2015 New Body Style First Impressions

[ASHDUMP]

I saw my first 2015 today at the dealer... to be honest I wasn't that all impressed with the new lines. Especially the back of the car.

The front end looks great along with the front doors but once you hit mid way thru the rear doors into the back end I can't seem to get that warm and fuzzy feeling.

It looks like the design team spent 95% of their time working on the front end details and 5% on the ass end of the car.

For instance, when driving behind someone driving a new Genesis I don't think I will look twice... very mild.

Just my opinion!

What was your first (in person) impression?

 

[dareckibmw]

That'll make two of us.

 

[powerslide]

I think it looks a little awkward from square on, in the front. However, I think it looks incredible from 45 degree angles, front and back. I saw an empire state gray yesterday and I liked it a lot more than I thought I would.

 

[YEH]

^ Agreed that the front looks best at a 45deg angle.

But otherwise, the front-end doesn't look that exciting and could have been so much better.

The hexa grill could have been better shaped, but the main culprit are the shape of the headlamps which are a bit, well dorky (tho, not as bad as on say, the 7 Series); the headlights have this weird shape at most angles and don't totally take away from the sleek look that Hyundai was going for.


The greenhouse/roofline isn't as sleek as I would want it, but function may have won out over form as Hyundai probably wanted to make sure the 2G Genesis had decent rear head room (one reason why the greenhouse/roofline of the new Sonata isn't as sleek as the outgoing one).

The greenhouse/roofline of the HCD-14 concept is really sharp, but sacrificed rear head room.

And the rear is fine for the Sonata or Azera, but a bit bland (but then again, the rear of the Lexus GS also looks like the rear of the Sonata).

Now unlike what many auto pubs stated, the HND-14 concept was not the basis for the 2G Genesis and instead is the basis for a possible Genesis-based 4-door coupe that Hyundai is mulling over.

The rear of the HND-14 has that sleek look, while remaining elegant (and not polarizing like what Lexus has been doing).

The 2G Genesis isn't going to win any design awards and I'm thinking that Hyundai went too conservative in a nod to the Korean market (but one can still be conservative and stylish), which is why the new Sonata is overly conservative as well (otoh, Hyundai did a better job w/ both versions of the Santa Fe).

That same conservatism also flows to the inside/dash (but at the same time, the layout is very intuitive and the dash/center stack design cuts down on the no. of alignments and thus, cutting down on potential squeaks and rattles).

Needless to say, the 2G Genesis is not going to win any design awards (it's not bad, just was expecting more).

Otoh, if Hyundai holds to the basic design of the HND-9 concept for the coupe replacement, that will be a looker (for me, this blows away the RC and Q60).

And one would think the RK compact sedan will also get more dynamic sheetmetal as it would be designed more for overseas markets (NA, Europe).

And then, there's always Kia and it appears more and more likely that they will greenlight a RWD sedan (slotting btwn the RK and Genesis in size).

Also think they could have done a better job of reshaping the Genesis badge (and they really need to completely redo the Hyundai logo for the brand).

 

[Seattle Genesis]

Im in a agreement also. It looks like the design team just gave up on the rear end. Not at all impressed with it. Over all the car looks very refined and updated from the previous MY. I will probably go ahead and trade at some point, but Im not really excited as I thought I would be. I drive by the dealership and look at the 3.8 and I just dont have that WOW feeling that I did with the 2009/2012 Genesis' that I've owned. We shall see and time will tell. Maybe Hyundai will listen to us here on the Forum and give us an updated rear end next year.

 

[powerslide]

If you are on the fence and haven't driven it, go take one for a drive. I drove a 3.8 tech AWD and was thoroughly impressed. The seat was the most comfortable thing I've ever sat in. I drove a '13 R-spec the following day and walked away feeling 'meh' after having driven the '15.

 

[xiaphin]

Definitely looks better in person and agree with others above about design of the 15'.

 

[dreamerak]

I like it all, a huge improvement over the previous generation.

 

[rizzy71]

Stopped by the dealer to check one out and did not get the I must have feeling. Nice ride but it is going to take some time before the I still love my 13 feeling is gone.

 

[JoeDaytona]

I saw my first 2015 today on the road... I was just driving and looking and thought how a lot of other cars have similar types of grills, but after 2 seconds you realize its not the new genesis.

Then a few minutes later here comes another grill...getting closer...looks bigger...got to check for the wings...bingo! there she is! a silver one. check the back, yup its the 2015... but to be honest I wasn't that all impressed with it.

Now I only saw it for a few seconds at 35 mph, but enough to notice that it was kind of "bland". The side look ok but...not very stylish ....it did look big! and my first thought was its a more refined looking "land Yacht"...

i hope I'm wrong as I'm going this weekend to test drive one and really like all it has, but if it really looks like that i might have to think about other options.....

______________________________

Help support this site so it can continue supporting you!

 

[powerslide]

i hope I'm wrong as I'm going this weekend to test drive one and really like all it has, but if it really looks like that i might have to think about other options.....

My first dealer visit was just a stop-and-look. It was a white 3.8 tech and I was thoroughly unimpressed by the looks. The test drive will change the way you look at the car.