2009 Hyundai Genesis
NADAguides.com 'Car of the Month' for April
When the news first broke two years ago that Hyundai would be bringing a 350 plus horsepower, rear wheel drive, full-size luxury sedan to market, the first thought that crossed my mind was...I'll believe it when I see it. Jumping from affordable small and mid-sized sedans to the ultra competitive luxury market would be no easy feat and Hyundai was aiming right at all of them, from BMW and Mercedes to Lexus and Infiniti. Fast forward to today, the Korean auto maker has delivered on its promise. At quick glance, you can easily mistake the 2009 Hyundai Genesis for any E-Class Mercedes. Yes, I said Mercedes! Sharing a similar looking front grill and a sleek exterior body, the Genesis absolutely fits in with the luxury class of vehicles. And...with the Genesis Coupe now hitting dealerships, combined with the industry-leading warranty and buy back program, Hyundai's future is perhaps brighter than any other auto maker.
The DRIVE – First Impression
Because the Genesis is all-new and this is our initial review, I spent my first ten minutes just looking at the exterior of the car before jumping in. Doing a complete walk-a-round, I was very impressed with the attention to detail Hyundai engineers took in designing this car. The taillights were integrated in to the rear decklid, the back-up camera was specifically placed out of view and the C-pillar really helps define the rear of the car giving it a clean and stylish look. The side profile of the Genesis was very teutonic and reminded me of sporty German sedans. The wheel package was also something that stood out. Paired with Dunlop P235/50VR SP Sport 50000M tires, the Genesis rides on 18" aluminum alloy wheels giving the Genesis a polished and sophisticated look.
After giving the exterior a thorough once over, I made my way to the captain's seat for my first drive impression. Spinning the wheels in our local foothills, my immediate conclusion was the Genesis is the perfect touring sedan with plenty of power and comfort for multi-purpose driving. The interior was quiet and spacious and the engine provided great power for entry on to the freeway. Although the focus of our reviews is never to determine top speed and to test out the full performance, I could tell by the feel of the car that it wouldn't have any problem being compared to other performance luxury vehicles.
Overall, my first impression of the Genesis was very positive.
Under the Hood…Power and Performance
Having read many of the reviews on the Genesis, I was exited to test out the 280 horsepower 3.8L V6 engine. Little did I know...the Genesis also comes in a 4.6L V8 that produces 375 horsepower. For some reason, I missed those vehicle review stories! Working my way through afternoon traffic, I finally arrived out in the open countryside where I could stretch the legs of the Genesis to see how the performance really compares to other luxury brands.
The horsepower was never an issue as the car really has a great power band. The torque was matched well to the horsepower, but I wouldn't mind seeing a little more torque down the road to give the Genesis a slightly more aggressive feel. The exhaust notes were very quiet...almost too quiet. For a sedan...I like that! The suspension was good, but I think it could be slightly stiffer as there was a little body roll in tighter turns. But if you are simply looking for a great luxury sedan that has solid performance all the way around, the Genesis is a good fit.
Inside the Genesis Sedan
Simplicity is the best word to describe the Genesis interior. And I mean simplicity in the absolute best way!!! In today's car market, auto makers are putting too many bells and whistles inside the car. Your entire center instrument panel is full of confusing buttons. Well, the Genesis is unlike any of those cars. I fell immediately in love with the interior of the Genesis. Within three minutes, I had my Bluetooth connected and as you have read in previous reviews, it's one of the most important parts of my review...how fast can I get connected. Hyundai hit a home run here.
Moving on to the other items clustered together on the center instrument panel are the CD and music buttons, navigation screen and a few other buttons that actually do something. Outside of that, the rest of the interior dashboard area was free and clear of ridiculous buttons. I can't name another car on the market that has done this better than Hyundai.
The rear seats are also a big part of the NADAguides.com test. At 6'3" I have to be able to sit comfortably in the rear. No problem here, I had no issues with comfort and could easily see the Genesis moving into a luxury livery vehicle category. Some automakers think being in the "livery" market is the kiss of death, but I'd love to be shuttled somewhere in this car! Shoot...go to Germany and your taxi cabs are Mercedes and BMWs.
The Bottom Line - Balance
It's no surprise the Hyundai Genesis was named the North American Car of the Year. It's one of the best new entries into the luxury market in years. If Hyundai can continue to set the bar with similar vehicles, the stereotype of Korean cars will be a part of the past. I absolutely believe the Genesis can compete against the German and Japanese luxury auto makers and in many ways...they can take top honors. Hyundai will continue to refine the Genesis and I am sure future models will be even better.
I look forward to reviewing the Genesis Coupe down the road and hope that it also lives up to the standards its bigger brother set in the Genesis Sedan.
The Genesis gets Five Stars from NADAguides.com.