Here's a little more of the review.....
The all-new 2009 Hyundai Genesis sedan has been capturing more than its share of the spotlight this year. The luxury-oriented four-door sedan was launched with much ballyhoo over the summer. With a long list of standard features, a choice of six- or eight-cylinder power, and its sights pointed directly at some heavy-hitting established competition, the sedan rolled into showrooms with high expectations. After a few short introductory drives, Hyundai put both models in the Autoblog Garage so we could spend some time getting a bit more intimate with its new players. How solid is the chassis, engine and powertrain? How does the sedan hold up to the daily grind? How does the late-arrival fare against its status-laden competition? Find out after the jump.
Autoblog has driven the Hyundai Genesis sedan on more than one occasion. We sampled it in May, and then flogged it on the track in June during its introduction. While both of our "first drives" were but a quick taste, this time we were generously able to spend ten full days split between the V6 (silver) and V8 (burgundy) models. We commuted to work, drove carpools, took friends out to dinner and embarked on a one-day 250-plus mile road trip. Our goal was to subject the Genesis to a bit of everything and see how we felt about it at the end of the week.
The rear-
wheel-drive Hyundai Genesis sedan is available in two models: Genesis 3.8 and Genesis 4.6. As is common in this segment, the chassis is shared with both models but the engine/powertrain is different. The Genesis 3.8 features a 290-hp 3.8-liter V6 mated to an Aisin 6-speed automatic transmission (MSRP starting at $32,250). The Genesis 4.6 rides with a 375-hp 4.6-liter V8 and a ZF 6-speed automatic (MSRP starting at $37,250). The exactly $5,000 price jump between the two models delivers the big engine, electro-hydraulic power steering, premium leather, a wood/leather steering
wheel, painted bodyside molding (the easy way to tell the models apart), plus all of the equipment found in the V6's optional $3,000 "Premium Package Plus." Option to option, the 375-hp engine is a $2,000 cash upgrade and you still end up with more than a few exclusive bits and pieces. It's not nearly the model price jump found on some near competitors (BMW charges $50,800 for the 300-hp 535i and $60,000 for the 360-hp 550i – before option packages). Hyundai appears to be paving its own road when it comes to an aggressive pricing model. (It is also interesting to note that the base MSRP hasn't raised a penny since May of this year.)
At first glance, the exterior styling of the Genesis sedan isn't polarizing. In fact, it's rather benign. Hyundai studied its competitors, stole their favorite non-offensive styling cues, and then sculpted the Genesis. What emerged from their design team looks more like a sporty Lexus LS460 than anything else, but it hints at BMW, Mercedes-Benz and even Nissan. Without a double-take, most passers-by think it's just another Lexus before they continue on their way. If they happen to glance a second look, the bright "Klingon" grille and lack of any front-mounted identifying
badge draws confusion for another few seconds... then they move on. We received exactly two "thumbs-up" while driving the Genesis for ten days – both were from
Infiniti owners. Mercedes owners refused to be caught staring, while Lexus drivers seemed perplexed at the look-alike when we drove alongside. The sleek styling of the Genesis reeks of luxury and quality... and that seems to concern the competition as they hide behind their
badges.
The interior of the Genesis is very inviting and roomy. We fit four adults in with ease. As a testament to the generous second-row leg room, small child-seat riding children couldn't kick the seatbacks even with a 6-plus footer in the driver's seat. Although it isn't quite up to the opulent Lexus standard (sorry, no yards of rippled leather), anyone would be hard-pressed to complain about comfort. The dash sweeps across the cabin with a thick band of chocolate leather, while the wood-grained accents are tastefully applied. The dash instrumentation is white on black, and the cockpit buttons glow with a modern blue hue at night. When the doors are opened in the dark, the cabin itself is bathed in LED illumination – it's a bright white light that is immediately noticed (Hyundai calls it a "room" light, not a "dome" light, by the way). The pseudo-iDrive joystick control that comes with the optional Navigation System (it was on our V8 model) works very well. After a short acclimation period, we found it simple to use. The 8-inch display is one of the clearest we've seen, and the graphics are exceedingly clear with excellent contrast. Unlike other automakers in this segment that seem to think complexity equals sophistication, it didn't take us long to familiarize ourselves with the cabin or its logical controls.
The Genesis sedan really doesn't have any quirks to preclude it from family duty. It's easy to climb in and out. Outward visibility is good, and it offers decent cargo capacity. The chassis is solid and the cabin squeak-free. In fact, the sedan effortlessly fell into our daily routine of commuting, errands, carpools and entertaining. We put strollers in the trunk and cleated soccer players in the back seats. After 240 hours of scrutiny, the new Korean flagship emerged mostly unscathed. We were, however, left with several strong impressions.
First, we stand by our original statement – the Genesis isn't going to fool anyone into thinking it is a BMW. The suspension on the big Asian four-door is soft and comfortable, while the Europeans tend to be firm and controlled. The Genesis doesn't challenge the driver to exit the off-ramp at double the posted speed limit like a BMW, or even
Infiniti. It can handle it, trust us on that, but the tactile impressions the driver receives through the steering
wheel and brakes beg civility, not anarchy. You won't see a Genesis being driven in anger (just like you don't see a Lexus LS diving hot into a corner during your daily commute).
Read the rest here:
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/13/in-the-autoblog-garage-2009-hyundai-genesis-sedan/
