DONE THE BOLT

SHOOTER SEEN MAKING A BRAKE FOR IT

- ASH WESTERMAN

GENESIS G70 SHOOTING BRAKE

Price as tested $81,000 (+ORC)

This month 512km @ 11.2L/100km

Overall 2789km @ 10.9L/100km

IS IT POSSIBLE to form a real bond with a car if you find it a bit of visual munter? Or, conversely, are you more likely to be tolerant of a car's shortfalls if you're taken by its exterior design? I was pondering this in the final days of the loan period with the G70 Shooting Brake, right around the time yet another punter strolled up to say how much they liked the look of it and have a chat.

I can't say I love every visual detail about the SB - the extra swage line over the rear guards seems a bit of an unnecessary flourish - but overall it's been one of those cars I always take a long look at after I've parked it and start to walk away, mainly to drink in the stance, proportions and elements that give it a clear point of differentiation from the few other wagons in the premium segment. And maybe also just to memorise the exact spot I left it, because, well, mid-50s age stuff.

So sure, maybe it's possible the visual appeal has softened a few core elements that I know could be better. The G70 is an imperfect example of the wagon breed, but for me its flaws were more in context with where it should be better against its competitor set, rather than things that bugged me on the daily.