Winter Testing the Hyundai Genesis H-TRAC
By Mike Schlee Feb 23, 2015
This past summer we were able to take a 2015 Hyundai Genesis AWD sedan with the 3.8-liter V6 and eight-speed automatic transmission out for a few laps around the Pueblo Motorsports race track. Even with a mere 311 HP and 293 lb-ft., the 4,295-lb. car was surprisingly quick around this tight course. Even if there is no actual active torque distribution left to right, the rear bias all-
wheel drive power split and ACC
wheel-braking make it surprisingly nimble.
Extreme Winter Testing
But it’s in messy weather where an all-
wheel drive system should really shine. To show us just how well H-TRAC works, Hyundai brought us to Northern Quebec in Canada to put the 2015 Genesis V6 AWD to the test. Being a region full of snow, ice and cold weather, this appeared to be the perfect test location. And then an epic blizzard hit during test day.
2015-Hyundai-Genesis-AWD-1007With sideways blowing snow, completely covered roadways and several inches of accumulation in most areas, the Genesis was in for a proper winter test. Not expecting such biblical weather, Hyundai had outfitted the Genesis with performance orientated winter tires that excel on ice and in cold conditions, but not so much in deep snow. This meant the H-TRAC system would really have to work hard to keep the big sedan from getting stuck.
The lack of tire grip was most noticeable during our highway driving portions. Following in a long line of traffic stuck behind a group of snowplows, there was a lot of accordion-effect braking where one car would tap the brakes and every vehicle behind it would subsequently also hit the brakes. A few times when we did this on the steep declines, the tail of the Genesis would twitch a bit on the hard packed snow. It was nothing the stability control couldn’t quickly rectify and the few times we came to a complete stop on a steep uphill grade, the H-TRAC laughed off the slippery conditions and accelerated away.
