 2009 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 V8. Click image to enlarge |
|
Related articles on CanadianDriver
Manufacturer’s web site
|
Join CanadianDriver’s Facebook group
Follow CanadianDriver on TwitterReview and photos by Jil McIntosh
Find this vehicle in CanadianDriver’s Classified Ads
Photo Gallery:
2009 Hyundai Genesis
Oshawa, Ontario – It’s been very interesting to follow the evolution of Hyundai’s sedan offerings in Canada. In 2001, it launched the XG300, followed a year later by a larger engine that bumped it up to the XG350. A completely redesigned and far plusher Sonata hit the market for 2006, the same year that the Azera luxury sedan proved a considerable improvement on the XG350 it replaced.
And now, for 2009, Hyundai has unwrapped the Genesis. It’s a fitting name, given that it’s the company’s first rear-wheel drive car on this continent (aside from the Pony). And for an initial showing, it’s a home run: quite simply, this car rocks. I made a game out of putting friends in the back seat, driving them around, and asking them to name the brand. Guesses ran to Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Infiniti and Lexus, with no one figuring it out correctly. It’s not going to wipe those competitors out by any means, but this newest Hyundai means that even more companies need to look over their shoulders, especially when the two-door coupe version arrives shortly.
The Genesis with 3.8-litre V6 starts at $37,995, which can be optioned with a Premium Package for $39,995, and an additional Technology Package for $44,995. My tester used the 4.6-litre V8, which starts at $43,995; the only option is the Technology Package, which adds a number of features and brought my vehicle to $48,995. That’s a lot of money for a Hyundai, but it’s not a lot for the segment.
 2009 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 V8. Click image to enlarge |
When you look at vehicles with similar dimensions and engine size, the Lexus GS 460 starts at $63,300 (and it’s $65,850 with navigation, as my tester had), while a rear-wheel drive Infiniti M45 Sport starts at $69,150; the front-wheel drive Lincoln MKS, with V6 engine, starts at $44,599. And the Hyundai’s lower price doesn’t come with any compromises.
The list of standard equipment is a long one: eight airbags including rear seat-side ones, three-stage heated leather seats, power tilt and telescopic wheel, proximity key with pushbutton start, rain-sensing windshield wipers (alas), memory seats, front and rear park assist, auto-levelling xenon headlamps, sunroof, auto-dimming mirrors, illuminated scuff plates, and leather-wrapped dash. The Technology Package adds aluminum interior trim, Bluetooth, driver information centre, cooled driver’s seat, navigation system, backup camera, adaptive xenon lamps, power rear sunshade, and a six-CD/DVD Lexicon surround sound system that will play movies when the vehicle is in Park. Hyundai makes a big deal out of the fact that the only other automaker to use a Lexicon system is Rolls-Royce, and so it should play it up: it’s simply an awesome system, with crystal-clear sound and no distortion at any volume level. I have a few songs that were transferred from albums to CD to computer to iPod; for the first time ever – and I’ve listened to them in a lot of test vehicles – I realized there were crackles and pops from the vinyl in them.
| next >> View full article on one page
|
at 9:15 am
Also lest we not forget the other rear-wheel drive car from Hyundai… Yes, thats right.. The Hyundai Stellar!!! I loved my Pony. Gave us over 300,000 kms of the most reliable service. In all those miles, it only needed a front main oil seal, that cost $5!!! HAHAHA!! Loved the manual choke in winter time too. Started within two or three cranks always. What a car.
But boy has Hyundai come a long way. What an extraordinary car the Genesis is!
at 9:51 am
I’ll say they’ve come a long way. With their 375 hp V8 and all the other bells and whistles, it is difficult to find another car to adequately compare it to. I can’t think of a better “car for the price” scenario, including a two year old MB or BMW. When I test drove one, the only thing that threw me off buying one was the cardboard like finish of the trunk. I figured if they cut corners with something as visible as this, what else was economized where one couldn’t see? I ended up buying a VR6 4Matic CC with the tech package. I have to admit that part of my decision in passing on the Genesis was not having the ability to get beyond the idea of driving into my golf club in a Hyundai.
Does anyone remember the frustration of ending up behind a Pony or Stellar at a red light or God forbid, a highway on-ramp? Their 0-100km times were measured in birthdays.
at 11:22 am
According to other reviews, the V8 is pretty much redundant. It’s not much quicker than the V6, adds weight and fuel consumption and does not really feel as powerfull as its 375hp rating. The latter is often a critism of hyundai engines.
at 12:43 pm
The only issue I have is the questionable label of “option” being applied to the tech package. I’ve not been able to order a Genesis V8 without the tech package. Is it truly an option, or is that word just a gloss to disguise the actual price of the car, which automatically has the tech package?
at 6:12 pm
Is it just me, or would anyone else feel slighted with the car the second they saw the Hyundai “H” on the stearing wheel? A luxury Hyundai sounds like an oxymoron, and their design cues are unoriginal and frankensteined from other cars.
