Hyundai Genesis Reviews

Anybody who doubts that Hyundai is gunning for the number one in the world has rocks in their head. Big heavy ones. Korean companies do not settle for anything less than number one. The second-generation Genesis (our first taste here in the Antipodes as the gen-one had its steering wheel on the wrong side) is proof.What's different about Hyundai's unstoppable rise is the way they're going about it. They've always done their own thing in Korea, reinventing themselves time and again when they strayed off the beaten path.The Genesis is a gamble for a Korean company in foreign markets whose default setting for luxury is marked, Britain or Germany. If Hyundai gets the Genesis wrong there will be howls of derision, or at best patronising pats on the back - "Nice try, you'll get there one day". But if they get it right...

Korea's Genesis, a new face in the airport limo car park, takes on Holden's flagship. Joshua Dowling adjudicates.

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the Hyundai Genesis with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Paul Gover road tests and reviews the Hyundai Genesis with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Chris Riley road tests and reviews the Hyundai Genesis with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the Hyundai Genesis with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz or...Hyundai? That's the choice now facing luxury shoppers who want maximum value, as the Korean car maker from struggle street moves into the top end of town.In the most aggressive move in the luxury class since Toyota put Lexus on the road in 1999, Hyundai has produced a new flagship called Genesis that it is pitching directly against the German luxury establishment.A starting price bang on $60,000, and a fully loaded hero car at a highly affordable $82,000, mean it's also likely to make the list for people considering a large Aussie car like a Holden Caprice.The Genesis is full-sized, fully loaded, a success in the US and already into its second generation across the Pacific. But this is Australia, where competition is tougher than anywhere else on the planet with 60-plus brands - and where a Hyundai badge is all about pricetags that end in $990 with a five-year warranty to provide a safety net."We deliberately chose not to have a $990 price tag. I think this was important. This is a major change for us," says Hyundai CEO Charlie Kim.So Genesis is more than a car. It's a change in the game. Or not. "We know that selling a luxury car will not be easy," Kim says. "But it's the next step for our brand. We think we are ready."Starting with the basics, Genesis is an old-school luxury car with a V6 in the nose, rear-wheel drive, and a five-adult cabin complete with everything from leather trim and touchscreen infotainment with 17 speakers to a button in the back that allows you to move the front-passenger seat for more lounging space.Hyundai stirs in everything from nine airbags in the basic car up to a carbon dioxide sensor - claimed as a world first - in the $11,000 Sensory Pack to combat fatigue and drowsiness, then a panoramic glass sunroof and acoustic glass to cut noise in the $22,000 'Ultimate Pack'.The Genesis has just achieved the highest safety score in the history of ANCAP crash testing, 36.88 from a possible 37, and the company also claims interior noise levels that are nearly 25 per cent better than a couple of its European rivals.Distilling the claims, we're talking about the size and equipment of an Audi A6 for the price of an A4.During the press preview of the Genesis this week, the comparisons sweep up a huge range of luxury contenders from Audi, BMW, Infiniti, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz, as well as the Commodore and Caprice.But Hyundai has the advantage of a five-year warranty, which it is sweetening on the Genesis with five years of free servicing.It's all about conquesting what Hyundai describes as "astute thinkers", although you might think of them as accountants, or hire-car operators. They're more likely to be looking at the facts and figures than the badge on the bonnet.Hyundai's research says likely buyers are in the 40-60 age group, mostly live in big cities, and could be comparing the Genesis with everything from a Toyota Aurion to a Mercedes E400.So, what's it like?The car looks good, with plenty of presence in the carpark, there is a big boot, good space in the back, and there is nothing to complain about in the cabin.Everything you really need is in the $60,000 car, but sliding up to the $82,000 model brings such tasty features as bigger instruments, head-up display, ventilated seats, powered bootlid and that giant sunroof.The Genesis has 232kW with strong torque from low revs and that means, with an eight-speed auto and despite a fair heft, it gets along well.There is good overtaking punch and it cruises easily at 110km/h. The fuel economy is not great but I have no trouble beating the company's 11.2L/100km claim during a long run that mixes suburban and country roads.The car is quiet and comfy, there is lots of safety stuff - including an all-round camera in the flagship and both radar cruise and blind-spot warnings - and it drives easily. It's no match for an Audi in the cabin quality - one car I drive has a dashboard squeak - but it does the job quite nicely. If I didn't know it was a Hyundai I'd more likely pick it as a Lexus or an Infiniti.And that's where the plan comes slightly unglued. All the rational stuff makes sense. The car ticks the boxes for people who buy a car as transport and want maximum value.But an Audi feels more 'special', a BMW is better to drive and the new C-Class from Mercedes shows how to refresh an idea with modern thinking and design work. Just as an example between challenger and champions, the wood trim in the Genesis is fake.Still, the price is impressive and I would rate the Genesis ahead of a Lexus ES and the Caprice as a car.Hyundai's sales target next year is about 1000 cars, which is slightly ambitious but could be on the money if it's right about those astute thinkers who use their calculator as much as their car. And there are also those limo drivers, who are definitely looking for an alternative to the Caprice without having to spend big on an Audi or a Benz.The badge snobs will not be thinking about a Genesis any time soon but we can still expect to see many examples on the road, many of them driven by smartly dressed men wearing hats who know a bargain when they see it.

