Genesis sedan ride

[Blue 260]

Had an '09 4.6 and now my current one. Never noticed any issues with the suspension. On the contrary, my car feels like a dream. The ride is very nice.

Ditto - and I still own the 09', only with Michelins!

 

[Glashub]

It’s really nice to come back and see thoughtful commentary on the ride/handling. When I was researching the Genny back in 2010/2011 there seemed to be mostly fanboys who touted the Genny as the greatest car value ever and told me (Tony G.) to get off the forum for asking too many questions about the ride/handling.

I have the 2012 4.6. It has been reliable and solid as a rock. Everything has worked as promised. It is a wonderful machine. But like all machines it has drawbacks. There are pros and cons to every car. Doesn’t make them bad machines though.

Kudos to Aquineas for separating ride and handling. Great idea. That said here in LA I find both lacking. I’d hoped I could get used to it.

Here is a really good article from Car and Driver about why Hyundai has yet to make a car with great driving dynamics –

“Culture is against the company. Korea arrived late to the motorized age, and the automobile still serves the role of a bland appliance there. To change that, Hyundai-Kia needs infrastructure, starting with a better test track. The small circuit at its U.S. proving ground in California’s Mojave Desert is mostly flat, with no camber changes and a bunch of dull, constant-radius turns linking short straights. It produces copious tire squeal but teaches nothing about body stability over pitching pavement or behavior in fast transitions.”

http://www.caranddriver.com/columns...le-more-honda-and-mazda-out-of-hyundai-column

 

[peter_302]

The sound from ZF as below:
For safety reasons, shock absorbers are designed for fully loaded vehicles. If the vehicle is not loaded, there is too much damping and thus a loss in comfort.

There has another solution provided by ZF which have equipped on Korea and Cina market as below link:

http://www.zf.com/corporate/en/products/product_range/cars/cars_cdc.shtml




If guys who don't want to bag your ride on air, I'm not sure whether using non-air springs with CDC dampers could work normal. The damper with CDC will detects 1000/sec in order to improve ride quality for
1. Anti-drive
2. Anti-Squat
3. Anti-rolling
4. Anti-bouncing
5. Sky-hook
as below chart:


If someone who interested could refer below link for further inquire

1. genesis club from Korea(need registry using social security of korean)
http://genesisclub.or.kr/bbs/zboard.php?id=mania

2. ZF's offical website
http://www.zf.com

From the consumer feedback that who equipped with CDC damper they feel it's ride close to 80%-90% M-Benz S class.

 

[Gunkk]

For safety reasons, shock absorbers are designed for fully loaded vehicles. If the vehicle is not loaded, there is too much damping and thus a loss in comfort.

... If the vehicle is not loaded, there is too much damping and thus a loss in comfort. The optimum adjustment for standard dampers is therefore always a compromise...

Which is why I see improved ride when I have passengers in the back seat or 60-100 lbs in the trunk.

Thanks for all the links, Peter.

Here's one more for those who are interested in reading more about ZF's suspension technology:
http://www.zf.com/media/media/en/pr...ppelseiten_daempfungsmodule_engl_20110823.pdf

 

[peter_302]

I found partial parts number as below:
front damper equipped with air spring : left 54605 - 3M505, right 54606 - 3M505
rear damper: left 55310 - 3M50, right 55320 - 3M500



The sensor and ECU I have not found the part number, but I found pictures as below:

For safety reasons, shock absorbers are designed for fully loaded vehicles. If the vehicle is not loaded, there is too much damping and thus a loss in comfort.
The damper with CDC could calculate the load by ECU and make appropriate damping force for optimum comfort.

 

[bradyb]

The sound from ZF as below:
For safety reasons, shock absorbers are designed for fully loaded vehicles. If the vehicle is not loaded, there is too much damping and thus a loss in comfort.

There has another solution provided by ZF which have equipped on Korea and Cina market as below link:

http://www.zf.com/corporate/en/products/product_range/cars/cars_cdc.shtml

View attachment 2238
View attachment 2237

If guys who don't want to bag your ride on air, I'm not sure whether using non-air springs with CDC dampers could work normal. The damper with CDC will detects 1000/sec in order to improve ride quality for
1. Anti-drive
2. Anti-Squat
3. Anti-rolling
4. Anti-bouncing
5. Sky-hook
as below chart:
View attachment 2239

If someone who interested could refer below link for further inquire

1. genesis club from Korea(need registry using social security of korean)
http://genesisclub.or.kr/bbs/zboard.php?id=mania

2. ZF's offical website
http://www.zf.com

From the consumer feedback that who equipped with CDC damper they feel it's ride close to 80%-90% M-Benz S class.

