 2012 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec. Click image to enlarge |
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Test Drive: 2012 Hyundai Genesis 3.8
Manufacturer’s web site |
Review and photos by Grant Yoxon
Photo Gallery:
2012 Hyundai Genesis
The Hyundai Genesis is the perfect car for people who sell for a living. It is a comfortable office on wheels with plenty of room front and back for clients. It is reasonably priced, exceedingly luxurious, and it sends the right message.
The message is more important than the price. I have friends who make their living selling real estate. Everyday they drive clients around to look at listings or visit homeowners wishing to sell. They need big, roomy, comfortable cars, and cars that tell their clients they are successful…
…but not so successful that the client should be concerned about the value they receive for their money, of course.
And nothing says “I make more money than I need” more than a luxury brand sedan that is well known to be exceedingly expensive. Forget the German luxury brands. Don’t even think about a Maserati. And don’t be caught behind the wheel of something widely thought to be British.
 2012 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec. Click image to enlarge |
Even Lincolns and Cadillacs might give the wrong impression — a holdover from the days when driving a Lincoln or Cadillac really was over the top — despite the fact that they are very reasonable luxury cars indeed.
The message is more important than the look. Good brokers stay away from statement vehicles and SUVs wrapped 360 degrees with larger than life self portraits. We all know those who do this are converting car expenses into advertising expenses, which may be good for the year-end financials, but it says their reputation sucks so bad they need to embarrass themselves with a blanket of self-flattering creative. And any sedan that also does service as a police vehicle, a taxi, or a limousine, no matter how luxurious it is, just won’t do (sorry Ford Taurus; you too Chrysler 300).
Successful real estate brokers prefer cars that are either at the top of non-luxury brands, cars like the Nissan Maxima or Toyota Avalon, or cars that barely qualify as a luxury conveyance, but wear a luxury brand, like the Lexus ES. One might sneak the Acura RL through client scrutiny simply because no one really knows if Acura is a luxury brand or if it even makes a sedan called an RL.
  2012 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec. Click image to enlarge |
Now step into the rear seat of the 2012 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec sedan and one might be similarly confused, but certainly impressed. There is ample legroom and headroom, soft leathers, a power rear sun shade and rear seat heater controls in the flip-down arm rest. There are rear-seat side-mounted airbags in the back, just like the front, as well as a side curtain air bag. The seat mounted airbags alone say the owner of this car cares about the people who ride in the back.
The front seats, powered, heated, and leather covered are even more comfortable. The driver’s seat is also cooled, the steering wheel heated. One could spend long days in the Genesis saddle and never feel the strain.
It is easy on the eyes too. The Genesis décor is conservative without being monotonous. Black leather upholstery, black leather-wrapped dash, black woodgrain and brushed metallic trim, and simple white lettering on black analog gauges. Not into black? There is also a beige interior package.
Everything one would expect to find in an expensive luxury sedan rests at your finger tips. Standard features in the Genesis R-Spec include a navigation system incorporating a backup camera display, vehicle and navigation settings operated by an armrest mounted controller, a 17-speaker Lexicon audio system with inputs for iPods and other devices, Bluetooth hands free phone system, dual-zone climate control with air quality control system, and proximity entry with electric push-button start.
