Next Level Performance
August 10, 2026 • 9 min read
Our Verdict
The Borla S-Type cat-back is the best first upgrade for the 2019-2021 Genesis G70 3.3T — it wakes up the twin-turbo V6’s exhaust note without drone and bolts on in under two hours.
The G70 3.3T makes 365 hp from the factory, and because it shares its platform and 3.3L twin-turbo engine with the Kia Stinger GT, it has a deep, proven catalog of bolt-ons. Our five picks below cover exhaust, intake, cooling, boost plumbing, and handling — the fastest path from a quick, quiet sedan to a genuinely quick one.
Shop Our Top Pick →The best Genesis G70 3.3T performance upgrades are the bolt-on exhaust, intake, intercooler, charge pipes, and sway bars that unlock the twin-turbo V6 already sitting in your engine bay. The first-generation G70 3.3T (2019-2021) left the factory with 365 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque, a Brembo brake package on Sport trims, and enough chassis balance to earn Motor Trend’s 2019 Car of the Year. It also shares the Hyundai-Kia N3 platform and the 3.3L Lambda II GDI V6 with the Kia Stinger GT, which means the aftermarket is far larger than the badge suggests. At our Tampa, FL shop we build these cars constantly, and below are the five upgrades that give a G70 3.3T the biggest gains for the money.
Why the Genesis G70 3.3T Is Such a Strong Tuning Platform
The Genesis G70 3.3T is easy to modify because its 3.3L twin-turbo V6 responds immediately to better airflow, cooling, and boost plumbing. From the factory the engine produces 365 hp at 6,000 rpm and 376 lb-ft from just 1,300 rpm, routed through an 8-speed automatic to the rear wheels (or all four with HTRAC AWD). A stock RWD Sport runs 0-60 mph in roughly 4.5 seconds — and it leaves real power on the table because of a small factory intercooler and restrictive plastic charge pipes.
The most important thing to understand as a G70 owner is the Kia Stinger connection. The G70 and Stinger GT are built on the same platform, use the same 3.3T engine, and share the same engine bay, so the overwhelming majority of “Stinger 3.3T” parts are a direct bolt-on to the G70 3.3T. Every product in this guide is listed with confirmed 2019-2021 Genesis G70 fitment, even when the box says Stinger. That shared catalog is why you can build a G70 with the same proven exhausts, intercoolers, and suspension the Stinger community has been testing for years.
The G70 3.3T shares its engine bay and exhaust layout with the Kia Stinger GT.
Best Genesis G70 3.3T Upgrades at a Glance
Here are the five bolt-on upgrades compared side by side. Prices reflect current NLP Performance pricing and update live; the exhaust is our top overall pick for the balance of sound, quality, and easy installation.
| Product | Category | Main Benefit | Install Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borla S-Type Cat-BackTop Pick | Exhaust | Aggressive tone, no drone | 1.5–2 hrs | $1,735.99 |
| Mishimoto Intercooler Kit | Cooling | Kills heat soak, steadier power | 3–4 hrs | $1,499.95 |
| Injen SP Short Ram Intake | Intake | More airflow & induction sound | 45–60 min | $819.26 |
| aFe BladeRunner Charge Pipes | Boost Plumbing | Ends OE plastic pipe failures | 2–3 hrs | $689.00 |
| Whiteline Sway Bar Kit | Suspension | Less body roll, sharper turn-in | 2–3 hrs | $608.56 |
1. Borla S-Type Cat-Back Exhaust — Best Overall
The Borla S-Type cat-back is the single best-value upgrade for the G70 3.3T because it transforms the exhaust note while adding zero drone at cruise. Borla builds this system from aircraft-grade T-304 stainless steel — the most corrosion-resistant grade in the industry — and backs it with the Borla Million-Mile Warranty, the strongest coverage any exhaust brand offers. The S-Type sound level sits in Borla’s aggressive-but-livable middle tier: deep and V6-rich under throttle, quiet enough for a daily commute.
