Compare the2026 Genesis G70VS 2026 Lexus ES

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the G70 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The ES doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The G70 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The ES doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the G70 has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist with automatic braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Rear Cross-Traffic Braking costs extra on the ES.

Both the G70 and the ES have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The G70 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes free 24-hour roadside assistance. The ES’ 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Genesis’ powertrain warranty covers the G70 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Lexus covers the ES. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the ES ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

The G70’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the ES’ (7 vs. 6 years).

Genesis pays for scheduled maintenance on the G70 for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the ES (3/36,000 vs. 1/10,000).

J.D. Power and Associates rated the G70 second among compact premium cars in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The ES isn’t in the top three in its category.

The G70 has more powerful engines than the ES:

The G70 has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the ES (15.8 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The G70 3.3T’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The ES doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the G70’s brake rotors are larger than those on the ES:

For better traction and acceleration, the G70 has larger rear tires than the ES (255/35R19 vs. 235/55R19).

The G70’s 225/40R19 front and 255/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the ES’ standard 55 series tires. The G70’s tires are lower profile than the ES’ optional 45 series tires.

The Genesis G70 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 800 pounds less than the Lexus ES.

The G70 is 1 foot, 5.9 inches shorter than the ES, making the G70 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the G70 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The ES doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The G70 has 1.6 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 1.1 inches more rear hip room and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the ES.

The engine in the G70 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the ES. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The ES Luxury’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The G70 3.3T Elite/Prestige/Sport’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The G70 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2019. The ES has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the G70 as their 2019 Car of the Year. The ES has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the G70 as the 2019 North American Car of the Year. The ES has never been chosen.