Hyundai Genesis Review

In the case of the Hyundai brand, necessity has been the mother of reinvention. Ten years ago, Hyundai was little more than the punch line to jokes about low-quality cars with laughable reliability. If the brand was to survive in the increasingly competitive automotive marketplace, it needed a major-league makeover. Hyundai has accomplished exactly that in recent years, turning out vehicles that have been hailed as paragons of value-priced quality.

This reinvention scales new heights with the Hyundai Genesis, the manufacturer's first stab at the luxury car market. Quiet as a murmur and drenched in luxury, it offers genuine opulence at an unbelievably low price, and credibly competes with premium sedans by Acura, Cadillac, Infiniti and Lexus. If you're in the market for a luxury sedan and want to savor all the bells and whistles without cleaning out your kids' college fund, take a look at the impressive Hyundai Genesis.

Current Hyundai Genesis
The Hyundai Genesis is offered in two trims, 3.8 and 4.6, which take their names from their corresponding engines. Base 3.8 models are powered by a 3.8-liter V6 good for 290 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque, while 4.6 models feature a 4.6-liter V8 with an impressive 385 hp and 333 lb-ft. Both models are rear-wheel drive and use a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift capability.

Even in base trim, the Genesis 3.8 offers high-end features like dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated front seats and a seven-speaker sound system with satellite radio and iPod compatibility. Options include 18-inch wheels, upgraded leather, adaptive cruise control, a rearview camera, a 14-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, and a navigation system with either touchscreen or advanced rotary selector interface.

The V8-powered Genesis 4.6 includes 18-inch alloy wheels, chrome exterior accents, premium leather, adaptive cruise control, Bluetooth and a 15-speaker Lexicon sound system as standard equipment.

On the outside, the Hyundai Genesis looks the part of a luxury sedan, with elegant sheet metal and superb build quality. This air of sophistication continues inside, where you'll find yourself swaddled in soft-touch surfaces and high-quality materials. Roominess is another of its strengths, as both front and rear passengers enjoy spacious accommodations and well-shaped seats.

In road tests, our editors have found that this decadent four-door is Lexus-quiet on the highway -- Hyundai clearly used Toyota's luxury division as one of its inspirations for the Genesis. It glides along practically any surface with unruffled composure, effortlessly dispensing with pavement bumps and irregularities. Power from the V6 is ample and refined, but the real gem is the 385-hp V8, which provides effortless acceleration and sewing-machine smoothness with only a minimal penalty at the pump. Just don't expect sport-sedanlike handling from this top-dog luxury sedan. With its soft suspension tuning and artificial steering feel, the Genesis is more at home speeding down straightaways than attacking apexes.

If you frequently haul outsized loads, you may long for a folding rear seat, as the Genesis only offers a pass-through option. Drivers living in rougher climates may wish for all-wheel drive, which isn't offered on the Genesis. Another missing component, of course, is Lexus-grade levels of prestige.

But not all luxury-car buyers place a premium on snob appeal. Costing thousands less than its esteemed rivals, loaded with generous features and built impeccably, the Hyundai Genesis stands in a class of its own.

Used Hyundai Genesis Models
The Hyundai Genesis debuted for the 2009 model year and has seen only minor changes since. For 2010, adaptive cruise control, an electronic parking brake and touchscreen navigation joined the options list. Prior to 2011, the V8 made a bit less than it does now, with 375 hp.