I for one would like the air bag and adjustment features of the air suspension. That looks pretty sweet - wish they would transfer to US.

 

[roblaw]

You really need to spend more time driving the Genesis and other competing vehicles.

I have my Genesis for 14 months. Overall is it a very nice vehicle and a great value. The ride is only passable when compared to competing vehicles. It takes bumps fine (if a little firmly) but moves around more than I would like on suburban roads and on the highway. It is stable and safe but there is more movement over bumps and on the highway than there should be. Rather than just absorbing the bump and making you feel it (as per E class and 5 series) the vehicle moves up and down more than a sophisticated luxury car should (and more than my 2005 Accord did and my wife's 2011 Lexus SUV does).

However, it is not really harsh in dealing with bumps. Since the structure is so solid the actual hit in the car is tolerable, I just do not feel the car should move around as much over rough roads. I am no engineer but is seems like it is lacking in wheel travel and there is some other adjustments that need to be made to give is a bit more stability.

All that being said, it is a very quiet, comfortable car with lots of room, a great V6 (married to a good but not great 8 speed auto), reasonable (but not outstanding) features, buggy electronics and is pretty reliable mechanically. Around town mileage sucks (15-16), highway is pretty good (upper 20s).

It comes down to preference. The Genesis gives 90% of the e class or 5 series for 66% of the price. For most people who do not care about the badge or can live without the absolute best in ride and handling, it is a great car.

I would suggest that you also drive the 2013 Chrysler 300C. I drove one recently. While not as fast with the V6 -8 Speed Hyundai, it is plenty peppy, rides better (with the 18 inch wheels) than the Genesis, handles as well, has an almost (but not quite) as nice interior, solid build quality (again not as nice as the Genesis) and the availability of a few more features (heated and ventilated front seats on both sides, etc) at a slightly lower price. I cannot speak to the reliability but even the worst new car today is light years ahead of the most reliable car of 20 years ago.

When the 2014 Genesis comes out, I will definitely drive it and give it serious consideration but I will also drive the new Maxima at that time, along with new Acura TL, ES 350 and others.

So do you due diligence and make your choice. Recognize that every purchase requires compromises (unless you are very, very rich) and that all of these cars are decent, it is simply a matter of what priorities you have.

 

[GenesisCaptain]

You really need to spend more time driving the Genesis and other competing vehicles.

+1 I totally agree. I am always very curious to know what people are comparing the Genesis to. Specifically, what are they most familiar with and not just a casual test drive.

For me, I came from 12 years with two BMW 7 Series cars that I drove for a combined 160K miles. I think that the Genesis compares exceptionally well to that standard. I have also logged a lot of miles in a BMW 3 series and BMW 5 series. Personally, I think that the Genesis crushes the 5 Series in daily driving, but the 5 wins in performance handling at the limits.

 

[waveman]

The only bit I'd add for the OP is that the '14 Genesis will have a fairly extensive re-design. I haven't read anything the '14 suspension, but if Hyundai's engineers are going to make significant changes, this will be the time.

 

[Mark_888]

For me, I came from 12 years with two BMW 7 Series cars that I drove for a combined 160K miles. I think that the Genesis compares exceptionally well to that standard. I have also logged a lot of miles in a BMW 3 series and BMW 5 series. Personally, I think that the Genesis crushes the 5 Series in daily driving, but the 5 wins in performance handling at the limits.

The problem is that people are making comments about their Genesis sedan suspension, but not everyone has the same model year. There are 5 different suspensions depending on model year and whether it is R-Spec (even though the V6 and V8 are slightly different to account for extra weight of the V8, I have omitted that aspect because it does not appear to be as significant as the other changes):

• Early 2009
• Late 2009 (manufacturered after about April 2009)
• 2010-2011
• 2012-2013
• 2012-2013 R-Spec

One would expect some changes in 2014 since the car is a new design.

