Hyundai Genesis Sedan 2009+

tjc78

If Hyundai could mimic the 5 Series' ride

Not everyone likes the 5 series ride. Including me. Handling yes, amazing, but firmer than the Genesis. To each his own.

Leave that driving experience to the Buicks of the world.

Toyota and Lexus have no trouble selling vehicles like that. The only people I really hear complaining are the auto mags that drive the snot out of them, FWIW most Hyundai's are pretty soft (Elantra, Azera, Sonata) and that is a big reason for their success to the masses. There are many many people that still like "family car float".

tayl0rd

... If Hyundai could mimic the 5 Series' ride and handling at thousands less, that would be one of the all-time great automotive bargains.

Infiniti M, anyone? I think they already took care of that.

poodog13

As someone who lives in an area with terrible road conditions, I much prefer a vehicle with a middle-of-the-road suspension. I've turned away from cars with "sport" suspensions in the past both because of the impact of the initial ride quality, but more importantly because the stiffness of the suspension combined with local road conditions causes long-term reliability problems with suspension components.

allmet33

Personally (and I think I said this before) the Genesis should be tuned to a soft isolated ride (no doubt this chassis is capable of it) and then offer an all out sport option for those who desire it. That way you can "have it your way" and everyone wins. Except of course for Hyundai because there would be more production costs having two suspensions.

Considering Hyundai now has the components for an adjustable air suspension (as per the upcoming Equus), tweaking it for the Genesis doesn't seem like it would be a hard thing to do and since the components are already in-house, it would cut costs down. Personally, I think this would be a terrific answer for a car like the Genesis as it could possibly be the icing on the cake and eliminate the suspension issues many complain about. This is the same company that offered Shiftronic on the Sonata in 2002...they could pull it off.

tjc78

I don't feel they need the added complexity and cost of an all out air suspension. Just softer dampers than currently being used. You then could offer a "sport or touring" option that includes of course stiffer springs/shocks and an aggressive wheel and tire package.

bobad

I'm with you on that.

Wouldn't be a big deal. A higher spring rate and slightly stiffer shocks wouldn't cost Hyundai a dime more to manufacture, and should be a very inexpensive option. I wouldn't go for it, as yanking a luxury sedan through a slalom doesn't make much sense to me. If I wanted to do that, I would get the Coupe.

allmet33

Would an air bag system really be more complicated than an electronic option?

I have heard that there's a difference in the ride with the 3.8 base model that comes with the 17" wheels...slightly taller sidewall on the tires. It has also been posted that the 2010 Genesis seems to ride a little better than the previous model, so maybe Hyundai addressed the damper issue.

However, with a car like the Genesis, an adjustable suspension would truly be nice. It's a car that is extremely capable as a highway cruiser and I'm sure it eats up smooth highways like a dream, but with the power on tap under the gas pedal and the athletic lines of the car...there are some that would really love to "drive" the car as they would a BMW and truly enjoy it in that manner as well.

Offering a stiffer spring/shock combo with an aggressive tire package would pigeon-hole the car and the driver wouldn't have the option of a softer ride when wanted. From my past experience, the stiffer springs/shocks and aggressive tires (low profile) are going to make the car ride harder, which could spell doom even more so over uneven surfaces.

tjc78

I have heard that there's a difference in the ride with the 3.8 base model that comes with the 17" wheels...slightly taller sidewall on the tires.

I drove the 18" version and have the 17" wheels on my Premium only package car. I really don't notice any difference.

Would an air bag system really be more complicated than an electronic option?

Probably not, however, the more you raise the price of this car the closer you get to the BMW/Infiniti/Lexus models and you lose a bit of the "value"

allmet33

Probably not, however, the more you raise the price of this car the closer you get to the BMW/Infiniti/Lexus models and you lose a bit of the "value"

Honestly...an adjustable suspension can be added to this car without raising the price that much to make it lose it's "value" appeal.

fedlawman

Personally, I would tend to avoid an adjustable suspension more for reliability reasons than cost.

backy

I second that. Maybe that's why Hyundai didn't go that way on the Genesis, at least from the outset. It had to have strong reliability due to the intense scrutiny placed on it as the first "luxury" offering from Hyundai in the USA.

carolinabob

Automobile Magazine, Dec., page 116, Fleet Updates column.
19,021 miles: "I'm sensing subtle signs of age in the way it clunks over bumps" says Jamie Kitman. "But I continue to think it's a fine luxury car at a fair shake less than luxury price."
IMO, a luxury car would not show signs of age this quickly, especially one that has been set up and tuned for the magazine doing the testing. If this one shows signs this early, what about the ordinary ones coming off the dealers' lots?
This has come up too, too many times in owner reviews and professional reviews for it to be an unusual occurance.

stephen987

Carolinabob, luxury cars are not necessarily more trustworthy than non-luxury cars.

Indeed, your expectations do not match my family's experience with seven Mercedes and four BMWs. All but one of these (a 1995 M-B C280) displayed significant quality control issues and/or reliability problems at what I would consider unacceptably low miles. They ranged from trim pieces falling off ('97 BMW Z3), bad power window regulators ('91 M-B 190E), to a faulty starter cable ('75 M-B 280C) and a faulty A/C control unit ('80 M-B 300D) to failed steering racks ('83 BMW 528e and '99 M-B E320), two failed transmissions ('87 BMW 528e), and high oil consumption ('99 M-B E320).

We won't even discuss Jaguar.

