Forget the German brands. Genesis has just obliterated them! The Genesis G70 Shooting Brake is fierce new competition for German brands like Audi and BMW. But is it good enough to make you ditch the badge snobbery?
Who is Genesis?
Genesis is a South Korean brand, the luxury division of the Hyundai motor group. Genesis cars share a lot of parts with their Kia/Hyundai cousins, but they come with more luxury features.
Reliability and excellent value for money separate Genesis cars from their German rivals.
You might think this G70 looks familiar. Well, you’re right. Top designers from brands like Bentley and Lamborghini teamed up to create the ultimate luxury vehicle. As a result, Genesis was born.
If you look closely, you may notice some styling similarities.
The side vents resemble the B shape from Bentleys, while the climate controls inside are very similar to those in an Audi R8.
Nonetheless, lots of people stare at this car. It looks like nothing else on the road. You won’t believe how many people questioned it.
What is a shooting brake?
Before we begin, I have a confession to make. I’m not a fan of estate cars. However, a shooting brake is not the same as an estate.
The name shooting brake originated in the 1890s. It was the name given to certain horse-drawn carriages designed to transport shooting parties.
In a modern automotive sense, it refers to the sweeping roofline, which sets it apart from a plain station wagon.
The Havana red paint against the contrasting black grill and vents helps make this look very sporty.
The G70 shooting brake has plenty of boot space, as you’d expect from an estate-style car.
There’s 465L of space behind the rear seats. Folding them down increases the boot space to 1535L.
But the Genesis G70 is also available as a saloon. So if you don’t like estates, you can still get a G70.
Genesis G70 Shooting Brake Trim levels
The G70 shooting brake is available in three trim levels. The entry-level is a premium model, then you have a luxury and the sport model tops off the range.
Premium
The Genesis G70 Premium starts at around £35,325, but you get lots of tech as standard for that:
- Dual LED front lights with high beam assist
- Heated folding mirrors
- A rear camera
- Rear parking sensors
- Electric tailgate
- Puddle lights
- Soft-touch materials inside
- 10.25-inch touchscreen with Sat Nav
- Electric front seats
All features that you would need to pay extra for from other brands.
Luxury
A step up from the Premium is the luxury model. This is available from £40,300 and adds leather seat covers, a heated steering wheel, heated front seats and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Sport
For around £1,200 more, you can upgrade from luxury to the range-topping Sport. That little bit extra will get you a much sportier appearance.
You get Brembo brake pads, 19-inch alloy wheels, metallic pedals, and a limited-slip differential.
Basically, a lot of performance parts and styling.
There are additional packs you can purchase too. The car I tested had the Innovation pack and the comfort pack.
The Innovation pack includes a bigger 3D digital dash, head-up display, blind spot monitor, 360 view camera, front parking sensors, and wireless phone charger.
The comfort pack provides ventilated front memory seats, heated rear seats and clever air cushions built into the driver seat. These inflate or deflate depending on drive mode and speed.
I know I said you don’t need to sell a kidney to get the top-of-the-range G70, then said it’s 41 grand for a Sport model.
It is a lot of money, but if you look at the equivalent BMW 3 Series Touring, it will be over £50,000 to match the same spec on the Genesis.
Plus, the BMW will cost you more to maintain because of the badge. So, comparing Genesis to its rivals, the ownership costs will be much less.
G70 Drive and Performance
In terms of engines in the G70, there are two petrol engines and a diesel. There’s no electrified G70, but there might be in the future.
If you’re looking for an electric Genesis, take a look at my Genesis GV60 review.
You’re also limited to an 8-speed, semi-automatic, and all are rear-wheel-drive. I’m not moaning about that too much because the gearbox is fantastic.
The diesel (as tested) is a 2.2 litre with 197bhp that can accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds, and Genesis claims around 42mpg (combined) from it.
I did achieve that on a long drive, but it was much lower when driving locally. That is understandable since diesel engines prefer longer commutes.
Both petrol engines are two-litre turbos, though one is a turbo plus. The standard turbo is still 194bhp – more than enough power for daily use.
The turbo plus is tuned to 241bhp and can do 0-62mph in 6.4 seconds, but it is only available on Luxury and Sport trims.
Genesis says both petrol engines will get between 31-33mpg (combined).
In my opinion, I don’t think the diesel needs the limited-slip differential or the Brembo brakes. It’s only 197bhp.
It’s a heavy car, so maybe the stopping power from the Brembos is required, but it’s hardly a performance car.
If you were getting the Petrol plus engine, then definitely buy the Sport for the performance setup.
The Genesis Difference
Moving on, one of my favourite features of the Genesis brand is what they call the Genesis difference.
This is their customer care experience. Believe me, it really is different from the rest.
From the moment you enquire on their website and throughout ownership, you have your own personal assistant from Genesis to help you every step of the way.
Your PA will arrange your test drive and organise the collection and drop off of your car and a courtesy car when it needs a service. They will be on hand for anything else you might need.
Genesis 5-year care plan
There’s a 5-year care plan included in the price of the car too. This means you get 5 years of servicing, a 5-year warranty, 5 years of roadside assistance, five years of courtesy cars and 5 years of over-the-air updates for your sat nav.
Imagine how much Mercedes or Audi would charge you for that!
The best thing about the price is that it’s transparent, meaning everyone pays the same price. There are a few benefits to this – it makes the job easier for Genesis because there’s no haggling.
It also gives you confidence that your copycat neighbour down the road paid the same price as you (don’t let them fool you!).
I think transparency is the way forward. It should be the standard for all manufacturers. Do you like the idea, or do you enjoy the haggle? Let me know in the comments!
Final Thoughts on the Genesis G70
The Genesis G70 Shooting Brake is a fantastic alternative if you want elegant styling and luxury tech without ridiculous price tags.
This Korean alternative is comfortable and refined and should be very reliable, given its Hyundai roots.
Also, I think the Genesis Difference is something other brands should learn from. It’s refreshing that they want to treat their customers more like family than customers.
I genuinely think Genesis is just as good, if not better, than the mainstream German brands they’re up against.
But has Genesis done enough to convince us to give up the badge snobbery and move away from overpriced German brands?
Let me know what you think in the comments.
FAQ's about the Genesis G70
Yes. Genesis is in the luxury car segment, competing with brands such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes.
Production of all Genesis cars takes place in Ulsan, South Korea. They come from the same plant as Kia and Hyundai cars.
The G70 is built on the same platform as the Kia Stinger and shares parts with Kia/Hyundai cars. These cars are known to be reliable and cheap to maintain. I imagine the G70 will be just as reliable.
The G70 is reliable, comfortable and packed with tech. Compared to its German rivals, the G70 offers excellent value for money.