Road Test: Hyundai Genesis 3.8
A quick glance at the $40,100 as-tested price tag and premium styling hints at understated Japanese luxury, but peering at the anonymous grille reveals no familiar Acura or Infiniti emblems. Actually, there isn't any emblem on the front of the car. The only clues that this isn't the latest Lexus offering are the winged badges on the wheels and trunk lid, reminiscent of the prestigious Aston Martin and Bentley logos, with the unfamiliar name GENESIS scribed within.
The Genesis, introduced for the 2009 model year, is Hyundai's flagship offering. The platform is offered in both coupe and sedan forms, though the Genesis Coupe is a wholly different vehicle from the 4-door Genesis we tested. The Genesis Coupe uses racier styling and different engine and transmission choices. Its mission to offer a Hyundai equivalent to pricey models from established labels is the same as that of the 4-door Genesis, but the Genesis Coupe competes more directly with the Nissan 370Z and even the fresh battery of muscle cars from Detroit. The Genesis referenced in this article is the 4-door version, aimed at the Lexus GS, BMW 5-series, and other premium rear-wheel-drive models.
Before you dismiss a high-end Hyundai as an oxymoron, remember that the Azera, Hyundai's top of the line model prior to the Genesis, is still being made. A notch higher than the already comfortable and well-equipped Azera, the new Hyundai Genesis is moving boldly into the luxury car arena with new features and higher prices. The Genesis is not just a family car loaded with standard features—it's a genuine premium car riding on an exclusive platform.
Introducing a luxury car in the midst of a recession may not seem like the most logical idea, but, despite its absence of the Korean manufacturer's familiar emblem, the Genesis is still very much a Hyundai. It offers outstanding warranty coverage and excellent value, making it the perfect luxury vehicle for executives on a budget.
The tested model, called the Genesis 3.8 for its 3.8 liter V6, has a base price of $32,250. The Genesis 4.6, which comes standard with a 4.6 liter V8 capable of putting out 375 horsepower, starts at $37,250. The prices look steep for a nameplate with no prestige, but you'd be hard-pressed to find another car that offers so much power and feature content for so little cash.
Our car's $40,100 price reflected over $7,000 in options. But whereas even premium companies such as Porsche sometimes charge extra for items like floor mats, the standard features list on the Genesis is so complete that all of the options are unfiltered luxuries. Buyers don't get duped by a deceptively low price tag that forces them to choose many necessities (like those floor mats) off the expensive options list. Our test vehicle came with both the Technology ($4,000) and Premium Plus ($3,000) packages. The added features included with those packages turned the interior of the Genesis into a downright posh cabin. Leather covered the seats, doors, and dash. A 528-watt stereo with 17 speakers and a free one-year subscription to XM satellite radio ensured that the quiet cockpit could be filled on command with as much noise as anyone could ever want. A cooled driver seat (both front seats are heated as standard), back-up camera, power steering column adjustment, and parking assist with front and rear sensors are just some of the extra features our test vehicle included. From the outside, lines that already looked expensive (though anonymous and unoriginal), were enhanced by 18-inch, 9-spoke wheels.
Using the increasingly popular keyless entry and starting system, our Genesis was roused into life by a foot on the brake and a quick push of an engine start/stop button. The V6 was smooth and barely audible at idle. Settling into the interior was comfortable, and controls were all where they would be expected. The switches had a high quality feel to them. The plastics looked expensive and the leather was supple, both materials using warm colors to give the interior a rich ambiance. The winged badge on the steering wheel looked a little tacky, but brand-conscious American buyers will likely prefer it over the traditional Hyundai logo.
The car exhibited quick initial throttle response and perfect steering weighting at low speeds. The throttle was touchy for around town driving, but easy enough to get used to. The brakes worked very well with good feel and pedal effort. The steering felt artificial at speed, but the weighting remained superb. The ride was quiet and composed over smooth surfaces. Bumps were damped well, but the chassis felt rubbery and isolated when broken pavement was encountered. That isolation was acceptable for routine driving, but the artificial feel to the ride and steering took the fun factor out of spirited motoring. Still, the car felt planted and confident in corners with plenty of power from the V6.
With 290hp at 6,200rpm and 264lb-ft of torque at 4,500rpm, the 24-valve engine made getting up to speed an easy process in the Genesis. A 3.91:1 final drive ratio allowed quick launches and the rear-wheel-drive platform felt surefooted when accelerating, but the V6 made a lot of commotion under hard acceleration and sounded gruffer than would be expected of a luxury car. Once underway, the 6-speed automatic kept rpm's low to quiet the motor. While cruising, the V6 was suitably hushed. The 6-speed's upshifts were smooth and imperceptible, but the transmission was reluctant to downshift even with a heavy right foot. Kick-down was delayed and accompanied by lots of noise from the motor.
The front seats in the Genesis were comfortable enough, but they felt too flat and had flabby side bolsters. They would have benefitted from more ergonomic contouring and stiffer bolsters, but the perforated leather was comfortable and provided enough friction to keep passengers in place.
In normal driving, the Genesis felt composed and quiet. The car may have been unexciting, but its smooth ride and hushed cabin (as long as acceleration is gentle) would make it a relaxing commuter. The car's ability to use regular fuel and its impressive gas mileage, with an EPA-estimated 18mpg city and 27mpg highway, make the Genesis an excellent vehicle for those trying to get to work in comfort without paying a premium for a prestigious badge. Hyundai's standard 10-year/100,000-mile warranty further establishes the Genesis as an affordable luxury cruiser.
Lexus, Infiniti, and Acura were all formed so that Japanese makers could sell high-end cars to Americans too concerned with their image to buy expensive Toyotas, Nissans, or Hondas. America has remained a notoriously brand-conscious market, and the success of Hyundai's Genesis in the U.S. is not only uncertain, but unlikely. Still, the Genesis has its merits, chief of which is its affordability. This may not be the right time to sell a luxury car, but Hyundai has a shot at selling the Genesis to people who are unwilling to sacrifice comfort even when forced to pinch pennies.
Thank you to Colonial Hyundai in Ewing, NJ for arranging the test drive.
by Evan Acuña