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[GenesisCaptain]

The problem is that people are making comments about their Genesis sedan suspension, but not everyone has the same model year.

I agree. Though, I am still curious to know what people are coming from and comparing to. For example, I imagine that anyone coming from a Toyota Avalon would not see a major issue with the early Genesis handling. By contrast, someone who liked their former BMW 535i might find the Genesis ride and handling lacking no matter what year. (Caveat: I am not a former Avalon owner, but my test drive experience puts the Avalon way below the 2009 and 2010 Genesis sedans I have driven.)

 

[Mark_888]

I agree. Though, I am still curious to know what people are coming from and comparing to. For example, I imagine that anyone coming from a Toyota Avalon would not see a major issue with the early Genesis handling. By contrast, someone who liked their former BMW 535i might find the Genesis ride and handling lacking no matter what year. (Caveat: I am not a former Avalon owner, but my test drive experience puts the Avalon way below the 2009 and 2010 Genesis sedans I have driven.)

There is a big difference between handling and ride. The early Genesis models handled well, but had a punishing ride over rough roads, and had bouncy rear ends, even on smooth but undulating roads.

I think most of the comments about the Genesis pertain to ride, not handling. For a car of its size, it handles quit well, although steering/tracking doesn't measure up to BMW or Infiniti M, etc.

 

[Andy-O]

These are the comments from various sources about the Genesis R-Spec suspension.
1. Edmunds Review:

Engine power also more evenly matches other premium brands, with Genesis V6 and V8 models delivering smooth and linear acceleration. The new 5.0 R-Spec is just downright fast, matching the acceleration potential of V8-powered sport sedans that cost thousands more. However, unlike its regular Genesis counterparts, the R-Spec suffers a firm ride over broken pavement that sets it apart in a bad way from those aforementioned sport sedans.



2. Autos.aol.com:

During our brief stint behind the wheel, we were only made aware of the stiffer suspension when the road turned rough, though the stickier Bridgestone rubber made a noticeable difference in the amount of available grip in mid-to-high speed cornering. The Genesis 5.0-liter R-Spec feels more confident than its 4.6-liter and 3.8-liter counterparts, but only in situations that most Hyundai buyers will never find themselves in. Otherwise, the suspension merely comes across as needlessly harsh.


3. Car and Driver:

Aside from the bigger V-8, the R-Spec differentiates itself from lesser Genesis models with various suspension and brake tweaks. A further 1-mm bump in rear-anti-roll-bar diameter supposedly cinches it down a bit more, but we didn’t get a chance to toss the car into any aggressive hairpins to verify this. What we were able to discern is that the moderately higher spring rates somewhat negate the other 2012 Genesis’s breakthroughs in the ride-and-handling arena, rediscovering some of the flintiness that other models thankfully left behind. Larger wheels—19 inches on the R-Spec—might also be partly to blame. We’d probably be happier with just the motor. Well, and the larger brakes. Six-cylinder cars upgrade to the 13.0-inch front rotors from last year’s 4.6 model; both V-8 cars now wear 13.6-inch front discs


4. The Car Connection:

Of the three powertrains buyers can choose on the rear-drive Genesis, it's the less expensive ones we prefer. The entry-level, 333-horsepower V-6 cranks out the power you'd find in some V-8 luxosedans, with just a slight six-cylinder snarl to call attention to itself. Like the muscular, 385-hp 4.6-liter V-8 in the mid-line Genesis, the six is teamed with a new eight-speed automatic that's the attentive, invisible match of its peers. In the uppermost R-Spec edition, 429 horsepower usher the Genesis to 60 mph in less than five seconds, but the stiff ride and meaty steering feel out of character when compared with the other models' relaxed ride and steering.

 

[GenesisCaptain]

There is a big difference between handling and ride.

I am not disputing that in any way. The point for me is curiosity about relative frame of reference.

 

[Mark_888]

These are the comments from various sources about the Genesis R-Spec suspension.

In a previous post, I said there were 4 different Genesis sedan suspension versions. I forgot about the R-Spec sedan (2012/2013), so there are actually 5 different versions (I corrected my previous post above). Since not everyone mentions which one they own, discussion of this topic can get confusing.

 

[Glashub]

You really need to spend more time driving the Genesis and other competing vehicles.