Key Specifications
What We Like
- + Deep V6 tone with Borla’s patented no-drone technology
- + T-304 stainless resists rust far better than T-409
- + Direct bolt-on, reuses factory hangers, no cutting
Things to Consider
- – A cat-back alone adds sound and minimal power without a tune
- – Premium price versus entry-level axle-back options
2. Mishimoto Performance Intercooler — Best Cooling Upgrade
The Mishimoto Performance Intercooler is the most important power upgrade on this list because the G70 3.3T’s factory intercooler heat-soaks quickly under hard driving. Mishimoto’s direct-fit core is far larger and thicker than stock, using a bar-and-plate design that holds intake air temperatures down lap after lap and pull after pull. On a heat-soaked twin-turbo V6, lower intake temps mean the ECU stops pulling timing — so you keep the power you paid for instead of watching it fade after the first hard run.
The Mishimoto bar-and-plate core dwarfs the factory unit to fight heat soak.
Because it is a direct fit, the Mishimoto intercooler installs behind the factory bumper with no permanent modification, and it pairs perfectly with the aFe charge pipes below. If you plan to run an aggressive tune or spend time at track days in Florida heat, treat the intercooler as mandatory rather than optional. It also ships free, which softens the sting of the larger core.
3. Injen SP Short Ram Intake — Best Intake
The Injen SP short ram intake is the best breathing upgrade for a G70 3.3T on a budget, adding measurable airflow and a noticeable induction growl. Injen builds the SP Series from mandrel-bent 6061 aluminum and pairs it with a high-flow converging-cone filter, and its MR Technology tuning is engineered to smooth the airflow curve rather than just make noise. Twin-turbo engines love cold, unrestricted air, and the two-turbo 3.3L rewards an intake more than most naturally aspirated setups.
The Injen SP short ram uses mandrel-bent 6061 aluminum and MR Technology tuning.
One important note for California buyers: this Injen SP intake is not CARB-certified, so we cannot ship it to a California address, and it is intended for off-road or track use in emissions-controlled states. Everywhere else it is a straightforward 45-to-60-minute install with hand tools. Budget around $800 for it — a lot of induction sound and airflow for the money.
4. aFe BladeRunner Charge Pipe Kit — Best Boost Upgrade
The aFe BladeRunner charge pipe kit fixes a genuine weak point on the 3.3T: the failure-prone plastic factory charge pipes. aFe replaces both the hot-side and cold-side pipes with mandrel-bent aluminum that resists boost-pressure cracking and reduces turbulence between the turbos and the intercooler. Smoother, stronger pipes mean fewer pressure losses and no sudden boost leaks — a common and frustrating failure on tuned 3.3T cars still running OE plastic.
These pipes make the most sense alongside the Mishimoto intercooler and a tune, where boost pressure climbs and the plastic OE pipes are most likely to let go. Like the Injen intake, this aFe kit is not CARB-certified and cannot ship to California. Plan on a couple of hours to swap both pipes; it is one of the most reliability-focused upgrades you can make on a 3.3T that sees boost.
5. Whiteline Front & Rear Sway Bar Kit — Best Handling Upgrade
The Whiteline sway bar kit is the best handling upgrade for the G70 3.3T because it cuts body roll without ruining ride quality. The kit includes a heavy-duty 24mm front bar, an 18mm rear bar, and adjustable heavy-duty endlinks — both bars are two-point adjustable, so you can dial in more or less rotation to taste. On a 3,800-lb sport sedan, tightening up roll stiffness sharpens turn-in immediately and makes the chassis feel far more planted than the soft factory setup.
Whiteline’s two-point adjustable bars let you tune understeer and oversteer.
Sway bars are the smart first suspension move before you spend big on coilovers — they deliver the largest handling improvement per dollar and keep the factory ride comfort. Because the bars are adjustable, an AWD HTRAC G70 and a RWD car can each be tuned for their own balance. At around $600 with endlinks included, this Whiteline kit is the value pick of the whole guide.
