Marketing confusion aside, the 5.0-liter Genesis is a pleasant luxury sedan that makes good on all of the fundamentals but comes up a bit short in the details. The new 429-hp engine delivers on every expectation, accelerating instantaneously, effortlessly, and linearly. The shifts from Hyundai's eight-speed automatic aren't as crisp as what you get from a ZF gearbox in a BMW or an Audi. Instead, they're practically invisible in their smoothness, like you might expect from a Lexus. The ride is appreciably firmer than that in a standard Genesis, but it proved plenty comfortable over a weekend trip to Milwaukee and back to Ann Arbor. While the interior is comfortable, attractive, and easy-to-live-with, the center stack and center console materials feel a bit cheaper than what you get in a German or Japanese luxury sedan. The steering doesn't offend me, but I don't disagree with Joe DeMatio's assertion that it could use improvement. This is likely where the difference in expectations shows. In my mind, the Genesis -- in any trim -- is a Lexus competitor. Hyundai hasn't come close capturing the dynamic attributes of a BMW or Jaguar because that's not the target they're aiming for. We might prefer an M5 or an E63 AMG, but there's no shame in chasing the success Lexus has had. Like every other Genesis model, the Genesis 5.0 R-Spec is a steal if you want luxury, space, and power but can do without brand cachet.
