Hyundai Genesis Review

In the case of the Hyundai brand, necessity has been the mother of reinvention. Ten years ago, Hyundai was little more than the punch line to jokes about low-quality cars with laughable reliability. If the brand was to survive in the increasingly competitive automotive marketplace, it needed a major-league makeover. Hyundai has accomplished exactly that in recent years, turning out vehicles that have been hailed as paragons of value-priced quality.

This reinvention scales new heights with the Hyundai Genesis, the manufacturer's first stab at the luxury car market. Quiet as a murmur and drenched in luxury, it offers genuine opulence at an unbelievably low price, and credibly competes with premium sedans by Acura, Cadillac, Infiniti and Lexus. If you're in the market for a luxury sedan and want to savor all the bells and whistles without cleaning out your kids' college funds, take a look at the impressive Hyundai Genesis.

Current Hyundai Genesis
The Hyundai Genesis is offered in four trims (3.8, 4.6, 5.0 and 5.0 R-Spec), which take their names from their corresponding engines. Base 3.8 models are powered by a 3.8-liter V6 good for 333 horsepower and 291 pound-feet of torque, while 4.6 models feature a 4.6-liter V8 with an impressive 385 hp and 333 lb-ft. The 5.0 and R-Spec models upgrade to a 5.0-liter V8 that produces 429 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque. All models are rear-wheel drive and use an eight-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control.

Even in base trim, the Genesis 3.8 offers high-end features like dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated front seats and a seven-speaker sound system with satellite radio and iPod compatibility. Options include 18-inch wheels, upgraded leather, adaptive cruise control, a rearview camera, a 14-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, and a navigation system with either touchscreen or advanced rotary selector interface.

The V8-powered Genesis 4.6 and 5.0 include 18-inch alloy wheels, chrome exterior accents, premium leather, adaptive cruise control, Bluetooth and a 15-speaker Lexicon sound system as standard equipment. The Genesis 5.0 R-Spec spices things up with 19-inch wheels and sport-tuned transmission, suspension and steering. High-performance summer tires are optional on the R-Spec (low-rolling-resistance tires are standard on supporting trims).

On the outside, the Hyundai Genesis looks the part of a luxury sedan, with elegant sheet metal and superb build quality. This air of sophistication continues inside, where you'll find yourself swaddled in soft-touch surfaces and high-quality materials. Roominess is another of its strengths, as both front and rear passengers enjoy spacious accommodations and well-shaped seats.

In road tests, our editors have found that this decadent four-door is very quiet on the highway. It glides along practically any surface with unruffled composure, effortlessly dispensing with pavement bumps and irregularities. Power from the V6 is ample and refined, while the V8s provide effortless acceleration and sewing-machine smoothness with only a minimal penalty at the pump.

The 3.8 and 4.6 models won't deliver the sport-sedanlike handling that some European rivals tout. For that, the 5.0 R-Spec will deliver sharper performance in the curves, but this comes at the expense of comfort. The sport-tuned suspension is significantly stiffer, adding considerable harshness over rough pavement.

If you frequently haul outsized loads, you may long for a folding rear seat, as the Genesis only offers a pass-through option. Drivers living in rougher climates may wish for all-wheel drive, which isn't offered on the Genesis. Another missing component, of course, is Lexus-grade levels of prestige. But not all luxury-car buyers place a premium on snob appeal. Costing thousands less than its esteemed rivals, loaded with generous features and built impeccably, the Hyundai Genesis stands in a class of its own.

Used Hyundai Genesis Models
The Hyundai Genesis debuted for the 2009 model year and has seen progressive changes since. For 2010, adaptive cruise control, an electronic parking brake and touchscreen navigation joined the options list. The 2011 model year saw the increase of power from the V8, from 375 hp to the current 385-hp rating. The 2012 model year added the 5.0 and R-Spec to the Genesis lineup and also marked the debut of the eight-speed transmission (up from six speeds).