Day-by-Day Review: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8GT

By James Bergeron

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2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

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What’s has 306hp and 266lb-ft of torque and drives the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission? Hint, it is not American or Japanese; it is Korean. That’s right — this week I am driving the all-new for 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe — a.k.a. the Mustang killer? I don’t know about that; I really like the Mustang but this is a very compelling package and I am sure a week of fun driving is ahead.

The Genesis Coupe is the first rear-wheel drive coupe by Hyundai. Some say it is the replacement for the Tiburon that was Hyundai’s previous sporty coupe. Hyundai says they are working on a Tiburon replacement 2011, so the Genesis is not taking its place, but currently for 2010 if you want a sporty coupe from Hyundai, look no further.

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And honestly, you shouldn’t need to look further, as the bargain quotient here is phenomenal, especially in base model trim. Starting at only $24,495 for the 2.0T version of the Genesis, you get a lot of vehicle, while the model I am testing is decked out with all the features available as a 3.8GT model.

More surprising than the extras, though, are the standard features: a Torsen-type limited slip differential, 360-watt 10-speaker Infinity sound system, black leather heated seats, automatic temperature control, proximity key with push button start and HID headlights.

Optional equipment on my tester includes: Brembo brakes with four-piston calipers, 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels with high performance Bridgestone tires, front strut tower brace and GT-tuned suspension and a 6.5-inch touch screen navigation system. The GT pretty much has everything you would want in a vehicle like this — and yes, it even has Bluetooth.

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8GT
MSRP as tested (excluding destination): $36,495

For more information on Hyundai and the Genesis Coupe visit Hyundai Canada

Day 2:

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Today, I will cover a few details about the Genesis Coupe’s interior. Overall, it’s a very nice place to be — just stay out of those back seats. You can ask my co-workers why you wouldn’t want to sit in the back, but it has something to do with th not little, but zero headroom for anyone of average height or taller; definitely a back seat to be used sparingly. The front seats, however, are very comfortable, but the moonroof eats into headroom, so tall people may have an issue in the front as well.

Oddly enough, the steering wheel does not telescope, but it doesn’t seem to be required, as finding a driving position came naturally to me. The headrests are adjustable fore and aft, which makes long highway cruises even more relaxing.

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The centre stack is well laid out, easy to read and easy to use. The 6.5-inch navigation screen displays your HVAC and radio settings, as well as navigation information. The styling is modern and sporty at the same time, and the blue lighting is easy enough on the eyes and very easy to read at night.

I am disappointed about the lack of padded surfaces, though. The door panel elbow rest, as well as the centre console storage armrest, are not padded, so that nearly the entire interior is made of firm, hard plastics. The dash does have a little give to it, which should resist scratching.

This Genesis coupe is not a practical car. With a small trunk opening and a fold-down rear seat (not 60/40), you can carry longer items if you can get them in at the right angle, but they won’t be very large items as the pass-through is not very large. It is too bad they didn’t make this car a hatchback, as it would be much more practical, but perhaps the chassis would be less stiff and the vehicle heavier.

Overall, I would consider interior and exterior styling a success for Hyundai’s first attempt: the Coupe certainly gets noticed!

Day 3:

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We have established that the Genesis Coupe may not be the most practical sports car around, but for the most part, many looking at this type of vehicle really do not care. What they care about is how it drives and how it makes you feel when you are driving it and this is where the Genesis Coupe shines: on the road, where it should.

It starts with a the hefty six-speed manual transmission, which is just notchy enough to give you that connected-to-the-driveline feeling but not too much so to feel like it was not built correctly. Snapping from gear to gear is a joy, until you have to downshift from third gear to second — perhaps after more practice it would fall into place properly but I tend to push the lever too far to the left, resulting in a lot of grinding or nothing at all. Reverse gear is found over and up above first gear and I seem to be pushing the gear lever into that gate when attempting to hit second gear.

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On the road though, the 3.8-litre engine pulls and pulls. Get out of second gear at full throttle and you can say goodbye to your new Hyundai and hello to a huge fine, if you are in Ontario. Perhaps it doesn’t feel quick all the time, but the Genesis Coupe is a quick car and it begs you to drive it so.

On the highway in sixth gear the engine hums along at just over 2,000 rpm but with plenty of torque to accelerate easily for a pass without downshifting, and even around town I find myself constantly in fifth or sixth gear.

The entire Genesis driving experience is quite satisfying: the heavy clutch, weighty steering and the well-tuned exhaust make you feel like you are driving something special. The steering is a little darty due to the large sticky tires, but this is a good thing, as directional changes are nearly instant when asked for, and you can feel the Torsen limited-slip differential grabbing as you make tight turns in parking lots. On the highway, the Genesis Coupe isn’t whisper-quiet but it keeps the noise level low enough for comfortable cruising and isn’t so loud you need to crank the stereo.

But I have been cranking the stereo anyways, because it sounds pretty darn good.

Day 4:

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Well this kind of stinks: the week is over and I have to give up the Genesis. For me, this is one of the great cars of (calendar year) 2009: sporty, fun, exhilarating and a bargain for a car that looks like it should cost a lot more than it does. I have said it before and I’ll say it again: Hyundai doesn’t need to undercut their competition to sell cars, their cars are just as good if not better, but the fact that they do price them so low makes them even more appealing.

Of course, with a large 3.8-litre V6 engine, fuel consumption suffers, so over the course of the week I averaged 11.8L/100km. This is what one would expect with 300hp, these days. For comparison purposes, I averaged 12.6L/100km in the Nissan 370z and 10.5L/100km with the BMW Z4 35i.

*Rating out of 5: