Genesis G70 Shooting Brake
Genesis announced last year that it would no longer be a stand alone brand in the UK from 2024 onwards. If you don’t remember reading this news or if now you’ve heard it it doesn’t have a massive bearing on your life, you’re probably not alone. Every time I’m asked about a Genesis I’m driving I have to explain what it is and usually I find what’s simplest is to draw a comparison between Genesis and Lexus (with regards to their relationships to Hyundai and Toyota respectively), so Genesis merging with parent company Hyundai probably makes sense for all involved.
Prettiest South Korean car?
But, that’s not to say there’s anything wrong with Genesis’ products, far from it in fact. Based on appearances alone, there’s definitely nothing wrong with this; the Genesis G70 Shooting Brake. Everyone loves a shooting brake, they’re just cool. And even if this G70 SB doesn’t exactly meet the criteria due to having five doors, not three, it looks so much prettier than the G70 saloon it’s based on. It’s undoubtedly the most appealing car Genesis make. I appreciate there’s not that much competition but I’d go as far as to say the best looking car to come out of South Korea. Sure, the Ioniq 5 comes close, but this edges it for me.
Speccing your G70 Shooting Brake probably wouldn’t take up much of your day. There’s one trim level; Sport and one engine since the 2.2 litre diesel was removed; a 2.0l turbo 4-cylinder petrol producing 242bhp & 353Nm torque. So that really leaves you with which colour you’d like and which of Genesis’ impressive array of options.
Impressive inside
Inside it’ll probably come as no surprise that the G70 Shooting Brake is exactly the same as the G70 Saloon it’s based on. That means a good blend of screens and good ol’ fashioned buttons, dials and switches. The quality of materials used and general feel in the whole cabin is of a very high standard, that’s without question, but just as a Lexus isn’t a Mercedes, a Genesis isn’t quite a BMW, if you know what I mean?
Added practicality
That hatchback 5th door takes the G70 Shooting Brake into a different level of practicality over the saloon, especially when the 2nd row of seats are lain flat via some very handy levers in the boot. Those lovely sweeping lines we mentioned do eat into your ability to carry around large, awkward items, though, as does the relatively shallow boot floor. In total you get 403 litres of carrying capacity with the 2nd row of seats in place, 1,535 litres with them flat.
The G70 Shooting Brake is a Europe-only car which is a nice touch, but that puts it directly in the firing line of the likes of BMW’s 3 Touring and Mercedes’ C-Class Estate. All three are RWD, all three offer a premium feel and all three are handy for carrying big stuff around.
Not quite up there
Where the G70 SB falls down slightly against these particular German rivals, though, is in terms of sheer driving dynamics. It may be RWD but there’s RWD & RWD, and this G70 SB just can’t compete with its rivals if you’re looking for crisp turn-ins and rewarding feedback. What it does do well, however is comfort. The seats and ride setup are both well suited to a long journey so maybe to compare the G70 SB to the likes of an Audi Avant or Volvo estate which are making a comeback would be a more fair comparison.
Only one engine will ultimately let it down
One aspect of the G70 Shooting Brake that really suffers next to any competition is that lack of engine choice we mentioned. When it was released there were two petrol engines and a more frugal diesel you could pick from, now it’s down to the more powerful petrol of the two, and that’s it. In a world of petrol, diesel, PHEV, EV, self-charging hybrids and mild hybrids, one purely petrol engine that returns around 33mpg at best whilst emitting circa 200g/km CO2 just doesn’t cut it I’m afraid.
Should I buy a Genesis G70 Shooting Brake?
The Genesis G70 Shooting Brake is a looker, no two ways about it and it’s a very pleasant place to spend a few hours in. The added practicality over the saloon does open it up to some new buyers but that choice of one dated petrol engine will probably exclude it from many people’s shortlist.
By Ben Harrington
2024 Genesis G70 Shooting Brake Specifications:
Engine – 2.0-l 4-cyl petrol, Transmission – 8 speed auto, Layout – Front engine, RWD, Power – 242bhp,Torque – 353Nm Emissions – 199g/km CO2, Economy – 32.5mpg, Maximum Speed – 146mph, Acceleration – 6.4s – 0-62mph, Price – £42,995OTR
The 2024 Genesis G70 Shooting Brake is available now, priced from £42,995. For full details go to:www.genesis.com/uk
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