The 2019 Genesis G70 marked the debut of this luxury sports sedan, spun off from the larger G80 but engineered to be more compact and agile. For prospective buyers prioritizing safety, understanding the 2019 G70 Genesis safety ratings is crucial. This article delves into the detailed safety performance of the 2019 Genesis G70, drawing from rigorous testing conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). These ratings also extend to the Kia Stinger, a structurally similar vehicle introduced in 2018.
Small Overlap Front: Driver-Side Crash Test
The driver-side small overlap front crash test assesses vehicle safety when the front corner of the car collides with a narrow object like a tree or pole.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/Thigh | G |
| Lower Leg/Foot | G |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | G |
The 2019 Genesis G70 achieved a “Good” rating in the driver-side small overlap front test, the highest possible score. This indicates robust protection for the driver in this type of severe frontal crash. All measured injury metrics for the driver dummy were also rated as “Good,” demonstrating excellent occupant protection.
Alt text: 2019 Genesis G70 driver-side small overlap front crash test performance with a Good overall rating, indicating strong structural integrity and safety cage.
Technical Measurements – Driver-Side Small Overlap Front
| Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower Occupant Compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 3 |
| Footrest (cm) | 6 |
| Left toepan (cm) | 5 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 7 |
| Parking brake (cm) | 0 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 2 |
| Upper Occupant Compartment | |
| Steering column | 0 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 1 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 2 |
| Lower instrument panel (cm) | 2 |
These measurements detail the minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment during the crash, reinforcing the “Good” rating for structure and safety cage.
Driver Injury Measures – Driver-Side Small Overlap Front
| Driver injury measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 226 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.1 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 10 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.22 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 35 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 1.6 |
| Right | 1.0 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 1 |
| Right | 0 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.66 |
| Right | 0.70 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 2.9 |
| Right | 2.4 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 62 |
| Right | 86 |
The driver injury measurements are low across the board, indicating a low risk of significant injuries in a driver-side small overlap frontal crash scenario for the 2019 Genesis G70.
Small Overlap Front: Passenger-Side Crash Test
Similar to the driver-side test, the passenger-side small overlap front test evaluates how well the passenger side of the vehicle protects occupants in a similar frontal collision.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/Thigh | G |
| Lower Leg/Foot | G |
| Passenger Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/Thigh | G |
| Lower Leg/Foot | G |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | G |
The 2019 G70 also earned a “Good” rating for passenger-side small overlap front crash protection. This demonstrates consistent high safety standards for both the driver and front passenger. Both passenger and driver injury measures were rated “Good,” confirming excellent protection for all front occupants.
Alt text: 2019 Genesis G70 passenger-side small overlap front crash test results showing a Good rating and robust passenger safety cage.
Technical Measurements – Passenger-Side Small Overlap Front
| Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower Occupant Compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 3 |
| Footrest (cm) | 8 |
| Right toepan (cm) | 7 |
| Center toepan (cm) | 4 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 2 |
| Upper Occupant Compartment | |
| Center dash (cm) | 2 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 2 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 2 |
| Right lower dash (cm) | 2 |
Similar to the driver-side test, minimal intrusion measurements on the passenger side support the “Good” structural rating.
Passenger and Driver Injury Measures – Passenger-Side Small Overlap Front
| Passenger injury measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 282 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.8 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 18 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.26 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 25 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.4 |
| Right | 0.1 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.59 |
| Right | 0.38 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 3.1 |
| Right | 3.7 |
| Driver injury measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 170 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.7 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 11 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.19 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 31 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.1 |
| Right | 0.8 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.31 |
| Right | 0.27 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 0.8 |
| Right | 2.3 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 24 |
| Right | 46 |
Both passenger and driver injury measurements in the passenger-side small overlap test remain low, further emphasizing the 2019 G70’s commitment to occupant safety in frontal crashes.
Moderate Overlap Front: Original Test
The moderate overlap front test simulates a head-on collision between two vehicles of similar weight, both traveling at approximately 40 mph, but only overlapping for 40% of the vehicle’s width.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Leg/Foot, Left | G |
| Leg/Foot, Right | G |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | G |
The 2019 Genesis G70 once again secured a “Good” overall rating in the moderate overlap front test. All driver injury measures were rated “Good,” indicating excellent protection in this common type of frontal collision.
