Built in South Korea, Born to Drift: My Genesis G70 Love Story with a Sonata Twist

This ain't a spec sheet it's a true story about speed, steel, soul, and why more money don't always mean more car.

Now listen here sugar, while I pour you some of this sweet tea. This ain’t no fancy car review this is me and you on the porch talkin’ cars, weed smoke in the breeze, and the truth with no polish. I may not speak perfect, but I sure say what I mean. It’s a story about three things I trust: steel, instinct, and a good playlist.

Before all that, I was a Honda girl loyal to my Civic VTEC like it was a secret weapon. It was cute, quick, and had just enough bark to make folks look twice. But by 2022? Honda couldn’t hold a candle to what Hyundai was putting out. Their glow-up was undeniable.

My first Hyundai? A 2015 Elantra. I was driving two hours a day for work, five days a week, and she only cost me thirty bucks a week in gas. That car sipped fuel like a lady in heels at happy hour classy, quiet, and smarter than she looked. She never overheated, never stranded me. The only thing that ever gave out was the window motor. I passed her down to my stepdaughter’s boyfriend, and that cars still runnin’. That Elantra opened the door.

The Sonata That Had Flash and Brains

Then came my 2022 Sonata. And baby, she didn’t just show up she arrived. Glowing LED headlights, mood lighting that shifted with your vibe, and blind spot alerts that lit up like your best friend’s voice saying, “Watch out.” She’d park herself from the key fob like it was witchcraft.

All the tech, all the class, and none of the stress adaptive cruise, lane assist, voice command. Felt like she came with a second brain just to keep mine from gettin’ distracted. All that for under $35K. That’s what you call a full package without the attitude.

For what I paid under $35,000 that car gave me features most luxury sedans still dreamin’ about. Self-parkin’ magic, full safety suite, glowing lights, and tech that worked like it read my mind. In 2022, there wasn’t a better sedan on the market for the price. Period. It did everything right without emptyin’ my wallet.

Tazman Blue, Built to Misbehave

Then Que the temptress 2022 Genesis G70. 3.3T Sport Prestige. Twin-turbo V6. Tazman Blue paint that looked like deep water before a hurricane. She wasn’t cheap stickered just over $51,000 fully loaded but that price came with performance and polish that matched (and sometimes beat) sedans from BMW, Audi, and Benz. You’re payin’ for speed, steel, and swagger not just the badge. After only having the Sonata for 6 months I traded her in.

But I live in Florida so with taxes and those unexpected dealer prep fees, I ended up with a $58,000 tab and signed on a 2% APR loan, still feelin’ like I got my money’s worth.

She purrs, she grips, she glides and when she bites, she leaves a mark. 8-speed auto transmission that moves like it knows your secrets. The 365 horsepower twin turbo 3.3-liter V-6 G70 0-60mph in 4.5 secs. Rear wheel with limited slip for those curves that test your faith. Gas powered, but eco slick with stop start tech and drive modes that change her mood quicker than a missed text.

And the Lexicon sound system? Lawd. It don’t play music it seduces your eardrums. Rolls Royce uses it, and after hearing it, I get why. Every bass drop feels like someone whisperin’ truths you ain’t ready to hear.

I still own her. No drama. No breakdowns. Just that Korean steel flexin’ like a bouncer at a dive bar. I even slid her into a wall once don’t ask. Just a kiss on the bumper. She brushed it off like, “You good?”

Only thing she’s missing? That extra sparkle. No ambient lights. No fancy headlight glow. She’s all heat, no highlight. And I’m the kind of woman who likes her horsepower with a little glitter on it.

Built By Legends, Backed By Seoul

Genesis didn’t roll up by accident. They came with receipts.

• Albert Biermann, the man behind BMW’s M division

• Luc Donckerwolke, from Bentley and Lambo

• Peter Schreyer, the genius behind the Audi TT

Wrapped up in steel forged with pride in a country that gave us Samsung, spicy ramen, and internet speeds that make ours look like dial up.

So Why Do I Still Think About My Sonata?

Because she was light, lovely, and didn’t dare me to get arrested every time I pulled out the driveway. She was the type you marry. The G70? She’s the one you sneak out the window for.

And don’t get me started on the Kia Stinger. Same chassis. Same bloodline. They killed it off after 2023, Kia traded it for the EV6 GT quick but quiet. That Stinger had bite. The new stuff just hums politely.

So, if you’re wonderin’ what kind of ride to throw your next few years at forget the badge. Follow the steel. The sound. The soul. Hyundai and Genesis aren’t asking for your loyalty. They’re out here earnin’ it. Who knows what they will come up with next.

Next time, maybe I’ll tell y’all how I built a one-ton monster truck. But today? I’m just leanin’ back in Tazman Blue music up, windows cracked, and not a care in sight.

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