2024 Genesis G70 Shooting Brake Review

South Korean luxury brand Genesis recently updated its G70 medium-sized sedan and wagon range for the 2024 model year in the hopes of gaining more sales in – the admittedly shrinking – premium mid-size segment. We tested the sedan variant recently and came across impressed at how the subtle updates had managed to create a more premium version of the G70 sedan, but how about the wagon? Is the G70 wagon also improved? We tested the 2024 Genesis G70 Shooting Brake to find out.

A bit slinkier and less practical than its proper wagon rivals, the G70 Shooting Brake provides a sexy take on what a modern day station wagon should be. Its links to the G70 sedan are clear to see, but with a sloping roofline and handsome dual tailight set up distinguishing it from its sedan sibling nicely. As part of the update, new 19-inch wheels have been fitted and they fill the G70’s guards nicer than before.

How much does the 2024 Genesis G70 Shooting Brake cost to buy?

For the 2024 model year Genesis cut the G70 range right down to just two models: the four-cylinder turbocharged G70 Shooting Brake tested here and then the twin-turbo V6 sedan that sits above. The Shooting Brake is priced from $81,000 plus on-road costs – $7,000 less than the sedan.

G70 Shooting Brake standard equipment:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Limited-slip differential
• Brembo brake callipers
• All-LED dusk-sensing automatic exterior lighting
• Rain-sensing automatic wipers
• Nappa leather upholstery
• 16-way power adjustable driver’s seat with memory functionality
• 12-way power adjustable passenger seat
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Rear heated seats
• Heated leather steering wheel
• Power-adjustable steering column
• 10.25-inch touchscreen with over-the-air updates
• Genesis Connected Services, including automatic SOS calling, live traffic for the navigation system, weather integration, vehicle diagnostics and access to the Genesis smartphone app for features like vehicle location, climate pre-conditioning and remote start
• Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Satellite navigation
• 12.3-inch digital driver’s display with 3D effect
• Head-up display
• AM/FM/DAB+ digital radio
• Keyless entry and push button start with remote start and remote smart parking
• Heated, auto-folding and auto-dimming side mirrors
• Sunroof
• 660W 15-speaker Lexicon sound system
• 3x USB charging ports
• Wireless phone charger
• Auto-dimming rear view mirror
• Dual-zone climate control with a 6.0-inch touchscreen and rear vents
• Acoustic laminated glass
• Roadside assistance kit with a warning triangle and a first aid kit
• Alarm

G70 Shooting Brake standard safety equipment:

• Matrix adaptive high beam
• 10 airbags (including new front centre and rear side units)
• Auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian, cyclist and intersection support
• Lane keep assist with lane trace assist
• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
• Blind-spot camera feed
• Rear low speed auto emergency braking
• Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality
• 360-degree surround view camera
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Safe exit warning
• Driver attention monitoring
• Multi-collision braking
• Rear occupant alert

The Genesis G70 range received a five-star ANCAP rating in 2018, which expired in December 2023. Since then, the G70 has been upgraded with new safety features – like a front centre airbag – that we think would keep it at a five-star rating.

G70 Shooting Brake colour range (all no-cost except for the $2,000 matte options):

• Vik Black
• Capri Blue
• Tasman Blue
• Hallasan Green
• Makalu Grey
• Vatna Grey
• Cavendish Red
• Savile Silver
• Uyuni White
• Kawah Blue
• Makalu Grey Matte (fitted to our test car)
• Bond Silver Matte
• Verbier White Matte

G70 Shooting Brake interior colour options (all no cost extra):

• Sport black
• Sevilla red
• Fog grey

While there are a few wagon options to consider like the Audi A4 Avant, Volvo V60 Cross Country and Skoda Superb, we consider the BMW 330i Touring ($92,900 +ORC for the MY25 update due in Australia later in 2024) to be the G70 Shooting Brake’s main rival in Australia. It’s here that the Genesis’ value is clear to see: the G70 asks $12,000 less before on-road costs, yet includes more standard equipment than the BMW. Buyers of the 330i Touring must option the $4,500 Enhancement Package to gain features standard on the G70, including a premium sound system and Matrix headlights, making the price difference even greater.

How powerful is the 2024 Genesis G70 Shooting Brake?

Under the bonnet of the 2024 Genesis G70 Sedan is a 179kW/353Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine which was also shared with outgoing Kia Stinger. Pleasing car enthusiasts is its rear-wheel drive layout and the G70 range is mated to an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission. The G70 2.0T’s claimed 0-100km/h sprint time is just 6.4-seconds and its top speed is 235km/h – there’s no V6-powered G70 Shooting Brake sold globally and that’s sad because the 2.0-litre drivetrain tested here is fine, but it doesn’t gift the G70 with anywhere near the power it deserves.

Sure, the engine offers a reasonable amount of low-end grunt and makes a good noise, but thanks to the G70’s porky 1,660kg tare mass, its performance is blunted. The G70’s transmission is pretty good – its shifts are smooth and can barely be felt in the cabin. The G70 Shooting Brake’s claimed average fuel consumption is 9.1L/100km and its claimed CO2 emissions are 211g/km, both of which aren’t great, but in our week with the G70 Shooting Brake, we achieved a poor 12.4L/100km figure. The G70 requires 95RON fuel and has a 60-litre fuel tank.

What is the 2024 Genesis G70 Shooting Brake like to drive?

Riding on 19-inch wheels, the 2024 Genesis G70 Shooting Brake’s ride is superb. We think it’s a great mix of comfort and sport – it’s not too floaty to make you sick but not too firm to be uncomfortable on longer journeys. Unlike the sedan, the Shooting Brake doesn’t feature adaptive dampers but regardless, it’s still quite comfortable and a keen handler. Put the G70 into sport or sport+ mode and the suspension firms up as well as the steering, which makes the G70 handle very well. It feels so planted and solid when cornering hard and gives you the confidence to push it.

One aspect of the driving experience that we didn’t love is when the traction control is turned on and the car detects the wheels slip, the traction control cuts quite a lot of power, which we found frustrating. The annoying active speed limit audio warnings are now quieter and less annoying than in other Hyundai/Kia products, though they’re still annoying because they’re not accurate. The driver attention alert is also annoying, and dings at you when you even look at the central touchscreen. It also takes a while to access the menu to deactivate it, and you have to do this every time you get in the car.

How practical is the 2024 Genesis G70 Shooting Brake?

Even though it’s not the newest or most impressive cabin in the segment, stepping into the 2024 Genesis G70 Shooting Brake makes you feel special. Thanks to the quality materials throughout and stylish layout, the cabin looks pretty good. We like the special touches like the metal ends on the new indicator stalks and the leather centre console next to the shifter – though the plasticky door handles could be nicer. Thankfully, Genesis has updated the G70’s interior with indicator and wiper stalks from other models in the range and they’re more special to use than the previous Hyundai-derived units.

Storage throughout the G70’s interior is reasonable for a premium mid-sized wagon. There is a shallow centre console bin underneath the central armrest with a USB outlet, two cup holders, a wireless smartphone charger, reasonable door bins, a big glove box and glasses storage next to the sunroof controls. The seats are also worth noting too as there is plenty of adjustment (16 ways for the driver and 12 for the front passenger) and they are more than comfortable to spend long periods of time in. Having said that, we’d love to see the massaging functionality from the GV70 in the G70 for extra comfort.

One crucial thing we believe should feature in the 2024 Genesis G70 is ambient lighting as every other Genesis product features multi-colour ambient lighting, yet the G70 does not. It would make the cabin feel extra special and tie it in with other Genesis models better, in our opinion. We’d also like to see all-USB C charging ports in the cabin, instead of just in the rear.

The touchscreen that sits atop the soft touch dashboard is a 10.25-inch unit that was new to the update to the G70. While not big for modern standards, we love its integration into the dashboard and it doesn’t appear stuck on like some rivals’ screens do. The clarity and resolution of the screen is also quite good, the colours are bright and the text is easy to read, though there could be more features like wireless smartphone mirroring. The 15-speaker Lexicon sound system is also average to listen to – the Harmon Kardon system used in the G70’s Kia Stinger platform-mate (let alone the 3er) is much richer.

Rear seat space is not the 2024 Genesis G70 Shooting Brake’s forte thanks to tight leg room, and it’s certainly not the roomiest car in the class. The back seat is well featured however, which a centre armrest with cup holders, door pockets, air vents, rear outboard seats and two USB-C charging ports. 

The boot of the G70 Shooting Brake is not its biggest attribute either at just 465-litres with the seats in place, though that opens to a healthy 1,535L with the rear seats folded – by comparison, the BMW 330i Touring offers 500L seats up/1,510L with them folded. The boot is a bit shallow with a high floor, but it has a nice finish, a power tailgate, remote releases for folding the seats, 40:20:40-split folding rear seats and under floor storage. There is also a space-saver spare wheel.

What warranty covers the 2024 Genesis G70 Shooting Brake?

All Genesis products come with a very luxurious ownership experience, including complimentary picking up and dropping off of your car for servicing within 70km of a service centre, as well as a loan car while it’s being serviced. Genesis goes a step further with five years/50,000km (whichever comes first) of servicing included in the cost of the car. A solid five-year/unlimited km warranty with five years of roadside assistance rounds out the aftersales package.

BMW matches Genesis with a five-year/unlimited km warranty, though its roadside assistance only lasts for three years. BMW doesn’t quote pay-as-you-go service pricing, but a five-year service package for a 330i costs $2,225 and while the BMW’s service intervals are condition-based, once-yearly/every 15,000km is given as a general guide to how often it needs to be serviced.

Should I buy a 2024 Genesis G70 Shooting Brake?

Overall, as we found with the sedan, the updated 2024 Genesis G70 Shooting Brake is an overall more premium, better looking and better equipped entrant into the premium mid-size segment that we think deserves a lot more attention. It’s very handsome to look at, its interior is snug but quite luxurious, its driving dynamics are excellent and while the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine could be punchier and more efficient, it still gives a reasonable turn of speed.

Counting against the G70 Shooting Brake are its annoying new active safety systems, that its rear seat and bootspace aren’t massive, its thirsty engine and that Australia didn’t receive a new 2.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with this update. Plus, competition is tough as well. But those issues aside, the G70 Shooting Brake is a handsome car with a lot of good qualities – we should all be so lucky!