Another victory for the Hyundai Genesis!
Hyundai Genesis – What the Auto Press Says
The 2010 Hyundai Genesis ranks 1 out of 15 Upscale Mid-size Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 22 published reviews and test drives of the Hyundai Genesis, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.
The Hyundai Genesis is an exceptional value. A rear-wheel-drive sedan with luxuries befitting a $50,000 price tag, it’s offered in a $30,000 price bracket. It has the longest warranty of any upscale mid-size car, and a cabin that wouldn’t be out of place in a Lexus. Sport sedan buyers will find its handling and its seats a bit soft, but those interested in a luxury car should give it careful consideration.
The Hyundai Genesis is an extraordinary car — one that is forcing many to reconsider their opinions of Hyundai.
The Genesis has the size, lavish features and engine power to compete in the large luxury car class. It’s a rear-wheel-drive car as large as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. It’s as quiet inside as a Lexus LS, with an optional 17-speaker sound system that sounds better than the stereos found in many far more expensive cars. In V8 trim, it’s more powerful than a BMW 5-Series.
But the Genesis is available for the price of an entry-level luxury car. Depending on the options you choose, it’s possible to spend more on a Chrysler 300 — and the Genesis outclasses that car easily with its lavish, bank-vault quiet cabin.
Though it carries a badge many Americans associate with budget economy cars, the automotive press considers it a legitimate alternative to cars built by Lexus and BMW. Its low price means that, for many shoppers, it may be a smarter buy.
When it was first introduced last year, the Genesis sedan won Hyundai its first North American Car of the Year award — a real sign of respect from the automotive press. But Hyundai hasn’t rested. For 2010, the Genesis carries several significant upgrades. Its suspension has been re-tuned to reduce body lean in tight corners, improving the car’s handling. That should help to address one of the major criticisms of the 2009 car. Reviewers haven’t tested the car since Hyundai made the adjustments, so we don’t yet know whether they’ve completely fixed the problem — but even before the changes, the Genesis would have felt refined to most drivers. An improved touch screen navigation system is now standard on V8 editions, and optional on V6 models. And an intelligent cruise control, designed to maintain a steady distance from the car ahead, is now available as an option.
Some buyers will still be disappointed by the lack of an all-wheel-drive option. Others may be frustrated by the way Hyundai has structured option packages. Some of the most upscale equipment is optional on V6 editions but standard on the V8, which might push some shoppers into buying a more powerful, less-efficient engine than they need. The lack of an all-wheel-drive option might also send some buyers to look at the Audi A4 instead.
But the Genesis sedan’s exceptional blend of high-end features with an affordable price is unique in the automotive market and makes this sedan worth a look for many buyers. If you’re considering an upscale version of an affordable sedan, like the Ford Taurus, the Genesis might be worthy of consideration as a step up to a more luxurious ride. If you’re shopping for a luxury car like the Acura RL, the Genesis offer a chance to save thousands while enjoying the same level of luxury.
And yes, it’s a Hyundai. But the Korean nameplate is gaining prestige — an even more luxurious model, the Equus, will appear for the 2012 model year. It may not carry the prestige of a Mercedes-Benz badge, but Hyundai is gaining respect every year.
The Genesis is available in two trim levels, each named for the engine it features. The 3.8 model features 17-inch alloy wheels, leather trim and most of the electronics luxury buyers expect. The 4.6 model adds 18-inch wheels, Bluetooth compatibility, premium leather and upgraded navigation and sound systems. We should also note that the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, reviewed separately, may share a name with this car, but the similarities end there. The Coupe is not a two-door edition of this car, but an entirely separate design meant to compete with sports cars.
“Benz loyalists may not swap sides, but Lexus and Acura buyers might.” — Car and Driver
“Though the Hyundai name has none of the cachet of rival brands in this class, Genesis holds its own in terms of powertrain performance, and offers impressive accoutrements at relative bargain pricing. While any Genesis is worthy of consideration, we think the V6 version is a better value that gives up little to the V8 in everyday driving.” – Consumer Guide
“Hyundai cleared the fence with the Genesis. The high level of quality, refinement and performance of our top-of-the-line 4.6L V8 test car amazed everyone who has sat behind its wheel.” — Road and Track
“Unapologetically and unequivocally, Hyundai has taken off its gloves. Its new Genesis is a no-holds-barred assault on luxury and near-luxury sedans from Japan, America, and Europe. ” – Automobile Magazine
“Though not quite up to the high standards of the European and Japanese luxury cars the Genesis aspires to, it is viable and cheaper alternative to those cars and a better appointed option versus large American sedans.” — New Car Test Drive
“If you’ve envied [the] leading-edge technology in your boss’s BMW or Mercedes, envy no longer. If you envy this car’s performance, Hyundai’s claim of a 0-60-mph time of well under six seconds indicates the Genesis V-8 will have the guts to keep up with such boardroom luxury sedans.” – Motor Trend
“With badges removed, the Genesis could easily pass as a Lexus or Mercedes-Benz, although we doubt many brand-conscious folks would give a Hyundai a second glance. Still, anyone shopping in the $30K-$40K entry-level luxury sport sedan segment would be remiss if they didn’t give the 2009 Hyundai Genesis serious consideration.” — Edmunds
Genesis Performance – 9.0 (Excellent)
Shoppers looking for a refined daily commuter with a reserve of engine power will be happy with the Hyundai Genesis. Its gentle ride and smooth engines cocoon the driver from the road. With its V6 engine, it offers acceleration competitive with German sport sedans. Its available V8 out-accelerates nearly any sedan costing less than $50,000. Shoppers looking for sport sedan handling, however, will want to consider more athletic cars, like the Infiniti G37 or Audi A4. The Genesis can’t hold a corner with the balance of those cars. We should also note that the Genesis Coupe, reviewed separately, is a performance-tuned sports car that has little in common with the sedan.
Genesis Exterior – 8.4 (Very Good)
Depending on whom you ask, the Hyundai Genesis sedan may be a striking and well-balanced design, or an odd mish-mash of design cues cribbed from more famous luxury cars. The press is split on the look, with some calling it too derivative and others calling it tasteful. Its lack of an identifying badge on the grille has an interesting psychological effect, as some reviewers consider the Genesis something of a stealth luxury car.
Genesis Interior – 9.1 (Excellent)
The passenger cabin of the Hyundai Genesis feels more luxurious than many similarly-priced cars from more traditional luxury brands. Inside, the Genesis seems more like a $50,000 competitor to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class than a $30,000 competitor to its less-luxurious C-Class cousin. Optional upgrades to a butter-soft grain of leather and an extraordinary 17-speaker sound system make the Genesis stiff competition for even the most opulent of luxury cars. Still, reviewers say its seats will be too soft for some.
Genesis Safety – 10.0 (Excellent)
The 2010 Hyundai Genesis achieved the highest possible score — five stars — in every government safety test. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety hasn’t tested the 2010 edition, but named the mechanically-similar 2009 model a “Top Safety Pick” after it won the Institute’s highest scores as well.
Genesis Reliability – NA
Hyundai protects Genesis buyers with a five-year/60,000-mile warranty, as well as the longest powertrain warranty in the upscale mid-size car class, and five years of free roadside assistance.
