What is it?
This is the Hyundai Genesis, the rear-wheel driven executive saloon that the Korean firm is offering up to rival BMW’s 5-series, Mercedes’ new E-class, Audi’s A6 and Lexus’ GS. A brave car indeed, then. But is it a sacrificial lamb or a revelation?
Hyundai launched this car in other parts of the world a year ago, but because it won’t be officially sold in Europe, now is our first chance to drive one in Britain. It’s a range-topping 375bhp 4.6-litre V8 that Hyundai Motor Europe has brought over for evaluation purposes.
What’s it like?
Hyundai’s marketing material described this car as “5-series sized, with a 7-series-sized cabin and a 3-series-sized price tag”. It’s certainly roomy and, in the US, is priced from $37,250 – that’s just under £24,000 at the current exchange rate – where a V8-powered BMW 5-series or Mercedes E-class costs a clear $60k without options.
From the kerbside, the Genesis certainly looks a bit forgettable though. That’s not to say it isn’t smart and contemporary, but the aesthetic does absolutely nothing to attract your attention. But that’s probably exactly as Hyundai intended; it must want nothing more than for this car to be accepted as ‘one of the crowd’. If you look carefully, you’ll notice that they didn’t even bother to put a badge on the front of it.
But slide aboard and the driver’s door thunks shut behind you with an expensive-sounding air of authority. A large leather and veneer steering wheel juts towards you in front of a two-tone grey and cream dashboard wrapped in leather and soft-touch plastics. Every surface has a costly-looking grain; every stalk and button moves with tactile impressiveness. So far, so very good indeed.
Thumb the starter button and the car’s 4.6-litre ‘Tau’ V8 starts to spin away distantly. Drag the gearlever down into ‘D’, release the footbrake. The wheel feels slow, heavy and inert at low speeds, but it’s precise and consistent, and effectively reminds you of the size of the five-metre hulk you’re steering.
There’s remarkably little noise from either the chassis or the engine while you’re bumbling around town; little more when you’re coursing down the motorway. At both urban and cross-country cruising speeds, in fact, the Genesis produces the same vault-like feel as a petrol-powered Lexus LS or Mercedes S-class. Ninety-nine per cent of the time you simply can’t hear either its motor or its suspension in action; there’s a little road and tyre roar and the faintest suggestion of wind noise – that’s all. Thank what Hyundai describes as an exceptionally stiff bodyshell for that.
Head off the multi-lane stuff and seek out some curves and bumps to challenge this car’s dynamic repertoire that bit more. Our test car isn’t altogether happy to be hustled along a back road; it’s on US chassis settings that leave it too softly sprung and under-damped for British roads. Still, it turns in well, and has decent balance for such a big car. The powertrain’s commendable too, with plenty of power high up in the rev range, and the same excellent six-speed ZF automatic gearbox you’ll find in so many other premium saloons.
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Re: Hyundai Genesis 4.6 V8
Around town isn't where cars like this are designed for. Anyway, I think it actually looks rather good. Bland and generic, sure, but far from offensive. Sure, they need to sort out the steering and suspension for continental Europe - but I think we ought to take it seriously. For Hyundai to have risen this far from the Pony in 25 years shows that, in another 25 years, they could be a huge global player like Toyota (only without the sticky pedal issues!). Still, we all know we'd rather have an XF.
Re: Hyundai Genesis 4.6 V8
Thanks, VocalistBob, for your positive message. Your assessment above is almost 100% accurate representation of me as a recent Genesis buyer.
I own a 2009 Genesis 4.6 w/ the Tech pkg and a few add-ons - nost recently the Genesis winged badges for my wheels, trunk lid and hood (which I will not use - that's too far and tacky). Now the stylized Hyundai "H" is nowhere visible on "Gen's" sleek black exterior. I've tinted the windows and take childish delight in raising and lowering my rear sunscreen at various times.
And before I go on, let me say that the performance of this car is all I need and more in my New England lifestyle - every bit as satisfying and more, sometimes in compensatory ways, than what I have come to enjoy with my two previous 8-cylinder 5 Series BMWs.
I had a HUGE struggle in parting from the "brand" of BMW. The whole image thing is so powerful, implicitly and explicitly, that it took me almost a year to finally trade in my 2004 545i for my new Korean upstart. The final push? Once the warranties on the vaunted BMWs (and Mercedes - had one of those, too - much prefer the BMW) expire, the bill for every trip to the dealer exceeds $800 - usually closer to $1200. Mind you, I owned BMWs for the past 12 years, so I speak from my experience as well as the experience of many fellow bimmer drivers. Habitual drivers of these machines typically earn or otherwise have access to enough funds so that the price tag isn't the #1 consideration. Ergo, I purchased my 2004 after a wonderful time with my earlier 540 - and not too long after that warranty expired, I might add.
My plan for the past 2 years was to take European delivery on a 2010 550i - drive the Autobahn, visit with friends and business acquaintances I've met in Europe, and continue my BMW relationship. But then, while I am financially comfortable, I'm not immune or invulnerable to the economic tsunami: no bonus, no increase, steady growing family, yada, yada - and after my last $1800.00 repair bill, with a known future expense of $1200.00 looming - and MUCH research and at least 4 extended test drives - I moved to my V8 Genesis.
Now hear me: I am not saying that the Genesis is an equal to the BMW 545, or that it is the best car I've ever driven or will drive. I'd much prefer to drive the Autobahn in a tight and exquisitely crafted Bavarian driving machine that I've come to love. But my daily driving experience is just the same and in some ways (due to toys) better than it was before the trade.
So, if I had endless funds and absolutely no worries about economic stability, I'd've purchased a new 550. But, given:
* the 10 year, 100,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty (I paid a little extra for TOTAL coverage;
* the volume of valid and reliable impressive road and performance test results that have been published;
* the really excellent quality interior and exterior details (I took it to my trusted BMW-only mechanic, who was blown away by the attention to detail and quality in the engine compartment);
* the fact that it can burn premium or regular - the hp drops to 365 on regular, although I'll never burn anything but premium in it;
* and my own personal experience as an owner for almost a month now
I am very happy to have defied strong automotive brand paradigms and purchased my Genesis 4.6.
As I read elsewhere in the string: it's a new world, folks. "Global" entails expanded mindsets and paradigms. Don't knock so strongly that which you have no direct experience with.
Nice site, by the way!
Cheers,
Vlad
Re: Hyundai Genesis 4.6 V8
The problem is that in the UK rough roads is everyday driving. The sh1t that passes for a road here these days has to be seen to be believed.
The Genesis is a nice enough looking car and I'm glad you are enjoying yours. Unfortunately there are an awefull lot of people here for who the badge on the car is everything, That's why the Genesis will never be a success (or sold) here.