More Genesis G70 3.3T Upgrades Worth Considering
Beyond the core five, a few more bolt-ons round out a well-sorted G70 3.3T. For braking, EBC’s GD Sport dimpled-and-slotted rotors are a direct upgrade for the 3.3T’s brakes and resist fade far better than smooth OE discs on repeated hard stops. For instant throttle response, an aFe Sprint Booster sharpens the drive-by-wire pedal mapping so the 8-speed feels more eager off the line. And once you have added the intake, intercooler, and charge pipes, a proper ECU tune is what ties it all together — a tuned 3.3T commonly picks up 60-plus horsepower over stock. Browse the full lineup of G70 and 3.3T parts in our exhaust collection, intercooler collection, and suspension collection.
How to Stage Your Genesis G70 3.3T Build
The smartest way to build a G70 3.3T is to add airflow and cooling before you chase big boost numbers. Stage one is the bolt-ons that are safe on the stock tune — the Borla exhaust, Injen intake, and Whiteline sway bars — which sharpen sound, breathing, and handling without stressing the engine. Stage two adds the Mishimoto intercooler and aFe charge pipes to support more boost and hold intake temperatures down. Stage three is a custom ECU tune, which is where the 3.3T finally delivers its biggest horsepower and torque gains now that the supporting hardware can keep up.
Everything in this guide is in stock and ships from NLP Performance, and our team in Tampa, FL can answer fitment questions for both RWD and AWD HTRAC G70s. Because these parts share the Kia Stinger 3.3T platform, you also get the benefit of years of community testing — proven combinations, not guesswork.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best first mods for a Genesis G70 3.3T?
The best first mods for a Genesis G70 3.3T are a cat-back exhaust, a cold-air or short-ram intake, and sway bars. These bolt-ons are safe on the factory tune, improve sound, airflow, and handling immediately, and cost roughly $600 to $1,900 each. Add an upgraded intercooler and charge pipes next if you plan to run a performance tune.
Do Kia Stinger parts fit the Genesis G70 3.3T?
Yes. The Genesis G70 3.3T and Kia Stinger GT are built on the same Hyundai-Kia N3 platform and share the 3.3L twin-turbo Lambda II V6 and engine bay, so the vast majority of Stinger 3.3T parts bolt directly onto the G70 3.3T. Every product in this guide is listed with confirmed 2019-2021 Genesis G70 fitment even when the box is labeled Stinger.
How much horsepower can you add to a Genesis G70 3.3T?
A Genesis G70 3.3T makes 365 hp and 376 lb-ft from the factory. Bolt-on breathing and cooling parts add modest gains on their own, but paired with a custom ECU tune a 3.3T commonly gains 60 or more horsepower, and built cars on higher boost can exceed 450 wheel horsepower. An upgraded intercooler and charge pipes are important supporting mods for reliable power.
Does a cat-back exhaust add horsepower on the G70 3.3T?
A cat-back exhaust adds mostly sound and only a small amount of horsepower by itself on the G70 3.3T, because the factory catalytic converters and turbos remain in place. Its real value is a deeper, more aggressive exhaust note and reduced weight. The Borla S-Type uses no-drone technology so the car stays comfortable at highway speed.
Are Genesis G70 intakes and charge pipes legal in California?
Many popular G70 3.3T intakes and charge pipes, including the Injen SP short-ram intake and the aFe BladeRunner charge pipes featured here, are not CARB-certified and cannot be shipped to California addresses. They are intended for off-road or track use. Emissions-legal options vary by part, so always confirm CARB status for your state before ordering.
Is the Genesis G70 3.3T a good tuning platform?
Yes, the Genesis G70 3.3T is one of the best-value tuning platforms in the sport-sedan class. Its 365-hp twin-turbo V6, rear- or all-wheel drive, and Brembo-braked Sport trim give it a strong foundation, and sharing the Kia Stinger 3.3T parts catalog means a large, proven aftermarket. It responds well to intake, cooling, boost, and tune upgrades.
Ready to Upgrade Your Genesis G70 3.3T?
Shop the exhausts, intercoolers, intakes, and suspension in this guide — plus thousands more performance parts at NLP Performance.
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