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August 14, 2009
   2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Turbo. Click image to enlarge |
Once seated, the driver finds visibility is clear to the front and sides, and thanks to large rear side windows, the over-the-shoulder view is good too. The high trunk lid obstructs the rear view but at least the fixed rear head restraints don’t get in the way, and there isn’t a rear spoiler on the trunklid to further ‘spoil’ the view.
The Coupe’s turbocharged 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine puts out 210 horsepower at 6,000 r.p.m. and 223 lb-ft of torque at just 2,000 r.p.m. With the maximum torque coming on so early, there’s very little ‘turbo lag’ when starting out. And because the Genesis Coupe is rear-wheel drive, there’s no torque-steer to interfere with your steering duties. Acceleration is quick but not super quick – Hyundai quotes a 0 to 100 km/h time of 8.3 seconds with the manual transmission (the Genesis Coupe V6 is 6.3 seconds) but my seat-of-the-pants impression is that the Turbo coupe is faster than that. The engine is buzzy under acceleration but cabin vibrations are minimal. On the freeway in top gear, the engine revs at 2,600 r.p.m. Published fuel economy figures are 10.1 L/100 km City and 6.6 L/100 km Highway with the manual transmission and 10.4/6.6 with the automatic. It uses Regular gas.
A note of trivia: the engine cover says ‘RS Turbo’ but Hyundai refers to the turbocharged coupe as the ‘2.0T’ everywhere else.
My test car had the optional five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift function via paddle shifters behind the steering wheel or a manual shift gate. In automatic mode, this transmission shifts quickly, cleanly and timely, and responds quickly to throttle input. Manual shifting with the stick or the paddles is quick and is most useful when driving on a hilly, curvy country road. Around town or on the freeway however, it’s best left in automatic mode. My guess is the Turbo coupe would be more fun to drive with the standard six-speed manual transmission, but I haven’t driven this model yet.
  2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Turbo. Click image to enlarge |
The rear-drive Genesis Coupe has a front to rear weight distribution of 55/45 which provides more balanced vehicle dynamics than front-wheel drive coupes which typically offer a 60/40 front/rear weight distribution. The Genesis Coupe dives less under braking, squats less under acceleration, and offers more neutral handling characteristics than front-drive coupes. Its fully independent suspension (front MacPherson struts/rear multi-links) plus standard limited slip rear differential and electronic stability and traction control provide excellent steering control over bumpy roads and added traction and safety when cornering on slippery roads. The standard Bridgestone Potenza RE92A 245/45R-18 rear all-season tires and 225/45R-18 front tires offer plenty of grip and very little tire noise, at least in the dry. Winter performance will be a different matter of course, but at least it has stability and traction control to counter oversteer and traction loss found on rear-drive coupes. In the warmer months at least, I can safely say that the Genesis Coupe 2.0T is more fun to drive than any of its front-wheel drive competitors.
However, I found the Genesis Coupe’s standard suspension too stiff over broken pavement, making the ride uncomfortable. As well, tire and road noise intrudes into the cabin on rough road surfaces. A more compliant suspension and extra sound insulation would go a long way to making this coupe feel like a higher class of car. As the Genesis sedan is uncommonly quiet and smooth, it’s a bit of a mystery why the coupe is so different.
The Coupe’s standard four wheel disc brakes with ABS are very strong though the pedal feel is a bit spongy. GT models have superior Brembo brakes with larger rotors and four-piston calipers.
Like other Hyundais, the Genesis Coupe comes with an excellent five-year/100,000 km warranty that covers the whole car.
A very attractive new coupe, the Genesis Coupe Turbo offers great handling, decent acceleration, and plenty of features for a very reasonable price, but the ride is punishing at times and the rear seats are cramped.
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Pricing: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Turbo
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Specifications
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Crash test results
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