CD Article: 2009 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 V8

[CD_Editor]

         
Test Drive:


"One of the better cars I've ever driven," is how Assistant Editor Jil McIntosh describes the V8-powered Hyundai Genesis. It has a strong engine, nice ride and exceptional interior, but will it sell well under its traditionally lower-priced nameplate?
 More: View the photos | All the Test Drives

[The Mighty Duck]

This isn’t just the best Hyundai I’ve driven. This is simply one of the better cars I’ve ever driven, period.

An impressive accolade!  Hyundai has sure come a long way, even in the last nine years or so.  Great car.

I'll hold out for the coupe, though. 

[airbalancer]

This isn’t just the best Hyundai I’ve driven. This is simply one of the better cars I’ve ever driven, period.

An impressive accolade!  Hyundai has sure come a long way, even in the last nine years or so.  Great car.

I'll hold out for the coupe, though. 

So why are you getting a Fit

$29gs out the door for GENESIS COUPE 2.0T - Manual
Was the Fit much different after taxes?

[Jaeger]

Just a thoroughly impressve effort in all respects.  Hyundai will be firmly on my radar screen when the next new car purchase comes around.

Jaeger

[2hondas1BMW]

I was extremely impressed with the Genesis when I sat in it at the Toronto Autoshow.

It looks very classy in black, and it makes it look smaller too. 

[carcrazy]

Here you have your Prada Edition.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/31/hyundai-reveals-prada-edition-genesis-ahead-of-seoul-debut/

[Oz]

50 grand for a Hyundai?

I dont know... I'm not feeling it. No thanks.

They should have rebranded.

[rrocket]

50 grand for a Hyundai?

I dont know... I'm not feeling it. No thanks.

They should have rebranded.

People were saying the same thing when Lexus came out...."That's alot of money for a rebadged Toyota".  Then Lexus proceeded to crush everyone in luxury sales.....

The Genesis sedan is the real deal.  It's ALOT of car for the money....

[articsteve]

50 grand for a Hyundai?

I dont know... I'm not feeling it. No thanks.

They should have rebranded.

Total agreement.  They missed a huge opportunity, perhaps permanently.  They could have used the same name, "genesis", for the brand and then gone with letters and numbers like Lexus.  They could have even used the same retail outlets at first.

[articsteve]

People were saying the same thing when Lexus came out...."That's alot of money for a rebadged Toyota".  Then Lexus proceeded to crush everyone and sales.....

Absolutely the case, but one never saw big print ads in the paper advertising a Lexus for $9999.  at 0%. 

[Oz]

50 grand for a Hyundai?

I dont know... I'm not feeling it. No thanks.

They should have rebranded.

People were saying the same thing when Lexus came out...."That's alot of money for a rebadged Toyota".  Then Lexus proceeded to crush everyone in luxury sales.....

The Genesis sedan is the real deal.  It's ALOT of car for the money....

So was the Phaeton. Look at how that ended.

Lexus understood the need to create a new marque. I remember their technology and refinement centric ads back in the 90s. It took them the entire 90s to establish that brand credibility - and once they have, they're very seperate from Toyota. Simply because they know that people spending that kind of money want the ownership experience that goes with it.

If I paid 50K for a car I'm not going to be happy taking it to a Hyndai dealership (which I've sadly experienced many times) with little put put Accents decorated with ballons.

Thats just me though.

[carcrazy]

This picture illustrates one of the reasons I don't perceive this car as a 100% luxury car regardless many other luxury appointments. The IP looks very basic, pure mainstream;it reminds me of the IP in the 2001-2002 Malibu I frequently drove at the time.
Also, do they use a different shade of faux-wood on the steering wheel and the center console or it's just the light exposure in the picture?
Oh, one more detail in the picture below: the chrome strip on the door stops before the edge; same for the one on the dash.

The devil is in the details ....

[The Mighty Duck]

So why are you getting a Fit

$29gs out the door for GENESIS COUPE 2.0T - Manual
Was the Fit much different after taxes?

  Completely different beasts.  I would love to own a Genesis coupe - and hopefully will (or something like it) one day.  But it's not nearly practical enough for my needs right now.  Not to mention a good deal more expensive - I'm not sure off hand how much the Fit will come to on the road, but I'll wager it will be a good $10k cheaper than a similarly-equipped Genesis.

[Jaeger]

So why are you getting a Fit

$29gs out the door for GENESIS COUPE 2.0T - Manual
Was the Fit much different after taxes?

