Chris Riley tests the 2025 Genesis G70 Shooting Brake luxury liftback station wagon with pricing, specs, ride and handling, safety, verdict and everything the over-50 driver needs to know.
Summary: There’s not much choice in this category, and the Genesis G70 still makes a good case for itself. The expired safety rating is a concern.
2025 Genesis G70 Shooting Brake luxury liftback station wagon
Pricing: $80,265 (plus on road costs)
Options: matte paint $2000
Warranty: Five-years, unlimited kilometre, five years/50,000km complimentary scheduled servicing, ten-years roadside assistance, five-years unlimited km Genesis to You
Safety: Unrated (five-star rating expired December 2024)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine
Service intervals: 12 months or 10,000km
Power: 179kW @ 6200rpm
Torque: 353Nm @ 1450-3500
Transmission: eight-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Body: 4685mm (long); 1850mm (wide); 1400mm (high)
Build country: South Korea
Kerb weight: 1699kg
Towing capacity: 1200kg
Luggage storage: 465L, capacity with rear seats folded not stated
Wheels: 19-inch alloy
Tyres: 225/40 R19 (front), 255/35 R19 (rear) Michelin Pilot Sport 4
Spare wheel: space saver
Turning circle: 11.0m
Fuel tank: 60 litres
Claimed consumption: 9.1L/100km (95 RON unleaded)
Consumption on test: 9.2L/100km (513km)
seniordriveraus consumption on test: not tested
[review]
Genesis introduced the G70 sedan in 2017.
In the same year Kia launched the Stinger liftback.
The two cars are or were essentially the same under the skin, employing the same platform and drivetrains.
Genesis added the Shooting Brake in 2021, a posh English term for a station wagon that harks back to the horse and buggy days.
Sadly, Kia dropped the Stinger in 2023, due to falling demand worldwide, it says.
Targeted at the European market, the Shooting Brake remains a fascinating option, considering the overwhelming competition from SUVs.
The latest upgrade in November, 2023 added Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Genesis Connected Services and Over The Air (OTI) updates.
What’s it cost?
The latest iteration of the G70 sedan and wagon is offered in one highly equipped Sport Line grade, with the Shooting Brake priced from $81,000 plus on-road costs.
A new look Genesis badge sits on the bonnet, with dark 19-inch alloys, dark chrome accents and quilted leather trim with patterned aluminium inserts and sports style pedals.
You get to choose from 13 colours, including three matte finishes and new gloss hues Vatna Gray and Kawah Blue.
There’s the usual array of equipment you’d expect in a luxury car and plenty of safety gear to go with it.
The front seats are power-adjustable, heated and cooled and the tailgate is also electrically operated.
A new 6.0-inch climate control touchscreen boosts the hi-tech image while providing a simple user interface.
The leather-wrapped steering wheel also scores a new badge along with a new multifunction switch.
New Fog Grey leather upholstery completes the updates, joining the Obsidian Black and Sevilla Red leather interiors.
Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) informs the driver of the current speed limit based on a combination of navigation data and road sign recognition (using the windscreen-mounted camera.)
In addition, the system can assist the driver to change the set speed during Smart Cruise Control (SCC) or Manual Speed Limit Assist (MSLA) driving.
If the system recognises a speed limit change during the operation of SCC or MSLA, a corresponding increase or decrease speed message is displayed in the cluster and on the Head-Up Display, prompting the driver to update the set speed using the +/- SCC steering wheel buttons.
Although the cabin fit out is attractive in a classic sense and should perhaps remain so, separate instrument and infotainment screens date the car.
A traditional rounded binnacle houses the 12.3-inch instrument cluster while a separate, free-standing 10.25-inch touchscreen serves infotainment.
The instrument cluster recognises the driver’s eyes through a cluster mounted sensor and presents the display in 3D without the need for special glasses.
The infotainment system provides Bluetooth with multiple connectivity, AM/FM and DAB+ digital radio, built-in satellite navigation, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity – both wired.
A 660 watt, 15-speaker Lexicon by Harman audio system is standard.
There are four USB ports, single USB-A and USB-C in the front and two more USB-C in the rear, plus a 180W 12V outlet in the centre console and wireless phone charging.
The latest generation of Genesis Connected Services (GCS) comes with a complimentary five-year subscription and includes automatic collision notification and SOS call.
Over The Air (OTA) software updates are supported, allowing software and firmware updates to be performed remotely, without the need to visit a service centre.
