Genesis G70 Shooting Brake review

Well, let’s not beat around the bush – dynamic driving isn’t the G70 Shooting Brake’s strong suit. It just isn’t. It might be rear-wheel drive, but put it up against any combination of BMW, Audi or Mercedes and it lacks the finesse, turn-in precision, driving feel and ultimate quality that set those cars apart. 

What about refinement?

It is a comfortable car (and the optional electric seats are nicely adjustable, helping you get bedded in for a long journey), useful at a cruise, and Genesis has clearly done a decent amount of work on noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). Unfortunately it has immediately cancelled out that good work by piping in fake engine noise and tightening up the dampers when you hike through the driving modes. Does a small four-pot estate really need a Sport mode AND a Sport+ mode that switches off the traction control?

Can it go round corners?

If we’re talking literally then you’ll be pleased to hear that yes it can. Although another criticism is that the steering has been set to react overly quickly as you turn – twirl the wheel around town and the front tyres can be left scrabbling, but then the wheel is often too keen to re-centre itself. The combination of eight-speed auto and comfort suspension should leave you with a nice lazy car, but Genesis has tried to engineer in a Jekyll and Hyde quality that leaves you vaguely unsatisfied in both Comfort and Sport modes. Frustrating.

The G70 Shooting Brake rather leaves you wanting Genesis to point the car in one direction or the other – the car is essentially a rebodied version of the Kia Stinger, which is only sold in the UK with a 3.3-litre V6. That Genesis has passed that engine by shows what direction it thinks it’s heading in.

You mentioned engines?

Ah yes, it's a shame that Stinger V6 and some extra sportiness was overlooked, particularly given the chassis setup. The turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine can be had with either 194bhp or a more convincing 241bhp. We’ve only driven the latter so far and although it’s plenty quick enough (0-62mph in 6.4 seconds compared to the former’s 9.3 seconds) it often feels slightly strained and is remarkably grumbly on startup. Doesn’t exactly bode well for the 197bhp 2.2-litre turbodiesel, does it?