  Completely different beasts.  I would love to own a Genesis coupe - and hopefully will (or something like it) one day.  But it's not nearly practical enough for my needs right now.  Not to mention a good deal more expensive - I'm not sure off hand how much it will come to on the road, but I'll wager it will be a good $10k cheaper than a similarly-equipped Genesis.

Similarly equipped - that's the first thing that occurred to me as well.  People love to draw comparisons between a completely loaded model of one brand and a base stripper model of another, then point out "that for a few k more you coulda had x".  Please.

I don't think Hyundai has made a mistake in NOT re-branding the Genesis line as a separate product stream.  That takes major $$$ - a whole new dealer network and so forth.  Those $$$ would end up being reflected in the inflated price of the vehicles themselves, diminishing one of the major strengths of the two vehicles (sedan and coupe).  I know Toyota did it - but Hyundai isn't now what Toyota was then.

Plus - it seems a little early in the game to declare the decision a failure.  The Genesis sedan and Coupe have been extremely well received thus far.  If the cars prove profitable for the manufatcurer, that is the only measure of success that matters.  Besides - not everyone gravitates towards the contrived elitism of branded luxury.  Some people find honest quality an dsolid value appealing, and snobbery unappealing.  Yes, it's true.

Jaeger

[vdk]

The Phaeton cost like 5k-10k less than a similarly equipped A8. That's why it failed. It cost 2 Genesis' or $100k.

[Iso Octane]

This picture illustrates one of the reasons I don't perceive this car as a 100% luxury car regardless many other luxury appointments.
The devil is in the details ....

I agree completely.  There are so many design elements, design details, and design cliches that sort of betray the car's "luxury" aspirations.

At $38,000 it's really close to a base G37.  By the look of things (Quality of design.  How it looks basically.  And that's all luxury is nowadays isn't it?  Style?) the G is a generation ahead.

[mmret]

While I'm not a fan of the interior design, by most accounts the materials are quite good and everything appears to be just simple enough. Contrast to the new TL for example.

That said the design is a bit overstyled. Wonder if it would have been better with an Acura style interior at a 75% button ratio.

[carcrazy]

I think the interior materials are a mixed bag. While the leather dash is something usually specific to the super-luxury vehicles, the painted plastic trim and faux-wood is specific to econoboxes.
While I cannot deny it's a good overall package, I just cannot see it as a luxury car. It's still feels like a knock-off to me, which I think it is with the bland of design elements from every luxury manufacturer. Audi, BMW, etc. are still the real thing, although you have to pay the full price.

[aquadorhj]

I agree completely.  There are so many design elements, design details, and design cliches that sort of betray the car's "luxury" aspirations.

I think we will have to disagree.  I see consistency in the cabin.  generous proportions and simplicity with flowing lines.
lack of real wood trim was a serious over-sight on Hyundai's part, but other than that, it looks like what it is.  simple elegant front cabin.

I see that you have G35..  great.  but I never thought G35 interior was anything special.  very good. but not great.  (and not very photo genic, to be honest)

At $38,000 it's really close to a base G37.  By the look of things (Quality of design.  How it looks basically.  And that's all luxury is nowadays isn't it?  Style?) the G is a generation ahead.

G37 looks to be a fantastic car, and very roomy for its compact-ish outward look.   But I have NO idea where you could say G is "generation" ahead... 

You know, Rolls-Royce has VERY simple interior(quite like Genesis.. but with REAL wood of course)...  ..and RR also happens to have Lexicon Sound system, which Genesis also happens to offer...

Hmm...  You gotta admit.  Design is a subjective thing.  Even though I admit that Faux wood trim is quite tacky for luxury aspirations, but I really really like leather covered dash, which G37 does NOT have.

eh, whatever.

[Mitlov]

This picture illustrates one of the reasons I don't perceive this car as a 100% luxury car regardless many other luxury appointments. The IP looks very basic, pure mainstream;it reminds me of the IP in the 2001-2002 Malibu I frequently drove at the time.
Also, do they use a different shade of faux-wood on the steering wheel and the center console or it's just the light exposure in the picture?
Oh, one more detail in the picture below: the chrome strip on the door stops before the edge; same for the one on the dash.

The devil is in the details ....

I'd hesitate to judge the luxuriousness of a car from a photo of its interior.  Take this, for example:



In person, the Genesis felt extremely luxurious to me.  Like Mercs, I think it photographs poorly but does well in person.