I have my Genesis for 14 months. Overall is it a very nice vehicle and a great value. The ride is only passable when compared to competing vehicles. It takes bumps fine (if a little firmly) but moves around more than I would like on suburban roads and on the highway. It is stable and safe but there is more movement over bumps and on the highway than there should be. Rather than just absorbing the bump and making you feel it (as per E class and 5 series) the vehicle moves up and down more than a sophisticated luxury car should (and more than my 2005 Accord did and my wife's 2011 Lexus SUV does).

However, it is not really harsh in dealing with bumps. Since the structure is so solid the actual hit in the car is tolerable, I just do not feel the car should move around as much over rough roads. I am no engineer but is seems like it is lacking in wheel travel and there is some other adjustments that need to be made to give is a bit more stability.

All that being said, it is a very quiet, comfortable car with lots of room, a great V6 (married to a good but not great 8 speed auto), reasonable (but not outstanding) features, buggy electronics and is pretty reliable mechanically. Around town mileage sucks (15-16), highway is pretty good (upper 20s).

It comes down to preference. The Genesis gives 90% of the e class or 5 series for 66% of the price. For most people who do not care about the badge or can live without the absolute best in ride and handling, it is a great car.

I would suggest that you also drive the 2013 Chrysler 300C. I drove one recently. While not as fast with the V6 -8 Speed Hyundai, it is plenty peppy, rides better (with the 18 inch wheels) than the Genesis, handles as well, has an almost (but not quite) as nice interior, solid build quality (again not as nice as the Genesis) and the availability of a few more features (heated and ventilated front seats on both sides, etc) at a slightly lower price. I cannot speak to the reliability but even the worst new car today is light years ahead of the most reliable car of 20 years ago.

When the 2014 Genesis comes out, I will definitely drive it and give it serious consideration but I will also drive the new Maxima at that time, along with new Acura TL, ES 350 and others.

So do you due diligence and make your choice. Recognize that every purchase requires compromises (unless you are very, very rich) and that all of these cars are decent, it is simply a matter of what priorities you have.

I think your post nails it.

 

[Vince2]

Roblaw's Genesis ride review "nails it" for me also. The Genesis was designed with a high attention to all details (See YouTube video of Krafcick (sp?) description of the design process). The suspension was designed and tuned to be exactly what it is...so what are we missing? If the designers of the car wanted a damper/spring combo that soaked and removed road changes they could have outfitted the car with a system that does exactly that (again see YouTube video of lead Hyundai suspension designer Wyndell Collins (sp?)). So what were the suspension design team aiming for: sporty yet comfortable? Vice-a-versa?

My experience with the 2010 3.8 was that it was simply too firm to be very comfortable. My relationship with Hyundai was about over until I drove the 2012. The suspension changed enough for me to enjoy the car and I traded the 10 for the 12.

I found this forum while looking for a solution to my dislike of the 2010 Genesis' firm ride. I just knew that the answer ("switch out the OEM shocks with XYZ's shocks and the car handles and rides beautifully") would be found on these pages...alas that wasn't to be.

Again my question is what were/are the Hyundai engineers going for? The Hyundai design folks are bright, capable people. I think they are pleased with their products. What properties in the Genesis are they happy with that we (well at least the suspension fault finders) are missing. Can it be that those unhappy with the ride/handling are a small minority?

This is all academic for me, since I'm pleased with the ride of my 12, but I find this stuff very interesting.

 

[Glashub]

Car and Driver reports that to Koreans cars are simply appliances and as a result their testing for road and track are inadequate.

 

[Jbo]

The 2012 RSpec really does not have a issue, as long as you expect a suspension between an E class V-8 and an BMW 5 V-8. Would selectable sport comfort or magma track ride be superior?.....probably...but then I was unwilling to pay for that.
Those of you with '09/10 perhaps 11's may need to find replacement shocks/ tires to solve the problem you believe you have , yet did not want to pay for a solution.
This horse has been beat enough!!!

 

[Glashub]

"The R-Spec upgrades don't really boost performance" - Cnet
http://reviews.cnet.com/sedan/2012-hyundai-genesis-5/4505-10865_7-35414204.html

Personally I'm tired of R-spec owners acting like they're seperate and above the rest of us.