Alt text: 2019 Genesis G70 moderate overlap front crash test performance with a Good rating, showcasing robust frontal impact protection.
Technical Measurements – Moderate Overlap Front
| Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Footwell Intrusion | |
| Footrest (cm) | 1 |
| Left (cm) | 2 |
| Center (cm) | 2 |
| Right (cm) | 1 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 3 |
| Instrument Panel Rearward Movement | |
| Left (cm) | 0 |
| Right (cm) | 0 |
| Steering Column Movement | |
| Upward (cm) | 3 |
| Rearward (cm) | -4 |
| A-pillar Rearward Movement (cm) | 0 |
The minimal intrusion measurements in the footwell and occupant compartment during the moderate overlap test further validate the “Good” rating for structural integrity.
Driver Injury Measures – Moderate Overlap Front
| Driver injury measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 148 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.1 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 19 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.22 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 28 |
| Legs | |
| Femur force – left (kN) | 0.3 |
| Femur force – right (kN) | 0.5 |
| Knee displacement – left (mm) | 2 |
| Knee displacement – right (mm) | 1 |
| Maximum tibia index – left | 0.50 |
| Maximum tibia index – right | 0.51 |
| Tibia axial force – left (kN) | 1.5 |
| Tibia axial force – right (kN) | 2.4 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 48 |
| Right | 52 |
Driver injury measurements remain impressively low in the moderate overlap front test, reinforcing the 2019 Genesis G70’s strong performance in frontal crash scenarios.
Side: Original Test
The side impact test simulates a vehicle being struck by another vehicle in a typical intersection crash.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Torso | A |
| Pelvis/Leg | G |
| Driver Head Protection | G |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/Leg | G |
| Rear Passenger Head Protection | G |
The 2019 Genesis G70 achieved a “Good” overall rating in the side impact test. While most driver injury measures were “Good,” the torso protection was rated “Acceptable.” Rear passenger protection was rated “Good” across all metrics.
Alt text: 2019 Genesis G70 side impact crash test results showing a Good overall rating, with driver torso protection rated as Acceptable.
Technical Measurements – Side Impact
| Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side | Measurement |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -19.0 |
This measurement indicates the amount of intrusion into the occupant space from the side impact.
Driver Injury Measures – Side Impact
| Driver injury measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 236 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.7 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.9 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 41 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.5 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 44 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 36 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 5.32 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.89 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 1.5 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 1.1 |
| Combined force (kN) | 2.5 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.2 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 135 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | -63 |
Passenger Injury Measures – Side Impact
| Passenger injury measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 162 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.7 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.2 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 27 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.3 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 26 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 22 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 2.30 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.25 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 1.3 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 1.1 |
| Combined force (kN) | 2.2 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.5 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 49 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | -15 |
While the 2019 G70 performed well in side impact testing overall, the “Acceptable” rating for driver torso protection suggests an area for potential improvement in future models.
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test measures how well the roof can withstand forces in a rollover crash.
| Overall Evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Curb Weight | 3,627 lbs |
| Peak Force | 20,068 lbs |
| Strength-to-Weight Ratio | 5.53 |
The 2019 Genesis G70 earned a “Good” rating for roof strength. Its strength-to-weight ratio significantly exceeds the minimum requirement, demonstrating excellent rollover protection.
Alt text: 2019 Genesis G70 roof strength test result showing a Good rating, with a strong strength-to-weight ratio for rollover safety.
Head Restraints & Seats
This evaluation assesses the effectiveness of head restraints and seats in preventing whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions.
| Overall Evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Dynamic Rating | G |
| Seat/Head Restraint Geometry | G |
The 2019 Genesis G70 received a “Good” rating for head restraints and seats, both dynamically and geometrically. This indicates effective protection against whiplash in rear impacts.
Technical Measurements – Head Restraints & Seats
| Seat type | Power leather seat |
|---|---|
| Geometry | |
| Backset (mm) | 36 |
| Distance below top of head (mm) | -18 |
| Seat design parameters | |
| Pass/fail | Pass |
| Max T1 acceleration (g) | 10.1 |
| Head contact time (ms) | 64 |
| Force rating | 1 |
| Neck forces | |
| Max neck shear force (N) | 16 |
| Max neck tension (N) | 603 |
The technical measurements support the “Good” rating, showing effective head restraint geometry and low neck forces during simulated rear-end impact.
