Genesis has arrived in Germany. In the luggage: the G70 Shooting Brake specially developed for Europe. After Hyundai’s luxury brand only recently started in Europe, the Koreans are now showing the station wagon version of the G70. The G70 Shooting Brake was specially developed for the European market and jumps into the pool with the BMW 3 Series Touring, Audi A4 Avant, and Mercedes C-Class T-Model. Here, however, the chic Korean swims against the current: Instead of maximum everyday use, the focus is on lifestyle and sportiness. At the end of 2021, the G70 Shooting Brake will be on the market for around 40,000 euros.
The Shooting Brake is based on the G70 sedan. It has been on the market since 2017 and received a comprehensive facelift in 2020. This means that the Shooting Brake is in principle a bit old, which you can see – at least externally – but by no means. With the revision, the G70 got the Genesis-typical double-decker lights in LED technology. The rest of the front is shaped by the large crest grille, the shape of which is intended to be reminiscent of the brand logo. Further air inlets in the lower and side part of the apron make the G70 look quite sporty. The Genesis logo is emblazoned above the grille, as is the case with Bentley reminiscent of the ventilation slots behind the front wheel arches. Whether this is a coincidence remains uncommented at this point.
Dimensions:
● Length: 4685 mm
● Width: 1850 mm
● Height: 1400 mm
● Wheelbase: 2835 mm
● Luggage compartment volume: 465 to 1535 liters
The trunk of the sports suit is only moderately practical
The chocolate side of the G70 Shooting Brake is the rear. Double-deck lights, the large roof spoiler, and the rounded apron give the station wagon coupé an elegant and sporty look. A nice detail is the rounded rear window that seems to stretch up to the roof. It is divided into a main and a small partial pane under the rear spoiler.
However, the sporty body shape has an impact on the utility value. First, the cutout of the trunk lid is quite narrow, which makes it difficult to load large items. Second, the loading capacity of 465 liters is unlikely to be usable due to the sloping roofline. There is no double loading floor; this space is taken up by the spare wheel. The rear seats can be folded down at a ratio of 40:20:40, which increases the storage space to 1535 liters.
Somewhat dusty, but classy interior
In the cockpit, you can tell the age of the G70. It is similar to the platform brother Kia Stinger and looks – especially in comparison with the much more modern SUV Genesis GV70 – slightly outdated. Instead of the small touch screen for climate control, there are classic buttons, and instead of the rotary knob for gear selection, a somewhat clunky lever is used. But the basic equipment is right. The 3D cockpit, online infotainment with smartphone connection, 360-degree camera, and countless driver assistants such as “Highway Assist” or the navigation-based cruise control is on board as standard.
Even if it may seem slightly aged; The bottom line is that the cockpit is quite coherent. The driver-oriented center console makes you feel involved in the action. What is striking is the high-quality choice of leather and aluminum. One of the other plastic parts of the pre-series vehicle will also be optimized up to series production. Fine details such as the aluminum parts on the pitman’s arm, the corrugated metal surfaces, and the (optional) two-tone leather create a dignified ambiance.
Little headroom in the rear of the G70 Shooting Brake
In the rear, too, the Genesis G70 Shooting Brake focuses more on style than on utility. The legroom fits, but adults quickly hit the headliner with their heads. After all: Here too, the workmanship and ambiance are right. Even the rear door sills bear the Genesis lettering, and hidden plastic parts are also kept in the chosen leather color instead of black. This is called attention to detail.
Only a small selection of the motors
When it comes to the drives, Genesis is not quite as generous. The G70 is based on the rear-wheel-drive platform that the Kia Stinger also uses; its 3.3-liter V6 with 370 hp does not make it into the Shooting Brake, which is likely to be due to strict emission standards. Instead, customers have the choice between a 2.2-liter four-cylinder diesel with 200 hp and 440 Nm torque and a two-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with 245 hp and a torque of 353 Nm.
Both engines are always coupled to an eight-speed automatic, all-wheel drive is optional. Genesis should save plug-in hybrids or an electric version for a possible successor.
Genesis G70 Shooting Brake starts at the end of 2021 at a good 40,000 euros
The market launch for the Genesis G70 Shooting Brake is at the end of 2021, the sedan and the SUV GV70 will arrive a little earlier. The Koreans have not yet announced prices. AUTO BILD assumes that the entry-level “Premium” version of the Shooting Brake will cost a little over 40,000 euros. Above that rank “Sport” and “Luxury”, which should be around 45,000 and 50,000 euros, respectively. Not insignificant to mention is the “five-year plan” from Genesis: All customers receive a five-year guarantee, service, map updates, and a worldwide breakdown service including an exchange vehicle from the date of purchase.
The Genesis G70 Shooting Brake is an extremely stylish almost combo. It is probably not a real competitor to BMW 3 Series Touring and Co – at least from a practical point of view. But he doesn’t want to be either. He prefers to play the lifestyle card with the extrabotic everyday use compared to the limousine and, like all Genesis, wants to score with comprehensive service. It remains to be seen whether this is the right recipe for a successful market entry in Europe. We are looking forward to the first test!
