First Week of Ownership - 2015 5.0 Ultimate

[jimb100]

I'm not MidnightSun. I owned a 2012 3.8 Premium and have a 2015 3.8 AWD with the Sig/Tech packages.

I obviously cannot comment on the pre-2012 models but as he says, there aren't many positive reviews of the suspension. However, as someone who reads from 4 magazines plus follows numerous euro and US youtube channels, my take is the magazines tend to review the suspension when at 10/10ths. The 2012 suspension even at 9/10ths wasn't great. Personally at 8/10ths (maybe 7/10ths?) and below I felt it was superb. The 2015 is better across the board, and continues all the way through 9/10ths. I haven't owned the car long enough to make my own conclusions about 10/10ths; opportunities rarely come up where I can even think about hitting 10/10ths with a reasonable amount of safety. (i.e. not endangering anyone else.) I can say the limits are approached with MUCH more confidence, and the limits are far higher. Boring drives are better too, but not to nearly such a large degree.

From the reviews I've read so far the 2015 still isn't as good at 10/10ths as vehicles like the ATS, the 3 and 5 series, and several others. Been behind for the last 2 months so I'm sure the list is actually longer.

Point being: magazines do their readers/viewers a disservice by not clearly separating types of drivers. The best we'll get is road vs track experiences/commentary and that's not what I'm talking about. That statement probably needs a lot more fleshing out but I've gotta run for now. I hope the 2012 v 2015 experiences help explain where MidnightSun might be coming from, yet also define why I think those conclusions are a little off.

You start off talking about 8/10, 9/10 etc. For a car like the Genesis I'm not sure what that means. Are you saying that when negotiating a constant radius turn at an increasing rate of speed as it approaches the limits of adhesion the suspension and tires let an experienced driver know the limits are being exceeded and allows the car to be quickly and easily brought into line?

At less than that speed, which we can call 10/10ths, does it understeer when coming through a turn or does it go where pointed at constant lock? How well can the throttle be employed to transition from understeer to over steer?

I've pushed my 2015 to near the limits of adhesion on big sweeping exit ramps and I find the car very neutral. The steering is a little numb (electric) but there is good road feel through the suspension and the steering wheel. The downside of handling on the Genesis is the sheer bulk, at 4600 lbs. The electronic suspension does a good job but can't overcome the laws of physics.

That's part of the reason I don't think its a good comparison with the Audi A6 Lexus GS or the Mercedes E Class. Even the Caddilac CTS isn't a good comparison.

To me, the Genesis 5.0 should be compared to the A7, Lexus 460 or the BMW 750 or the Jaguar XJ. While the Genesis may not have the fit, finish and materials of those cars (and I'm not at all sure its far behind) engine, transmission, suspension, brakes and tires are very comparable. The Audi with AWD is a different handler but still not out of range on dry pavement in warm weather sites.

Nevertheless, true sports cars and sports sedans are a long way from large luxury cars and, while you can talk about luxury car handling in passing, is it really a central issue? Again, I'm talking more about the 2015 as the Gen 1 seems like an attempt to compete with the German sports sedans.

 

[amartz]

I find it surprising that some 1st Gen owners can't accept that improvements were made on the 2nd Gen.

I never said I couldn't accept it. What I was looking for was an honest opinion about the 2012+ suspension vs. the 2015 suspension. Anybody contrasting the 2105 suspension against the 2008-2011 suspension is of course going to say how much better the 2015 is.

 

[amartz]

I owned a 2012 3.8 Premium and have a 2015 3.8 AWD with the Sig/Tech packages.

That's pretty much the comparison I was looking for, and I quess pretty much in daily driving, with an occaisional spirited romp. Although, it's probably worth asking how much of the difference here is due to the AWD on the 2015.

 

[Aquineas]

I found a fairly noticeable difference between the suspensions in 2010 and the 2012 (V8 in my case). The 2010 was very unpleasant over rough roads, the 2012 improved that appreciably over bumpy roads. I can't comment on the 2015 yet as while I've driven the 2015, I've only driven the V6 version and thus can't compare the two. In terms of handling, refinement, and steering feel, the 2015 feels like a vastly improved car than the 2012. Not at all hating on the 1st gen, as I'm still a 1st gen owner myself, but it is what it is.

 

[EXBMWGUY]

I've driven the 2009, currently own a 2012 R-Spec, and have driven the 2015 AWD V6. To be fair, I have driven the 2012 V6 also.

The 2015 is very, very much improved over both versions of the 2012. And the 2012 (either standard or R-Spec is much better than the 2009.

Rank as follows on 1-10 scale:

2015 = 9.5
2012 = 7.5 - 8.00
2009 = 6.0

 

[PMCErnie]

Hardly anyone would disagree with the fact that the '15 Genesis has an improved suspension versus all prior years. Same goes for the fact that the '15s are a touch slower 0 - 60 than all prior year models. Facts is facts.

 

[Nikgen]

Hardly anyone would disagree with the fact that the '15 Genesis has an improved suspension versus all prior years. Same goes for the fact that the '15s are a touch slower 0 - 60 than all prior year models. Facts is facts.

But the 2015 is improved in virtually every other area that a touch slower to 60 is a compromise I can live with - and not really notice!

 

[Midnightsun]

Hardly anyone would disagree with the fact that the '15 Genesis has an improved suspension versus all prior years. Same goes for the fact that the '15s are a touch slower 0 - 60 than all prior year models. Facts is facts.

You forgot the 4.6 was 375hp.

 

[PMCErnie]

But the 2015 is improved in virtually every other area that a touch slower to 60 is a compromise I can live with - and not really notice!

Then there is that little problem with the 17 speaker audio system. It's only available to the '15 Ultimate V8 owners. The Hoi Polloi are shut out. Many folks have noticed that problem.

 

[Nikgen]

Then there is that little problem with the 17 speaker audio system. It's only available to the '15 Ultimate V8 owners. The Hoi Polloi are shut out. Many folks have noticed that problem.

I have it on my US 2015 3.8 AWD Ultimate? At least in the USA, the top-of-the line AV system comes with the top-of-the line trim level (Ultimate) - for 3.8 RWD, 3.8 AWD and 5.0 RWD models.

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[rmwweb]

I have it on my US 2015 3.8 AWD Ultimate? At least in the USA, the top-of-the line AV system comes with the top-of-the line trim level (Ultimate) - for 3.8 RWD, 3.8 AWD and 5.0 RWD models.

Sadly PMCErnie is definitely correct for those of us in Canada. The only way to get the 17 speaker Lexicon is to go with the V8 which comes in only the Ultimate trim level. I'm on my second V6 Genesis and it could be my last one if Hyundai Canada doesn't come to their senses and offer a fully loaded trim level with a V6 engine next year.

BTW to stay on topic, I had a 2009 V6 , now own a 2012 V6 and have test driven the 2015 V6. I agree that the 2009 was - at best - a 6/10. The 2012 is a 7 and the 2015 appears to be closer to a 9. If they had a true Ultimate trim level in the V6 I would probably have made the jump even though my plan was to wait till the 2016 came out.

RW

 

[amartz]

Rank as follows on 1-10 scale:

2015 = 9.5
2012 = 7.5 - 8.00
2009 = 6.0

That's what I would call a useful summary! Thanks!!