam limitations, resulting in an overall “Good” rating.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Front crash prevention systems are designed to mitigate or prevent collisions with other vehicles. The 2021 Genesis G70 features a standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection system, which earned a “Superior” rating in vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention.
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
|---|
The system meets forward collision warning requirements and successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests, demonstrating its effectiveness in preventing vehicle-to-vehicle crashes.
Front Crash Prevention: Pedestrian (Day)
Pedestrian front crash prevention systems are crucial for protecting vulnerable road users. The 2021 Genesis G70’s standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection system also achieved an “Advanced” rating in pedestrian (day) front crash prevention.
| Overall evaluation | Advanced |
|---|
In tests involving a crossing child and crossing adult, the system avoided collisions at 12 mph. In the 25 mph crossing child test, impact speed was reduced, and in the 25 mph crossing adult test, a collision was avoided entirely. In the parallel adult test scenarios, the system also demonstrated significant impact speed reduction or collision avoidance, showcasing robust pedestrian detection capabilities.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchor ease of use is assessed through the LATCH system. The 2021 Genesis G70 received a “Marginal” rating for LATCH ease of use.
| Overall evaluation | M |
|---|---|
| Vehicle trim | 2.0T |
| Seat type | leather |
While the G70 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 2021 Genesis G70 demonstrates exceptional safety performance in IIHS crash tests, earning top “Good” ratings in most evaluations. It excels in protecting occupants in frontal, side, and rollover crashes. Its headlight systems and vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention are also rated “Good” and “Superior” respectively. While the pedestrian front crash prevention is “Advanced” and LATCH system ease of use is “Marginal”, the overall safety profile of the 2021 Genesis G70 is undeniably strong, making it a top choice for safety-conscious buyers in the luxury sport sedan market. These ratings, applicable across the 2019-2025 model years, underscore Genesis’ ongoing commitment to vehicle safety.