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the Hyundai Genesis, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Hyundai is keen to lift its image in Australia with an all-new upmarket model called Genesis. Though the Genesis has been sold in other countries since 2009 it has previously been built only with the steering wheel on the left. That situation has been rectified in the second generation Genesis so imports to Australia can begin.That's the good news, there's minor bad news in that the V8 models still aren't being made with the steering wheel on the Australian side. However, after driving hundreds of kilometres in the 3.8-litre V6 that is coming downunder we feel it offers more than enough performance for most drivers.Hyundai Genesis is a large car, being slightly bigger than Commodore and Falcon. It's also larger than the cars Hyundai sees as Genesis' biggest competitors - Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Tackling the big name Germans sounds ambitious? Yes, but Hyundai arguably has bigger ambitions than just about any other car maker. We've visited the company's head office in Seoul several times over many years, and have come away with doubts in our minds when we've heard its longterm plans – only to have been proven wrong in the past.Conservative sleekness is probably the best way to describe the Hyundai Genesis. Though it's not as radical in its looks as the smaller Hyundai models, its slightly toned down look is just right for this upmarket area. Interestingly, the body design is chiefly the work of an Australian born Korean, Casey Hyun.The body theme is based around a new single-piece grille that works nicely to our eyes. This grille theme will eventually become the face of Hyundai as it's introduced in others in the range.The side profile is nicely curved and almost comes into four-door coupe territory. However, there's good headroom in the rear, something that's not always found in this semi-coupe class.Tail treatment has a built-in spoiler lip and a wide stance that gives Genesis a powerful look from the rear.Interior style and quality are particularly impressive; there's leather with a hand-stitched look, real timber, suede and aluminium. The in-cabin feel is likely to be a major selling feature of the new Genesis.Only one engine is to be offered in Australia, a modern 3.8-litre direct-injection petrol V6 developing 235 kilowatts of power and 400 Nm of torque. Transmission is by an eight-speed automatic to the rear wheels. Rear-wheel-drive is considered mandatory in every vehicle in this upmarket class.The Hyundai Genesis is crammed with the latest in in-car entreatment, including a 17-speaker Lexicon audio system. Bluetooth, USB and Aux inputs are installed.There are numerous crash avoidance or minimisation features, including all-round electronic vision, automatic emergency braking, lane keeping, radar cruise control, and a large, coloured head-up display. The Genesis even helps to protect your licence. Using satellite navigation information it automatically slows the car as you approach fixed speed cameras, then returns to its original speed when the danger zone has been safely negotiated.Seat comfort is very good and there's enough support without the seat bolsters being overly aggressive. The rear seat provides good head and legroom. Three can be carried, but as is the norm in rear-drive cars some foot comfort is stolen by the necessary transmission tunnel. The centre armrest in the rear folds down to provide access to many functions such as the ventilation system, even the satellite navigation settings, the latter displayed by screens in the rear of the front seats. Given the upmarket feel of the rest of the interior the plastic mountings for the rear-seat screens aren't to the high standard anticipated.Hyundai's 3.8-litre V6 engine is a stunner, it is not only responsive and torquey throughout its range, but also provides the sort of intake and exhaust sounds drivers love to hear when the car is punted hard. The car may be relatively conservative, but the aural output is anything but. We love it.The body is strongly built and this helps damp noise and vibration to impressively low levels. We've obviously yet to pit the body and suspension against Australia's notoriously harsh coarse-chip surfaces, but will do so when the first shipment arrives towards the end of the third quarter this year and bring full reports then.Our test vehicles were to Korean specifications as final testing in Australia is still to be completed. Ride comfort is generally good, but some midsize potholes did catch it out at times. Generally buyers in this class put comfort ahead of sporty road grip, although most Australians do like a bit of feel and feedback as well.Road grip is safe and the car is nicely balanced. Attacking bends on winding roads brings in more body roll and understeer than we like – but see the aforementioned remarks about buyers preference for comfort in cars like this.

