Consumer Guide tested both versions of the 2009 Hyundai Genesis; the 3.8-liter V6 and the 4.6-liter V8.
Base Price: $32,250
Options: Premium Plus Package (18-inch alloy wheels with 235/50R18 tires, Lexicon 14-speaker premium surround sound audio system with in-dash 6-disc CD changer, leather-wrapped dashboard and door trim, power sunroof with tilt and slide, power tilt and telescopic steering column, integrated memory system, rain-sensing wipers, and auto-defogging windshield
Price as Tested: $36,000
Total Miles Tested: 292 miles
Fuel Economy: 17.4 mpg (mostly city driving)
| Editors' Comments |
| Tom Appel: Genesis is the pretty girl with nothing to talk about. She doesn't care about music, doesn't follow politics, and will watch whatever is on TV. Like that girl, Genesis comes up short on personality. It's plenty attractive--if not actually good looking. The cabin is very nice, the design is nice, and the car is chock full of features--but there's no magic here. Nothing about the experience of driving Genesis makes you feel special. Well, there is one thing: $36,000. That's the sticker price on our well-equipped V6. How good of a deal is that? Well, to get this much stuff on the smaller, less-powerful Lexus ES 350, you're going to need close to $40,000. We made Genesis a Consumer Guide Recommended car for a reason: It's a heck of a deal. But before you buy one, be sure you're not looking for any witty conversation. |
| Damon Bell: In terms of power, interior appointments, quietness, passenger space, and luxury features, the Genesis is an impressive effort that compares favorably to cars costing thousands more. Genesis' Achilles' heel is its unrefined suspension, which makes for a clunky ride that's quite unbecoming in a large luxury sedan. Still, this is a lot of car for $36,000. |
| Don Sikora: The Hyundai Genesis has the ingredients it needs to be a serious player in its class, but somehow the car seems to be a bit less than the sum of its parts. Ride control and winter drivability aren't the best, and some small details are a bit underdeveloped for the crowd this car wants to compete with. Genesis is a fine effort, but it compares much more favorably to a loaded Chrysler 300 or a Lexus ES350 than it does to a BMW 5-Series or Cadillac CTS. |
Model #2: 2009 Hyundai Genesis 4.6; 375-horsepower 4.6-liter V8 and 6-speed automatic transmission
Base Price: $37,250
Options: Technology Package (front- and rear-obstacle-detection system, navigation system, upgraded Lexicon sound system, hard drive, rearview camera, heated/cooled driver seat, and steering-linked adaptive xenon headlights)
Price as Tested: $41,250
Total Miles Tested: 778 miles
Fuel Economy: 22.28 mpg
| Editors' Comments |
| John Biel: Anybody who's ever driven a Hyundai before (or at least thinks they know what a Hyundai is) will be surprised at the look, feel, and driving characteristics of the Genesis. They'll also be surprised at the price--delivered, the V8 in this test stickered at $41,250, including a $4,000 option package. All told, though, it does a pretty credible imitation of similarly sized luxury cars, but in a price range about one prestige class down--which makes it worth considering. |
| Rick Cotta: It has the look and power of luxury competitors costing far more, but I can't say the Genesis blew me away. Rear-seat room and small-item storage aren't great for a car this size, and some serious work needs to be done on the suspension before Hyundai can claim to be a cut-rate contender to BMW or Infiniti. |
| Jennifer Geiger: Hyundai has much to be proud of with Genesis. This sedan does many things well: Power is smooth and ample, the top-notch interior is inviting and comfortable, and the features-per-dollar ratio is unmatched by rivals in this class. People looking for a luxury sedan without the luxury brand name and price tag should drive a Genesis. |
| Ed Piotrowski: At first glance, it would seem that Hyundai is throwing it all away by releasing a rear-drive, V8-powered large sedan. You could say that the company executives are living in a land of confusion, not quite grasping the "smaller is better" mantra that has been sweeping U.S. car buyers of late. The company is in too deep to back out now, being that they've invested time, money, and other resources into bringing this car to market. I'm sure they're taking it all too hard from the rest of the automotive press, though, as Genesis has a lot going for it. Make no misunderstanding, Hyundai's flagship is roomy and comfortable, with a great V8 and top-notch interior appointments. Like it or not, I say a loaded $41,000 Genesis V8 is a better value than a $38,000 Veracruz. That's all. |
The 2009 Hyundai Genesis is Hyundai's first rear-wheel drive, V8-powered sedan.
02.17.2009
