GV70

Make
Genesis
Segment
SUV

Following numerous spy shots and an official teaser, Genesis recently pulled the wraps off its first-ever wagon model, or "Shooting Brake" as the Korean automaker is calling it. The 2022 Genesis G70 Shooting Brake arrives at an interesting time following a recent facelift to the G70 Sedan and a dwindling luxury wagon market that only includes the Audi A4 Allroad and Volvo V60 at this size class. Sadly, this handsome wagon will not arrive stateside, though our neighbors to the North in Canada will have the chance to enjoy it.

Instead, the 2022 Genesis GV70 will appeal to the crossover-obsessed US market with similar practicality and arguably a better overall package. Is the GV70 a worthy substitute for the forbidden fruit G70 Shooting Brake, or is this yet another case of the US getting the short end of the stick? Let's compare the two vehicles to find out.

Design: Pretty And Prettier

The GV70 is a clean sheet design, using the Genesis "Athletic Elegance" styling philosophy. Whereas other compact luxury crossovers look cookie cutter, the GV70 stands out from the crowd and it will even arrive sporting some outrageous color combinations. The massive Crest Grille gives off a commanding demeanor, leading into the dual headlights that flow towards an athletic side profile. At the rear, the GV70's unique C-pillar design evokes the Porsche 928, which is a pretty flattering comparison for a crossover to receive.

If the GV70 is considered pretty, we'd call the G70 Shooting Brake even prettier. Take every beautiful element found on the GV70, lower them closer to the ground, and finish it all off with a sportier roofline. Compared to the GV70, the G70 Shooting Brake is about an inch shorter with 2 inches less wheelbase, 9 inches shorter, and 3 inches narrower.

Powertrain: The Crossover Gets The Goods

Though the G70 Shooting Brake made its debut after the GV70, the former is surprisingly equipped with older engine options. The G70 carries over into the 2022 model year with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 252 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque or a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 delivering 365 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque. The GV70 gains access to the updated 2.5-liter four-cylinder and 3.5-liter V6 engines, which replace the older 2.0T and 3.3T units. With 304 hp and 380 hp respectively, the GV70's engines are superior to the G70's.

Interior: All-New Vs Updated

As with what's under the hood, the interiors are another case of the crossover getting the newest material. The G70 Shooting Brake is mostly a carryover of last year's model, with the addition of a larger 10.25-inch infotainment display and a digital gauge cluster. Aside from those minor changes, the cabin layout is unchanged as are all of the buttons and switches.

By comparison, the GV70 features a new cabin design with new switchgear, updated steering wheel, the rotating shifter from the GV80, a massive 14.5-inch LCD infotainment system, and a 12.3-inch all-digital instrument cluster. Like the exterior, the GV70 offers some interesting color combinations such as Ocean Waves with Pine Grove and Gray with Velvet Burgundy.

Practicality: An Unknown Advantage

Genesis hasn't provided US-spec interior dimensions for either vehicle yet, but based on the exterior proportions, we can assume the GV70 will emerge victorious with regards to practicality. According to Genesis, the G70 Shooting Brake improves on cargo space by 40% over the G70 sedan. Taking a rough estimate using the sedan's 10.5 cubic feet of cargo space, we can assume the Shooting Brake will offer approximately 14.7 cubic feet of cargo space, with room for more when the 40:20:40 split-folding seats are folded. The Volvo V60 dwarfs the G70 with 23.2 cubic feet of space, and based on figures from other compact crossovers, we have little doubt the GV70 will too.

Pricing & Verdict: Sad But Fair

Pricing is not available yet for the GV70 crossover but 2022 G70 sedan is now arriving at US dealerships with full pricing and configurations available to peruse. We assume the Shooting Brake would be a tad pricier, but the G70 Sedan starts at $37,525 for the rear-wheel-drive 2.0T model and caps out at $54,500 for the all-wheel-drive 3.3T Launch Edition. The GV70 should arrive with marginally higher pricing than its sedan sibling, which will still make it an excellent value compared to its European rivals.

We are sad that Genesis will not offer the G70 Shooting Brake here in the US, but we can respect the company's decision. The GV70 is superior in almost every measurable way and wagon sales are so minuscule in the US, it would make no sense to import the G70 Shooting Brake.