Genesis X Gran Equator Concept Up Close: If Mad Max Drove a Luxury SUV
Like many luxury brands, Genesis’ SUV offerings are strictly of the on-road variety, with the GV60, GV70 and GV80 all designed for pounding the pavement. A few luxury brands, like Land Rover and newcomer Ineos, as well as some models within traditional luxury lineups like the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Lexus GX 550, do deliver real off-road capability, but these models are few and far between.
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Genesis’ new X Gran Equator Concept isn’t like those dedicated off-road luxury SUVs, but it’s instead a mashup of current Genesis design themes, off-road-esque styling attributes and vintage-inspired accents. The brand says the concept “signals Genesis’ continued expansion into lifestyle-oriented vehicles, balancing sophistication with versatility.” Perhaps the best way to think of it is as a more radical, Genesis version of the off-road-oriented wagons from Audi and Volvo.
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More Wagon Than SUV
The X Gran Equator Concept’s proportions are among its most interesting attributes. With an impossibly long hood, rearward-set cabin and a forward-swept rear hatch, there’s an angular athleticism to the concept that’s unlike anything else. Genesis’ two-line lighting signature is amplified to the point where it nearly wraps the entirety of the vehicle, with just the front and rear doors not embedded with illumination. Genesis didn’t claim some exotic powertrain is under the X Gran Equator’s long hood, but considering there’s no real grille to speak of, it makes sense that it’s electric.
The concept’s raised stance is amplified by 24-inch beadlock wheels shod with chunky — but surprisingly low-profile — tires. From a functional standpoint, the shorter-sidewall tires are a bit of an odd choice for an off-road SUV, but concepts just have to look good on a stage, and these wheels and Nitto Ridge Grappler tires help the X Gran Equator Concept succeed on that front.
Golden Age of Travel Interior
One of the most striking things about the concept’s cabin is its lack of any large displays. Is it a sign that the screen-based arms race in the luxury segment has reached its end? Time will tell, but the simplicity of the dashboard is refreshing.
That’s not to say there aren’t any screens, as there are actually a total of seven smaller ones: three in front of the steering wheel and four inset in the middle of the dash. However, they don’t dominate the cabin as some of the large screens in modern luxury SUVs do. Another stylish touch are the fitted luggage pieces in the dashboard ahead of the front passenger.
The X Gran Equator Concept has a four-seat interior, with each occupant getting their own personal moonroof. The tan-and-blue color scheme is attractive, and the upscale selection of materials includes woven fabric in the center of the seats. Genesis has also incorporated a couple of seats in the fold-down tailgate for some stationary seating.
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Time for a Genesis Off-Road SUV?
There’s been what seems like a never-ending stream of off-road-oriented SUVs from mainstream brands, and it’s probably only a matter of time before more off-road models start popping up in the luxury class. While a possible future model from Genesis may not look exactly like the X Gran Equator Concept, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the brand introduces an off-road variant of one of its SUVs to get a toehold in this corner of the car market.
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