TRADITIONAL three-box saloons are becoming something or a rarity these days, rather swamped by the flood of SUVs.

None more so than the elegantly styled Genesis G70, a smart four-door produced by the posh arm of Hyundai and Kia.

Offering luxury and reasonable economy at a non-premium price, the new marque - introduced into the UK only a couple of years ago - is making its presence felt.

The four cylinder 2.2-litre diesel engine version, driven here, has ample urge and purrs away quietly, almost as silently as a six-pot.

Matched to an eight speed automatic complete with steering wheel paddles, the G70 is an easy and relaxing car to live with. Very little wind noise, tyre rumble or mechanical intrusion unless revved hard.

Acceleration is about par with the opposition with a sub-eight second sprint to 62mph. More significantly, there's plenty of torque so the gears aren't swapping cogs too frequently

Handling and its reaction to directional changes are pretty athletic with well contained body roll and steering that's a touch sharper than most mid-sized saloons. Considerable amount of development work took place in Europe to refine handling to suit our tastes which has clearly benefited composure and finesse.

Though considerably more frugal than the petrol version, most drivers will struggle to top the 40mpg Our test average was 38.5mpg.

It's no lightweight at almost two tonnes, but the stiff platform and well tuned suspension defy the physics to offer a firm but assured ride over most surfaces.

The cabin is a pleasant place to be and certainly reflects Genesis's desire to be considered a premium product - no brittle plastic or rough edges. The fascia is effectively grouped within a large, sweeping oval while the central transmission tunnel is home for the rotary gear selector knob and another round control that operates the large touch screen.

Among the standard equipment in the Sport model reviewed here, are electrically adjustable front seats, leather upholstery and rear view camera. An appealing safety feature is the blind-spot camera which links with the fascia dial display when you switch on an indicator.

It all works rather well and is a welcome change from the regular design favoured by premium German competitors.

There's plenty of room up front both between passenger and driver and more than enough legroom to stretch out. Rear seat passengers are less favoured when it comes to legroom if those in the front choose to extend their seats right back. Headroom, however, isn't an issue.

The boot with a capacity of 330litres will be big enough for most holiday trips although it doesn't quite measure up to the dimensions of rivals such as the Audi A4 or BMW 3-Series.