2010 Hyundai Genesis Review
The Hyundai Genesis sedan is nothing short of revolutionary for the Hyundai brand. Hyundai's have a long-running legacy here in the U.S. as smaller, more economical cars. The Genesis-introduced to the American public in 2008-shook-up that image considerably. No longer does Hyundai only stand for compact and mid-size cars; Hyundai has unveiled to the world that it intends to compete with the likes of the Lexus GS series, BMW 5-series, Chrysler 300C and the now-defunct Pontiac G8. The Genesis sedan has additionally received the prestigious North American Car of the Year (at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show) award-further solidifying its standing as a viable alternative to similar American, Japanese and German competitors.
Performance
For 2010, the rear-wheel drive Genesis carries-over the 3.8 and 4.6 trim levels; the 3.8 sports a 3.8L V6 and the 4.6 boasts a 4.6L V8. Both engines are mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission and the steering-wheel is nicely complimented with SHIFTRONIC paddles. Fuel conservation is just about on par with competitors, at EPA-estimated 18/27 mpg for the base sedan, and 17/25 for the V8.
Both of the engine choices in the Genesis are more than satisfactory for this market segment. The base sedan pumps out 290 horsepower, while the 4.6 boasts a mighty 385 ponies under the hood. The V8 is especially quick; it does the 0-60 sprint in just 5.9 seconds-with the V6 not far behind. The engine and ride smoothness of the Hyundai is on-par (if not better) with competitors. Finally, in the 70-0 mph braking test, the Genesis consistently outperforms even the BMW 5-series sedan, coming to a complete stop at no more than 163 feet. The feel of the steering won't be confused with a 5-series-as it feels somewhat "separated" from the wheels-but will still please anyone who has ever driven a Lexus or Acura product.
Features and Interior Quality
The interior is where the Hyundai Genesis really shines. Gone are the days of drab, utilitarian Hyundai interiors. The interior is, by far, the best Hyundai has ever crafted. Supple, soft leather grace the dash and seats and is truly magical to the touch. One of the potential downsides, though, is that the base model only gets faux leather on the dash and trim; nonetheless, it feels very good and is nice to the touch. Note: The BMW 3-series also used “leatherette” trimmings in past models—so perhaps it’s justified in lieu of the benchmark Bimmer.
Other controls-such as the radio, navigation controls, and switchgear-feel quite upscale. The responsiveness of them does not quite seem like Audi or BMW precision, but is very good nonetheless. The wood veneers are pretty convincing at first look and touch; however, it still lacks some of the depth and luster of rivals like the Lexus GS. The navigation system is easy-to-use and quite intuitive. The standard 14-speaker Lexicon surround-sound stereo is one of the best features of the interior-only one word, hypnotizing!
The Hyundai Genesis sedan may not be neck-and-neck with the likes of the BMW 5-series or Lexus GS just yet, but you have to account for the fact that it’s only in its third production year. Give it another year, though-the Japanese and Germans could soon start sweating.