The G70’s five-star safety rating expired in December, so technically the car is unrated.
However, the list of safety features is long and compelling, including 10 airbags, a 360-degree camera and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB).
In Genesis parlance AEB translates to Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, which recognises cars, pedestrians and cyclists, with Junction Turning collision avoidance designed to mitigate the risk of collision when a driver is turning right across the path of oncoming traffic.
There’s also head-up display, high beam assist, blindspot warning, lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, driver inattention monitor, adaptive cruise control and more.
What’s it go like?
Shooting brake is a driver’s car benchmarked against the best that Europe has to offer.
Twin parabolic body lines accentuate the flare of the wheel arches and define the classic European shape.
An aerodynamic rear spoiler appears to float above the new single-piece glass hatch, completing the sleek coupe-inspired profile.
The Sport Line Styling Pack enhances the impression with 19-inch twin five-spoke dark finish alloy wheels and dark chrome accents.
The Pack adds to this with sport interior quilting, sport-style swirl patterned aluminium trim inserts and sports pedals.
Stylish the Shooting Brake certainly is, but the wagon sits low and for those of us not getting any younger getting in and out is a chore.
Although it’s got more room in the boot, rear legroom is still limited and a point of negotiation with those in the front.
Cargo capacity is 465 litres, compared with 330 litres for the sedan.
If you want the wagon you’re stuck with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, although we’d hardly describe its performance as an imposition.
It produces 179kW of power at 6200 rpm and 353Nm of torque from 1450-3500 rpm, with drive to the rear wheels through an in-house eight-speed conventional automatic.
There are five drive modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Custom which control throttle response, gearshift points and steering weight.
In manual mode, using the steering wheel mounted paddles, the transmission rev matches on down changes.
In Sport+ the seat bolsters move in to hug you tighter in corners.
But be careful because this mode disables the traction and stability control systems, and in a rear-wheel drive car like the G70 the back could step out if you’re not careful – with disastrous results.
Better to play it safe unless you know what you’re doing.
The pricey but grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres are staggered, with 225/40s at the front and 255/35s at the rear.
The spare is a space saver, albeit with an alloy rim.
Throttle response is gratifying and the Shooting Brake should have more than enough performance for most drivers.
With launch mode, the dash from zero to 100km/h takes 6.4 seconds and a limited slip rear diff is fitted for maximum traction.
Steering is sharp, tight and responsive and the black Brembo stoppers with red logo are first rate.
The ride is firm, there’s no mistaking it after swapping from a family-style SUV.
You can have some fun in this car.
The theme of the instrument panel is linked to the drive modes.
The 3D effect is most pronounced in Eco mode and that’s encouraging to see.
With a 60-litre tank, fuel consumption is a claimed 9.1L/100km and it takes premium 95 unleaded.
The trip computer showed a long-term average of 10.3L/100km after close to 5000km.
We were getting 9.2L/100km after our 513km. Pretty close.
What we like
- Sporty
- Rear-wheel drive
- Traditional sports wagon styling
- 15-speaker Lexicon audio system
- Increased off-road ability
What we don’t like
- Limited rear legroom
- Low stance and seat bolstering make getting in and out difficult
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wired
- Space saver spare wheel
What over-50s need to know
As much as we love the look of the Shooting Brake and particularly the way it drives, the window of opportunity for these old bones has closed.
It offers more space than the sedan, but rear legroom is still tight and getting in and out is just too damned hard.
It is however a bargain compared to the astronomical prices the Euros are demanding for wagons.
Let’s hope Genesis persists.
seniordriver comments
The Genesis G70 is starting to show its age, and it needs to be right up to date to take on the SUVs.
But it’s beautifully finished and ownership costs (with five years of complimentary servicing) and commendably low. And then there’s that indefinable bonus of Genesis to You which delivers a host of benefits that other premium brands still aren’t able to match. These include a valet to collect and return your car when it’s in for servicing, and a complimentary courtesy car.
There are few competitors in this category. Really, you’ll only be considering the BMW 330i, Volvo V60 and the Audi A4. Each has its fans, so it will come down to personal taste.
Rear seats are a little cramped, but that’s a function of class, and the Genesis is no worse than the others. Boot space, on the other hand, doesn’t match the others (460L in the Audi Avant, 500L in the BMW Touring and 529 in the Volvo V60 Touring).
The Genesis has a good range of safety features, but the expired ANCAP rating is cause for concern, and as always, we have to wonder if it would still score five stars under the tougher rules of 2025.