When it comes to showing off your style, buying a car is one way to express yourself. Some cars excel in the style department, offering features that make it stand out above the rest. But is style everything? Or do other features matter more? Kelley Blue Book recently compared two new cars to see if luxury equals style, and the answer may surprise you.

Was the up-and-coming Genesis brand’s G70 able to beat out the old-school luxury of the Lincoln MKZ? For a newer brand, Genesis is already gaining traction with fans and reviewers alike.

KBB compares the Genesis G70 and Lincoln MKZ

Kelley Blue Book notes that while both the Genesis G70 and Lincoln MKZ land in the luxury category, the two brands approach it differently. The Genesis G70 comes in at a lower starting price of around $35,450, which is on the lower end for a luxury vehicle. The Lincoln MKZ costs slightly more, starting at almost $36,750.

For that money, the G70 offers an optional manual transmission on the base engine and strikes a good balance between comfort and performance. The handling is excellent, and the value for the money is undeniable.

Unfortunately, it got low marks when it came to space; rear-seat space is tight, the middle seat is undersized, and there’s a narrow trunk opening. There’s also no hybrid option, and the Genesis brand is still vastly unrecognized. 

The MKZ gets high marks for being smooth and silent, having a comfortable interior, having a hybrid model, and offering ample standard equipment.

But KBB felt that it wasn’t as precise or sporty as some competitors despite its being smooth. The materials quality is on the lower end, and rear headroom is tight. Maybe this is why the resale value lags behind competitors. 

Both offer standard advanced safety assists and have well-equipped interiors. Both cars also have available all-wheel drive. Despite these similarities, KBB was ale to determine a clear winner.

The MKZ can’t compete with the G70

KBB has not been shy about praising Genesis in the past. So it may not come as a surprise that they liked the G70 in this comparison.

While the Lincoln MKZ provides the expected comfort and convenience luxury car owners have come to expect, the G70 has the fresher styling, better handling, and one other thing going for it: it’s backed by a longer warranty with better resale potential. Genesis provides a 5-year, 60,000-mile basic warranty with a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

This, combined with its value — it is thousands cheaper than its competitors and is loaded with features — makes it the obvious choice for KBB. In fact, KBB feels that the Lincoln MKZ might be aging out of the market entirely, especially since Lincoln has dropped it from the lineup after this model year. 

Here’s where else the Genesis G70 stands out

The Genesis G70 knows that it has to come out swinging because it has to compete with the likes of other luxury sports sedans such as the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, and the Lincoln MKZ.

You can choose between a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine or a twin-turbo V6 and can even choose the manual option at the base trim level.

One of its most significant selling points is its dynamic handling. The G70 also offers available adaptive suspension, a Lexicon audio system, and a full line-up of safety and driver assistance features. Of course, all of this is highlighted by an incredibly sharp look, proving that style matters, too.