Give me a well-optioned used V8 Buick Lucerne or Toyota Avalon any day of the week over this Korean manufactured car.
at 10:46 pm
Phaeton was an overpriced VW. This thing is a underpriced BMW/Mercedes with superior build quality.
Anyone that doubts that needs to take a look at some Consumer Reports the last few years. German stuff is well behind the Koreans and Japanese in quality. In fact Ford is ahead of the Germans which are on par with GM and Chrysler…….. And we know where thats getting them. Don’t get me wrong – I’ve got nothing against either but if you built it – they will come… Right now BMW and Mercedes are banking on their reputation. Cadillac did the same thing before they realized that they were the laughing stock of the automotive world and changed their ways. They’re just starting to recover from that reputation now. Hopefully it doesn’t take the Germans as long.
at 10:26 am
Buick Lucerne over the Hyundai Genesis? You’re kidding me right? I test drove both cars, and Lucerne is no match for the Genesis in terms of both quality AND price. Hyundai is not the same company back when they were making Stellar.
at 11:31 am
I would take a Genesis over an Avalon or Lucerne. There is absolutely nothing special about the Avalon nor Lucerne. At least the Genesis is rear wheel drive and I think looks better than both inside and out.
at 2:57 pm
i just took the 4.6 litre sedan 375 ponies genesis for a test drive ,blew me away , tight, quite, roomy, fit and finish excellent, the drive was amazing!!! how anyone can compare an avalon or a buick lucerne to this doesnt know anything about cars , there is always one, obviously he did not test drive this bomb, it is the complete package , i never thought i would have this opinion about hyundai , 750 tax in 7 years 2.55 % purchase buys this car for 7 years and u own it , go check out what you get for 750 tax in these days , an infiniti lease is 750 tax in on a g37 sedan no nav, 4 years
at 4:51 pm
Wow, you pro-Hyundai guys can be a sensative bunch? Apparantly you can’t knock the Genesis without being run up a pole. Styling is purely subjective, so I never knock a car on that.
At first glance, it does seem like a great deal. However, there’s no quality history on this car, resale will no doubt be huge drop (like any Korean car), and it does everything it possible can to hide the fact that it is a Hyundai, which tells you that it’s target demographic is not keen on this car.
To the gentleman that says that 750 taxes in for 7 years is a great deal, my question is this: have you factored in a GM style 2 year 50% depreciation drop? If not, re-evaluate the price.
at 4:57 pm
I agree with Steve – the designers must have benchmarked 5 vehicles, morphed them into one in a computer simulation, and out came the Genesis.
If you can’t afford a German/Japanese engineered luxury vehicle, or you’ve recently had your medical license revoked, then this is the car for you! As long as your fellow colleagues don’t look closely enough, it will be our little secret!
at 7:07 am
the s class is twice the price , the m45 is 50% plus
no i cant afford those prices which is the truth ,i did not like the 6 interior but the v8 felt like a dream , and the interior treatment was much nicer replacing the wood with leather, my advice who is looking for a nice car is test drive this car and then post a comment , you have to test this car , i promise you you will have a completely different opinion once you have
at 10:55 pm
@ Steve:
I, like you are partial to German brands, but I, unlike you am not so insecure in myself that I would have an issue driving to my golf club in a Genesis Sedan. Almost borders on sad..
Looking to upgrade my fathers 2000 Maxima and shopping around, the Genesis Sedan looks to fit the bill nicely. Pound for pound, easily outdoes the competition in my opinion on a value front.
Buick Lucerne or Toyota Avalon?? Ah, I see you have access to the good stuff..
at 9:42 am
now I am going to talk before I actually checked this out but there is one thing that has me less than anxious to go drop 50K on a Hyundai. While I have owned both German and Japanese luxury vehicles, one thing that struck me when I walked into the showroom at the Hyundai dealer is the lack of “experience”. I always had a loaner when I dropped off my Audi for an oil change. They knew my car and they knew my name. We all buy a vehicle for different reasons and I just don’t feel that dealer “experience” with Hyundai. not that I am elitist or anything, but damn, if I am gonna spend 50K on a vehicle, I want the whole package. To be honest, 50K or 60K, not that much difference when you are buying a car at that level. Your not penny pinching when you are looking at an ES350, or an A6. I want the car and everything that goes with owning one!
at 7:53 pm
I will be ashamed to drive a Hyundai, especially this Hyundai. The company itself is ashamed to put their badge on the front their car. The most important place. It places it on the rear, on the behind. It is a copycat car that does not have real soul, no real identity, a wannabe.
