Distance: 1,040 km
Location: Arizona
Dates: 1-3 Aug, 2025
Up front: The compact near-luxury sedan has enough space in the front bucket seats for an aspiring junior manager and their spouse, though if I’m honest, the standard red brake calibers in the 20-inch alloy wheels probably cater more towards men. The seat is comfortable and infinitely adjustable. The headrests are as soft as the 5-Series.
The screens are clear and Apple CarPlay only connects on a physical USB connection, Type C or Type A is player’s choice. The wired connection guarantees Google Maps will show up every time. Major climate controls like temperature and synchronization are real buttons, but more detailed adjustments are buried in the screen.
In the back: A six-foot passenger will not fit comfortably behind a six-foot driver, neither will three adults fit in the back despite the availability of three seatbelts. The sporty compact sedan is easy to manoeuvre with its smaller size, but not easier to fit people and things in.
The small theme extends to the shallow boot that can fit two medium suitcases and two soft bags. There’s no powered boot lid, but you don’t need it either.
Driving: It’s very nimble as a rear-wheel drive based car and feels like a C-Class, but not quite the 3-Series. Despite having at least 40 horsepower more than the C-Class, 3-Series and the A4, the G70 is no faster than its German peers.
The G70’s turbo lag is noticeable and hinders acceleration when requested, such as for merging onto a highway. Both Mercedes and BMW have more responsive tuning for their turbo-four where the turbo lag is imperceptible, and for that they’re worth the 10% premium. It’s not just badge snobbery, it’s engineering.
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