2018 Genesis G70 Vs BMW 3 Series Vs Kia Stinger: Sport Sedan Comparison

The BMW 3 Series is the sports sedan that supported a whole brand and launched an entire market segment, with countless of other automakers chasing that perfect blend of luxury and fun that the 3 always managed to perfect.

But in recent years, the 3 Series’ identity has been questioned. Some say BMW has lost its way, focusing on its SUV lineup rather than its sporty sedans. With exhaust notes pumping through the speakers, an odd clumsiness in the steering and the overall cars feeling heavier than agile, BMW certainly has changed its approach.

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Beyond that, other automakers have stolen some of the spotlight. Mercedes has put a beautiful cabin in its C-Class, and Audi has some impressive technology to wow its customers. BMW may have even lost its edge in terms of sportiness, as we’ve found the new Genesis G70 feeling more and more agile and fun to drive.

To confirm that it’s not just some recency bias, we figured that it only makes sense to compare the Genesis G70 and BMW 3 Series directly, but then things got a bit tricky. See, the AutoGuide.com 2018 Car of the Year title belongs to the Kia Stinger GT, a car that’s not so far removed from the Genesis G70. So naturally, we brought it along as well to see whether the new Genesis is truly an all-new product capable of knocking the BMW 3 Series from its pedestal, while also figuring out if the G70 is just a dolled up Kia Stinger.

It may be a last-place finish for the Kia Stinger, but that’s only in relation to these three cars. The Stinger still impressed us with the fact that it feels like an honest-to-goodness cool, luxury car. It might take a while to get one’s head wrapped around the fact that it’s wearing a Kia badge, but the powertrain, styling, and handling certainly help you accept the facts that this is indeed one of the best cars on the market today.

Style-wise, this may be the most striking of the trio we have here today. The Sportback design is both eye-catching and functional, as the hatch allows for a very accommodating cargo area. Without a doubt, it’s the most practical car out of the three, with a total of 40 cubic feet of storage, when you fold the rear seats down. If you keep those seats up, there’s enough head and leg room to keep everyone in good spirits.

In the front seats, you’ll notice an interior design that is lacking some of the frills and gimmicks of the other cars here. Materials and trim are nice, on par with some of the more basic luxury cars out there. However, it is not up to the level of the G70 Sport and the BMW 340i we have here. The unique key fob is certainly a nice talking point, and it’d be cool if Kia continued that in some other areas of the car.

ALSO SEE: 2018 Kia Stinger Review | Kia Stinger GT Review

It’s also lacking a bit in terms of wow factor. The design is as expected, a clean layout, with an infotainment system that features compatibility with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Fortunately, the Stinger feels fantastic on the road. The 3.3-liter twin turbo V6 is a beast, making 365 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque to send this car to highway speeds in about 4 and a half seconds. It has a quick shifting eight-speed automatic and power goes to all four wheels when needed. On paper, the Stinger is a perfect match for the Genesis and as a result, the BMW too.

It handles a bit heavier than the other cars here and that’s because it is a good bit bigger. Tipping the scales at over 4,000 lbs, the Stinger is a hefty ride. It doesn’t always feel this way, but in comparison to the other, smaller feeling cars, it just seems a tick out of sync. The steering is excellent though, and the braking is very good, with Brembo branded brakes working the vented front and rear rotors.

What’s nice about the Stinger is that it seems like a great combination of a family friendly all-wheel-drive sedan with some fun to drive elements as well. The performance is very good, and the quality is hard to beat too. However, it is priced at $52,595, which is hard to swallow when Genesis seems to do everything the Kia does but just a bit better.

The BMW we have was carefully curated, with a bunch of performance goodies including a rowdy sounding exhaust and a power package. Basically, BMW accented what was already great about the 340i: its powertrain. The turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine now makes 355 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque, which is less than the two Korean cars, but combined with the car’s more superior transmission and weight, the 3 Series feels agile and sporty. It’s also a bit more fuel efficient than the other two cars, earning a combined score of 25 MPG by the EPA.

It feels faster than the other two, and it sounds faster too. The performance exhaust burbles and burps rudely, which makes us giggle, but when we’re reminded that sports sedans shouldn’t be rowdy obnoxious speedsters, but luxury-oriented do-it-alls. The BMW is a bit too loud and that’s in more ways than one. It not only grabs attention with its exhaust note, but the bright red leather interior is a bit much. It helps distract you from the dated 3 Series interior. The new 3 can’t come soon enough because this 2018 model looks very ancient now.

ALSO SEE: New-Generation 2020 BMW 3 Series Debuts with a Ton of New Tech

The Genesis and Stinger feel like the top of their brand. It’s a huge gap in terms of quality and impressiveness in favor of the Korean automakers, but only for now – the new 3 Series looks to be a whirlwind of new technology and luxury.

These aren’t deal breakers, but when you tie in the price of the 340i we’re testing, it’s hard to root for the BMW. With all the options and upgrades, this 340i was just around $60,000 USD, which is far too much for BMW’s entry-level sedan. The other two cars are far more affordable and feel just as special and high-end.

The new Genesis is the belle of the ball. It has the agility and driving dynamics of the BMW, as well as the affordability of the Kia, with an extra flair of uniqueness that makes it better than the other options. Right off the bat, the Genesis looks different. It has a cohesive design that makes it stand out on the road. It also doesn’t feature the sportback styling that the Stinger has, leaving it looking sportier and more focused. There are also slick copper accents everywhere that help the car stand out even further even when being scrutinized by the ever-critical luxury car crowd.

Beyond the powertrain, the car feels exceptionally agile and fun to drive. It feels more natural, with the responsiveness of the car being a highlight. The BMW is fun to drive too, but its shouty exhaust and flashy red interior make it feel like its compensating for something. The Genesis, on the other hand, has an inner confidence that translates to the driver.

The cabin is classy with a different layout to the Stinger, despite the two cars sharing so much. The knobs and trim have a nice feeling of texture that makes using them a joy. The cabin is very well designed with nice stitching, accents and other details that feel on-brand. There is even a flashy puddle light that emits a Genesis-branded bat-signal when you approach the car.

It also comes in at about $52,000 making it a bargain when compared to the BMW. With that in mind, the Genesis offers driving joy, luxury appointment, and a lower price tag than the competition. It’s far more special feeling from behind the wheel, and people definitely notice that you’re driving the newest car around. It’s the top car of these three, and it will be interesting to see how the Genesis compares to other established rivals, that have been updated lately in this class, like the Mercedes C-Class or Audi A4.