2026 CarGurus Confidence Awards — Best Smart Luxury: Genesis G70
The Genesis G70 is our 2026 Best Smart Luxury vehicle. It combines stunning design, a refined and tech-forward cabin, powerful turbocharged engines, and a perfect 10 Cost-Effectiveness score — delivering a genuinely premium driving experience without the premium price tag that defines much of the luxury segment.
- Why We Chose It
- What Makes The Genesis G70 A Great Luxury Car?
- Why Did The Genesis G70 Win The CarGurus Confidence Award For Best Smart Luxury?
- What Did The CarGurus Team Say About The Genesis G70?
- What Were We Looking For In A Smart Luxury Vehicle?
- Honorable Mentions
- How Did We Choose The Best Smart Luxury Vehicle? (Methodology)
Why We Chose It
- It earned the highest combined scores in Look & Feel and Tech Level, the two most heavily weighted categories for this award
- It scored a perfect 10 in Cost-Effectiveness — rare in a segment where sticker prices climb quickly
- It offers two turbocharged engine options (a 300-hp four-cylinder or a 365-hp twin-turbo V6); both are more powerful than rivals from BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz
- It features an interior that balances screens with physical controls, with quilted Nappa leather, brushed metal accents, and standard Brembo brakes
- It's available in rear- or all-wheel drive, with variable-ratio steering and driving modes that genuinely change the car's character
What Makes The Genesis G70 A Great Luxury Car?
The G70 is one of the more striking sedans on the road, full stop. Outside, the quad LED headlamps and sculpted profile give it a presence that punches well above its price point.
Under the hood, a standard 300-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder provides more power than comparable entries from BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Acura, and Lexus — and buyers who want more can step up to a twin-turbo V6 with 365 horsepower and a mechanical limited-slip differential.
Its street cred is bolstered by either rear- or all-wheel drive, standard Brembo brakes, variable-ratio steering, and driving modes that actually feel like they make a difference.
Inside, passengers are treated to quilted Nappa leather seats, brushed metal accents, and a refined balance of tech and functionality that doesn't fall into the screen-only trap like some of its competitors.
Why Did The Genesis G70 Win The CarGurus Confidence Award For Best Smart Luxury?
In a field of 40 eligible luxury vehicles — spanning sedans, crossovers, EVs, and SUVs from Europe, Asia, and the US — the Genesis G70 rose to the top through sheer breadth of talent.
It earned the highest combined scores in the two areas we weighted most heavily for this category, Look & Feel and Tech Level, while also posting a perfect 10 in Cost-Effectiveness.
That last number matters here. In a segment where sticker prices climb quickly, the G70 delivers a genuinely premium experience without a painful sticker price.
What Did The CarGurus Team Say About The Genesis G70?
"The Genesis G70 is a sports sedan fully realized. Precious few cars of any price combine the striking looks, refined tech, and masterful driving dynamics of the G70. Available with rear- or all-wheel drive and a base engine that satisfies or an upgrade engine that thrills, there's no bad version of the G70. Sedans may have ceded the mainstream to crossover SUVs, but the Genesis G70 stands as a compelling reminder that nothing quite satisfies like a properly engineered sports sedan." — Matt Smith, Head of Content, CarGurus US
What Were We Looking For In A Smart Luxury Vehicle?
Just because you're ready to spend a few extra bucks on your next ride doesn't mean you don't care about making those dollars work extra hard for you. So we went looking for the best way to get a nice luxury vehicle, while still keeping an eye on the bigger ownership picture.
These vehicles — be it a car or crossover, gas or electric, foreign or domestic — represent the best ways to have your cake and eat it too. You get a high-end vehicle you'll be proud to park in your driveway, but one that justifies its extra cost with an eye on materials, comfort, durability, and yes, even value. Look & Feel and Tech Level were the characteristics most prioritized in ranking these models.
Honorable Mentions
Volvo XC90 (Runner-Up):
The Volvo XC90 earned runner-up honors. Volvo's flagship SUV pairs timeless Scandinavian design with a choice of mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, seating for up to seven, and one of the most elegantly appointed cabins in the segment.
It earned a rare perfect score for Look & Feel in our testing — the refreshed exterior keeps every great element of the XC90's design while bringing it into the current moment — and its Android-based infotainment system is among the most intuitive available.
Genesis GV70 (Runner-Up):
The Genesis GV70 also earned runner-up recognition. The G70's crossover sibling offers a similarly polished package in SUV form. Standard all-wheel drive, a 300-horsepower turbo-four (with an available 375-hp V6), and a striking 27-inch OLED display give it a tech-forward edge.
Its "Athletic Elegance" design language translates well to a compact SUV, and the interior materials — including available real carbon fiber and Nappa leather — reinforce that this is a luxury vehicle that doesn't need a six-figure price tag to feel like one.
How Did We Choose The Best Smart Luxury Vehicle? (Methodology)
The CarGurus Confidence Awards — Best Smart Luxury 2026 was determined through a multi-step, data-driven process designed to balance editorial expertise with real-world market conditions:
Eligibility filtering: To qualify, a vehicle needed at least 1,000 units of national dealer inventory, an average listing price no more than 15% above the manufacturer's suggested retail price, and an average listing price under $75,000. The price cap reflects the "smart" in smart luxury — these buyers want a premium experience without six-figure excess. This process yielded 40 eligible luxury vehicles.
Weighted scoring: Each eligible vehicle was scored by our editorial team across six dimensions: Look & Feel, Performance, Form & Function, Tech Level, Safety, and Cost-Effectiveness. For this category, we applied the following weights: Look & Feel (25%), Tech Level (25%), Form & Function (15%), Performance (15%), Safety (10%), and Cost-Effectiveness (10%). Look & Feel and Tech Level were weighted highest because luxury buyers expect premium design, craftsmanship, and cutting-edge connected technology. Cost-Effectiveness, while lowest-weighted, still carries meaningful influence — "smart" luxury implies discernment about value.
Ranked ballot vote: Our editorial panel then each independently ranked their top five vehicles. Points were assigned on a 5-4-3-2-1 scale (#1 pick = 5 points, #5 pick = 1 point) and summed across all voters. The highest point total determined the winner, with tiebreakers resolved by: (1) most first-place votes, (2) higher AI Weighted Score, and (3) higher national inventory.
About The CarGurus Confidence Awards
The CarGurus Confidence Awards are an annual program recognizing the best new vehicles on sale in the United States. Winners are selected through a rigorous, data-informed process that combines hands-on editorial reviews, real-world market data (including national inventory levels and listing-price analysis), and a ranked vote by the CarGurus editorial team. The awards are produced by the CarGurus content team — a group of automotive journalists with decades of combined experience reviewing and reporting on new vehicles.
Written by the CarGurus editorial team: David Undercoffler, Matt Smith, Natalie Harrington, and Elliot Haney.