Headlights
Headlight ratings assess visibility provided by vehicle headlights in nighttime driving scenarios. The 2019 Genesis G70 has three different headlight variations tested.
LED Projector Headlights with Curve-Adaptive and High-Beam Assist (Good Rating)
This headlight system, available on specific trim levels, received a “Good” overall rating.
| 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 |
LED Projector Headlights with High-Beam Assist (Good Rating)
Another LED projector system, but without curve-adaptive functionality, also achieved a “Good” overall rating.
| 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 |
Halogen Projector Headlights with High-Beam Assist (Poor Rating)
The halogen projector headlight system received a “Poor” overall rating due to inadequate visibility in various driving scenarios.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | Halogen projector |
| High-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | P |
Alt text: 2019 Genesis G70 headlight performance ratings, highlighting Good ratings for LED projector headlights and a Poor rating for halogen projector headlights.
It is important to note the specific trim level and headlight type when considering the 2019 Genesis G70, as headlight performance varies significantly. LED projector options offer superior nighttime visibility compared to the halogen projector system.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
This system evaluates the effectiveness of automatic emergency braking systems in preventing or mitigating vehicle-to-vehicle frontal crashes.
| Overall Evaluation | Superior |
|---|---|
| Forward Collision Warning | Meets requirements |
| 12 mph Test | Collision Avoided |
| 25 mph Test | Collision Avoided |
The 2019 Genesis G70’s standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist system earned a “Superior” rating. The system successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph vehicle-to-vehicle tests.
Front Crash Prevention: Pedestrian (Day)
This test assesses the effectiveness of pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking systems in preventing or mitigating pedestrian crashes in daylight conditions.
| Overall Evaluation | Advanced |
|---|---|
| Crossing Child (12 mph) | Collision Avoided |
| Crossing Child (25 mph) | Impact speed reduced by 10 mph |
| Crossing Adult (12 mph) | Collision Avoided |
| Crossing Adult (25 mph) | Collision Avoided |
| Parallel Adult (25 mph) | Collision Avoided |
| Parallel Adult (37 mph) | Impact speed reduced by 33 mph |
The 2019 Genesis G70’s pedestrian front crash prevention system received an “Advanced” rating. It performed well in most pedestrian scenarios, avoiding collisions in many tests and significantly reducing impact speed in others.
Alt text: 2019 Genesis G70 front crash prevention system ratings, indicating Superior performance in vehicle-to-vehicle tests and Advanced performance in pedestrian detection tests.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
The LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) is evaluated for ease of use and accessibility for installing child safety seats.
| Overall Evaluation | M (Marginal) |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Trim | 2.0T |
| Seat Type | leather |
The 2019 Genesis G70 received a “Marginal” rating for its LATCH system. While it 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.
Details by Seating Position
| Position | Rating |
|---|---|
| 1 | Marginal |
| 2 | Marginal |
| 3 | Marginal |
Alt text: 2019 Genesis G70 child seat anchors LATCH system rating, indicating a Marginal rating due to lower anchors being difficult to use.
For families frequently installing child seats, the “Marginal” LATCH rating suggests that installing car seats in the 2019 G70 might be less convenient compared to vehicles with better LATCH ratings.
Conclusion
The 2019 Genesis G70 demonstrates strong safety performance across most IIHS crash tests, earning “Good” ratings in small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side impact, and roof strength evaluations. Its front crash prevention systems are rated “Superior” for vehicle-to-vehicle and “Advanced” for pedestrian detection. However, the headlight rating varies by trim, with LED projector options achieving “Good” while halogen projectors are rated “Poor.” The LATCH system received a “Marginal” rating.
Overall, the 2019 Genesis G70 is a safe vehicle, particularly excelling in crash protection and front crash prevention technologies. Prospective buyers should consider the headlight options carefully and be aware of the LATCH system’s marginal ease of use. These safety ratings, shared with the structurally similar Kia Stinger, position the 2019 Genesis G70 as a compelling choice for safety-conscious consumers in the luxury sedan market.
