Test Drive: 2009 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 V8

March 31, 2009

The car takes off well, with acceleration that feels more like the car is winding up than a drop-hammer drag race, which is in keeping with its luxo-limo feel; in testing by the Automobile Journalists of Canada, it took 6.4 seconds from a standing stop to 100 km/h, and 5.0 seconds to get from 80 to 120 km/h. Putting premium fuel into the filler neck will give you 375 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque, but if you want to economize, it will accept 87-octane, with a corresponding drop to 368 hp and 324 lb-ft of torque. Against a rated 12.6 L/100 km in the city and 8.1 on the highway, I averaged 13.5 L/100 km in combined and very cold-weather driving.

2009 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 V8. Click image to enlarge

Everything about the Genesis is spacious. The rear-seat legroom is stretch-out comfortable, the gently-bolstered front seats are just right, and the trunk is massive, offering a cargo length of 110 cm. The rear seats don’t fold, but a pass-through opens to let you carry long items up to 200 cm long.

If there’s any question about the Genesis, I would say it has to be in the marketing: did Hyundai do the right thing by leaving its name attached? I asked why it didn’t spin off a separate brand, as Toyota did with Lexus, which could easily be stocked with this model, the upcoming coupe version, and the Veracruz. The answer was that Hyundai did indeed look long and hard at it, and came to its decision based on the massive sum of money and the long period of time that it takes to establish a new brand, even if it’s a version of an already-entrenched company. Save for the stylized “H” on its trunk lid, the Genesis doesn’t carry the Hyundai name anywhere, inside or out. Still, this company is best known for its low price tags, and while $48,995 is relatively inexpensive against comparable vehicles, it’s a lot of money for a Hyundai. It’s now up to the market to determine if the company made the right decision, or if the Genesis will share the fate of Volkswagen’s doomed Phaeton, which probably would have sold out if it had worn Audi’s rings instead of the Beetle’s badge.

The press has already said its piece: the Genesis has been named 2009 Canadian Car of the Year by the Automobile Journalists of Canada; it was also the 2009 North American Car of the Year, and its engine was named one of Ward’s 10 Best Engines. And I’ll add to that by saying they were all justifiably earned. This isn’t just the best Hyundai I’ve driven. This is simply one of the better cars I’ve ever driven, period.

Pricing: 2009 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 V8

Base price: $43,995

Options: $ 5,000 (Technology Package)

A/C tax: $100

Freight: $1,610

Price as tested: $50,705
Click here for options, dealer invoice prices and factory incentives

Specifications

Specifications: 2009 Hyundai Genesis

Competitors

Buyer’s Guide: 2009 Acura TL

Buyer’s Guide: 2009 Audi A6

Buyer’s Guide: 2009 BMW 5 Series