The South Korean luxury car manufacturer Genesis has garnered significant attention over the past 12 months, and for good reason. Its philosophy of producing beautiful, user-orientated cars has enabled it to build a large global fan base, and you need to look no further than the G70 Shooting Brake to see why.
The G70 Shooting Brake is an exhilarating drive, and I love that it is a conventional petrol-powered car. Genesis is leading the charge into electric-powered vehicles, pushing technology and design to create safe, green, clean models and phase out ICE power by 2025. Before then, they will produce the G70 SB in petrol and diesel versions, which is still a significant draw for many drivers.
The name Shooting Brake comes from horse-drawn carriages with an extension to the back for gundogs and handlers with their Master’s guns to ride along to the shoot location.
Famously, David Brown of Aston Martin wanted a DB5 model that would accommodate his gundogs and guns, so he designed an extended version of the iconic DB5, which he called a Shooting Brake. The name stuck to any saloon vehicle augmented at the rear, yet maintaining a sporty silhouette.
The G70 Shooting Brake’s footprint is identical to that of the G70 Saloon in length, width, wheelbase, and height. The SB version has different rear doors, rear quarter panels, and a sloping roofline with a spoiler extending over a steeply raked backlight, giving it a more dramatic appearance than the saloon. It is a good-looking car with sports styling and practicality.
You will find the G70 Shooting Brake gives you versatility, being able to carry five people and plenty of luggage. You can drop the rear seats to get 54.2 cubic feet of space if you need to carry larger loads. The rear seats can be split individually or all three together.
The Genesis G70 Shooting Brake provides a good driving position and plenty of adjustment for the electric front seats. They have lumbar adjustments to keep you comfortable on all journeys, and the Comfort Seat Pack can be added, which adjusts the side bolsters, thigh support and steering wheel electrically.
You are low down in the car but can still see ahead and to the sides well. Blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera augment your eyes. The Innovation Pack adds a camera display in the driver’s instrument cluster, which shows what’s alongside when you indicate.
The instruments combine analogue dials and an 8.0-inch screen unless you purchase the Innovation Pack. You then get full digital instruments with a 3D effect to layer information. The pack gives you an impressive head-up display that projects speed, sat-nav directions and other information onto the windscreen. The dashboard is logically laid out and has many physical controls that are quick, simple to use, and less distracting.
The 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine in the Genesis G70 Shooting Brake can produce 194bhp or 241bhp, depending on your version. There’s also a 197bhp 2.2-litre diesel. Each has four cylinders and feeds power to the back wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
The eight-speed Auto gearbox shifts smoothly and doesn’t falter when pulling out of junctions. Linked with the engine, you get a sound powertrain which can whisk you along the motorways, and it is just as comfortable travelling at low speeds through towns and villages.
The G70 Shooting Brake has a selection of driving Modes from Economy to Sport+, and they adjust suspension and engine management to suit your driving. Sport mode firms up the suspension slightly to keep the body lean, controlled in bends and a bit of firmness to the steering.
In Sport+ Mode, Traction Control is turned off, so you get the untamed power from the 2-litre engine with all the horsepower going to the rear wheels, providing exciting driving.
The car has plenty of equipment as standard, with even the entry-level trim having automatically dipping LED headlights and dual-zone climate control. Upgrade to Luxury Line adds the Convenience Pack with heated front seats and steering wheel, 18-inch alloy wheels, and access to the more powerful petrol engine.
The Sport Line trim adds heated Nappa leather sports seats, 19-inch alloy wheels and performance Brembo brakes.
The Genesis G70 Shooting Brake is practical, powerful and pretty. If you are looking for a different style of car that does all the basics well and feels luxurious, this is worth a test drive. I was impressed with it, as were many people who asked me what the car was.
Genesis G70 Shooting Brake- Where and How?
- The range starts at £39,000.
- Genesis provides a superb five-year care plan at no extra cost.
- Includes all services required by the manufacturer as detailed in the individual vehicle’s service plan.
- Engine oil and oil filter replacement
- Fuel filter replacement (Diesel only)
- Air filter replacement
- Brake fluid replacement
- Cabin air filter replacement
- E-Call battery replacement
- Wiper blade replacement (twice)
- Regular checks on all fluid levels and visual inspection of safety-relevant items
To find out more about the G70 Shooting Brake or any other Genesis model, please visit www.genesis.com.
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