That is what i feel if i was the driver. A cheap wannabe imitation. A vehicle brand that i do not want anyone to know that i am driving. A vehicle that wants to hide its brand. A driver that is not proud of its brand and wants to hide the brand their new car.
The numbers add up i agree but spending that much money on a new car would not give me pride. If i would buy a car from a reputable brand (Lexus, Acura, Cadillac, BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, Honda, Ford etc.) i know that it will hold its value. I know that it is a reputable brand that wears its badge proud on the front hood and not its rear.
at 3:06 am
Wow Eric, that is quite ‘noble’ of you to have to drive a car that has the badge proudly on the front. Dang, that was a ridiculous comment but hey, to each their own..
Just because a car does not have a badge on the front, doesn’t mean the company was ‘ashamed’. Perhaps it is a marketing strategy to disassociate the vehicle with value and have people judge the car based on its own merits and not a badge. Perhaps it is to try something new and go for a clean looking front. I don’t know but I’m sure it’s not because they were ashamed.
at 3:09 am
@ Eric
Also, I am partial to Fords and have owned a couple and can tell you first hand, they don’t hold their value as well as you say they do. Most sources can probably back this up..
at 5:36 pm
@ Alex
The actual reason the car does not have the badge on the front is because they would have been sued for copyright infringement if they placed the Mercedes logo on it. They just copied the design as far as they could until that point.
I’m happy you like this car; to each their own. But you seem to be going out of your way to defend it. Like another posted mentioned, when I’m walking into a dealership to buy a $50K luxury car, I want to be treated like luxury. I don’t want to look over my shoulder and see some Joe Blow haggling over a $9K base model Accent. Call that whatever you want, but it’s the case. It’s like McDonald’s blending with with Mortan’s steak house; the two should not be together.
Ironically, the one area they should have copied the Japanese on (actually, the only one they didn’t) was creating a seperate brand, ala Acura, Lexus, Infinity.
at 11:23 am
I need someone to explain to me why Hyundai is bragging about Genesis (sedan and especially the Coupe)being rear-wheel drive. I went to the dealership a couple of days ago expecting not to be able to resist trading my Azera on one. I took a couple of corners and kept on making right turns arond the block and parked it. Sure it’s a smooth, quite ride…but it is no big deal and not nearly as much driving pleasure as the Azera or any other front-wheel drive car in its class. Is there any advantage to the rear-whell drive other than it helped them hold down the price?
at 11:37 pm
Wow, lexuses and bmws dictate the soul of these people. All they’re saying is imaginary social status in their heads, but nothing about the car itself!!! amazing. I just bought $35k genesis coupe (40k+ with this and that). Truly great car. I don’t worry about buying a Hyundai, which is backed up by the fifth largest auto manufacturer in the world. Peace!
at 2:01 pm
nicely said thomas
at 1:51 am
The no badge thing is all about supprise I think.
The car comes up fast behind you, goes to pass but you cannot identify whats about to tear pass you. then you realized youve been whipped by a Hyundai . Or you see this really slick looking car parked and you come in for a closer look, you get take notice of its shape,build quality etc then you come round to back and find out its a hyundai.
but its to late you already made that its nice looking thought in your head.. =-)
i too wish hyundai would get there own styling some day.
automotive plagarisim is nothing new, the Koreans did not start that.
at 12:16 am
That’s it I’ve had it!!!!! I’m no longer going to buy an Accent at Hyundai cause I don’t want anyone over my shoulder haggling over a Genesis. Also some of you should be ashamed of yourself for being willing to pay thousands extra for a badge when a very comparable car is available cheaper. You people must have inherited your money because nobody that has earned it would think that way. People get rich by saving their money and investing not by paying too much for a badge.
at 12:26 am
Bottom line is this. Lexus is just and overpriced Toyota, Acura is just an overpriced Honda, Infinity is just an overpriced Nissan. The only original luxury brands in this segment are Mercedes, BMW and Audi. All the other are just wannabe’s, copycats, knockoffs. Now What?
at 7:33 am
Apparently prejudice thrives anywhere it can. Hyundai’s build quality is second to none, they are competing with Toyota/Lexus in build quality. Although their offerings of late have been as boring as any Toyota/Lexus, they’ve taken a step in the right direction with the Genesis coupe.
at 3:45 pm
I own an 04 Sonata GLX- great car, nice styling and no problems. I agree w Larry it’s nuts to buy a car for 1000’s more when a similar one is available for less. Some people have way more money than brains!
at 8:00 pm
wanted to comment to the egotistical men on here. Just bought Genesis 4.6, love it. Had a Cadillac DTS. My family owns 2(two) golf courses and I am not a least bit ashamed to drive my Genesis in the Parking, lot as a matter of fact I feel that my members feel better about me for not flaunting wealth. In this economy I feel that I made a brilliant move.