IT'S always nice to drive something out of the ordinary, something unfamiliar that people stop and look at, wondering what make it is.

A week behind the wheel of a Genesis G70 saloon has seen me enlighten numerous people about the origin, virtues and qualities of an upmarket brand still unfamiliar to many in the UK.

The company is well established in the USA however, selling more than 56,000 models there in 2022, up more than 13 per cent on the previous year.

Having only arrived in Britain in 2021 Genesis is still fighting for more public awareness but slowly winning the battle as more and more of its cars appear on our streets and appeal to buyers who want something a bit special.

The G70 luxury five-seater, four-door saloon - along with its estate-car counterpart - is the smallest model in the line-up but has the same premium build quality of its larger siblings.

It's a slim, sleek, classy looking car which turns heads and gets people looking at the badge on the rear to find out what it is.

And I lost count of the number of people who asked me if it was an Aston Martin because of the not- dissimilar front end and the bonnet badge.

But if you're battling for a place in the premium sector of the car market Genesis could do worse than having its cars mistaken for one of James Bond's finest.

And with the stunning bright red quilted leather upholstery and matching red leather on the doors and dashboard of the car I drove - part of a £2,470 Nappa Leather seat pack - I'm sure 007 would be both shaken and stirred by the quality.

But while he would undoubtedly have chosen the petrol version I opted to drive the beefy, 2.2-litre diesel, which boasts a top speed of 143 miles per hour and reaches 62 mph in a rapid 7.4 seconds via a seamless, very responsive eight-speed automatic gearbox.

And if you want to liven things up a little there are paddles behind the steering wheel for manual driving as well as four driving modes including Sport and Sport+.

Switch to either of the latter and not only does it tighten up the steering and damper response but it also tightens up the side bolsters on the driver's seat to hold you firmly in place for sportier motoring.

From behind the wheel the G70 is a class act, with an impressive layout of brushed metal against red leather.

There's a central 14.5-inch touch screen for some on-board functions and the satellite navigation system but unlike a lot of manufacturers who are tending to put everything on screen Genesis retains a number of beautifully knurled switches and dials and is all the better for it.

Everything about this car feels solid and well put together. Even the doors close easily but with a feeling of solidity.

And there's a long list of creature comforts to satisfy the most demanding drivers including a head-up display, 12-way electrically adjustable heated and cooled seats, a powered boot lid and a heated steering wheel which lifts automatically to allow easy entry and exit.

A reversing camera with a 360 degree view around the car makes parking easy while a second view down the side of the car ensures you don't kerb your expensive alloy wheels.

On the road the G70 is quiet - for a diesel - and refined and offers plenty of torque for easy, relaxed motoring.

Drop a couple of gears with the paddles and the response from the 2.2-litre engine is instant and satisfying. And despite its large dimensions the G70 is highly manoeuvrable and easy to handle.

Those large dimensions mean plenty of elbow room in the front and rear although leg room in the back is not the best, particularly for anyone over 6ft tall.