Craig Duff road tests and reviews the new Hyundai Genesis sedan in South Korea. Hyundai has beaten the Japanese at their own game by building solid cars with decent features and sharp pricing, a strategy that has lifted the South Korean juggernaut to No. 2 passenger car maker in Australia to date this year.Now the company that made its name with the too-cheap-to-resist Getz is tackling the prestige car world with a $60,000 Euro-fighter, the Genesis.It heralds the arrival of a new player in the mid-sized luxury segment. It is loaded with the hi-tech driver aids and luxury materials buyers in this class expect, yet will be about $18,000 cheaper than a comparable BMW 5 Series, Lexus GS, Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.The car isn't due in Australia until late this year and Hyundai Australia has yet to finalise specifications or even the model range. Funnily enough, that means the company is a bit coy on pricing.Carsguide believes there will be an entry-level model about $62,000 and a fully loaded version nearer $75,000 — the entry price of the European marques against which the Genesis was benchmarked.Those base models are fitted with four-cylinder engines that lack the power of the Genesis's V6 mill, though they don't use nearly as much fuel.As far as features go, if it exists in a Benz or Beemer it's available on the Genesis. There's even an analog clock mounted in the dash — it resembles a traditional timepiece but stays true with satellite synchronicity.The techno-toy list runs from a head-up display to adaptive cruise control, lane departure warnings, blind-spot warning and adaptive suspension damping.Hyundai has even fitted a carbon dioxide sensor in the cabin. If CO2 levels rise beyond a set threshold the aircon adjusts the mix of fresh and recirculated air to stop the occupants feeling drowsy.Other smart touches include an auto-opening boot. Stand behind the Genesis for three seconds and it will pop the latch, along with a warning flash of the lights. Unlike rivals, there's no foot waving required.Who'd have thought we'd see perforated nappa leather and matt-finished timber trim as standard in a Hyundai? There are features of the cabin that are mightily impressive and overall fit and finish are a step up on the company's already high standing.Big picture stuff apart, it is the little, nuanced items, such as the way the buttons and dials feel under the fingers, that subjectively resonate as true luxury. On that basis, the Genesis isn't quite there yet. It comes close though and there's no other prestige brand with this much bling for the bucks.Interior space is impressive front or back and the car is generally well thought out. The one criticism came when the sun shone on the South Korean test drive — and reflected glare from the chrome air vent surrounds all but obscured the side mirrors.The exterior isn't radical. Few executive sedans are, but the sharp crease that runs the length of the big car at door handle height, the wide, tapering hexagonal grille and bejewelled LED headlamp surrounds give it a well-balanced look with the presence needed to make others take a second look.ANCAP hasn't smashed one yet but it's safe to assume Hyundai hasn't built a luxury limo that can't achieve the five-star rating earned by its regular vehicles.The US safety authority, NHTSA, gave it a five-star result and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Genesis its top ranking, though that car was fitted with the automatic emergency braking software that's an option there. Hyundai Australia can't yet say whether it will follow suit here.Nine airbags are standard and there's an active bonnet to stop pedestrians trying to imprint their cranium on the engine or vice versa.The priority in developing the new Genesis has been poise rather than outright pace. The emphasis is on ride luxury to satisfy US and Middle-East buyers who want a pillowy ride. That doesn't work Down Under and the local engineers are already working on a revised suspension tune to give the car more bite through the corners and less body roll.The 3.8-litre V6 punches along nicely but in the absence of a turbocharger giving it instant torque it needs a few seconds to wind up. External sounds are subdued — there's virtually no wind noise — and it is only when the right foot is planted to the firewall that the engine emits enough bark to be really heard.Some coarse-chip surfaces caused a decent amount of tyre rumble but we'll reserve judgment until we see what rubber the Australian-spec cars will have. An expected fuel use of about 11.0L/100km isn't great but it will take decades for the extra fuel to eat into the savings from the purchase price.The most frightening aspect of the car is that it's already good, if not yet great. Experience shows Hyundais dramatically improve with each successive generation. That means the Genesis will start attracting attention from the top end of town.