I tend to buy from Honda, Ford, etc.

sergio19

Date: October 2009

Miles: 16,000

Last winter we picked the Hyundai Genesis sedan as our 2009 MotorWeek Driver's Choice Best Luxury Car. And now, 8 months into our long term test, we have no regrets.

Indeed, the Genesis has exceeded our expectations in quality fitment, with a warm, welcoming use of materials and space, as well as a refined driving response. With a smooth, well-controlled highway ride, and ample handling prowess, our car's standard 290-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 delivers good reserve power for passing. While a V8 is available, we're happy without it.

Especially since at the 16,000 mile mark, fuel economy is a stable 22.1 miles per gallon of regular. Not bad for any premium family sedan.

Trouble free, our only design complaints are the old-fashioned trunk hinges that can crush luggage. Otherwise, the Hyundai Genesis continues to earn our applause.

sergio19

Months in Fleet: 9
Mileage: 25,595

After nine months and countless long-distance trips adding up to more than 20,000 miles, we decided to see how our Four Seasons Hyundai Genesis 4.6 sedan would fare in an urban jungle. Always up for a challenge, our sometimes cranky and always opinionated New York bureau chief Jamie Kitman offered to spend the last several weeks of the summer with the big Hyundai. "I was an early champion of the Genesis sedan but I must say I prefer the V-6-equipped Genesis. It has superior fuel economy and, especially for in and around the city, the extra two cylinders are not missed. That said, the Genesis remains a serious luxury cruiser - comfortable, quick, smooth, and a wee bit sporty - and with more than 20,000 miles on the odometer, despite feeling slightly less smooth than the V-6 I drove recently, this big Hyundai is a quality piece."

Two members of the rock band Tally Hall - managed by Kitman - spent some time piloting the Genesis and quickly became enamored with the Hyundai's "maneuverability, smoothness, and strong power at highway speeds." They were also amazed by the number of comfort-oriented and technological goodies crammed into the sub-$50,000 Genesis. During one particularly sweltering drive, bassist Sedghi Zubin praised the air-cooled front seats. "Few things can ease the pain of sitting in Manhattan gridlock; one of them, I've now realized, is not having a sweaty backside."

tjc78

our only design complaints are the old-fashioned trunk hinges that can crush luggage.

What are they talking about??? The hinges are fully enclosed and can't touch anything. Maybe this was a production change?

carolinabob

You do not show a source or a URL for this.
It is interesting that one of the car magazines, and it may be this one, shows different information in the magazine from what is on the website. That further confuses people trying to find valid information.
I believe it was Automobile Magazine in the magazine that said in one place that the suspension needs to be revised. In another issue, it said two groups of testers-those that hate the ride and those that accept the ride because of all the other good features. Neither of these showed up on the website though.

bwia

On my way to work this morning I was driving behind a Mercedes E350 4matic and a Genesis sedan. They were both black and looked eerily alike, but the paint finish on the E-class looked more exquisite and luminous.

The cars created a stir because everybody was comparing the two. From a distance you couldn't tell the difference but up close the E-class certainly looked more upscale and refined. Never having seen a Genesis on the road I must say I was very impressed and probably will drop by my local dealer this weekend for a guest drive.

pogo5

I bet the price of the M Benz was upscale also!!!!

fedlawman

"The cars created a stir because everybody was comparing the two."

I'm trying to guess where you live where crowds of people would gather by the roadside staring and pointing with mouths agape at the appearance of a Genesis and E-Class.

houdini1

LOL !! I'm guessing Mongolia !!

alonzo2

This may be a loose association but I noticed my son making the same comparison while walking behind a mother and her daughter the other day. You know Benjamen Franklin once said when choosing a girlfriend it is best the choose an older woman compared with a younger one because the older woman comes with a lot less aggravation and if you put a barrel over her head she looks just like the other woman from behind. He really said that!! So maybe we just need to put a barrel over the front empanage of the Genesis and you'll think you're the owner of a MB without the agravation of the extra 20K!

bwia

A little hyperbole yes but the cars did get a lot of attention. The location was the Longwood Medical Area of Boston where one is accustomed to seeing high end cars driven by doctors and other medical professionals. So a Genesis seemed a little out of place or people thought it was a new MB. Nonetheless, it was good PR for Hyundai.

fedlawman

That's cool. The Genesis does have some E-Class styling cues, as well as some BMW 5-series lines. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, after all.

alonzo2

Well you could say when seen from the end the high end is the same as the low end, or in the case of my son above the younger empanage is always higher end compared to the older one which is usually a tail dragger. Or that in terms of comparing the Genesis to the MB the end is an end in itself. The End.

fedlawman

But tail draggers are front-drive, rear steer...

allmet33

15 Cars Fueling the Auto Recovery

Hyundai Genesis. The first luxury car from this Korean automaker has earned deep praise, helping it reach No. 2 in U.S. News's rankings of upscale midsize cars—behind only the BMW 3 series. And with a starting price of about $33,000, it's considerably cheaper than the Bimmers, Audis, Lexuses, and other luxury makes it competes against. Sales of 18,000 units so far this year have added volume in a category where Hyundai didn't even compete two years ago.

alonzo2

I was curious if anyone has had the senior moment of total disconnection with the environment when they forgot as I have many times to put the car in park before turning off the engine? If you try to disembark at this point warning messages appear chimes go off and you get the feeling the swat team is about to descend upon you. When you finally come to your senses you realize that the only way to recover is to start the engine again and move the transmission in to park. Is there any way to save face without having to start the engine again? I can't get the car shifted into park from drive in the engine off position. My kids are refusing to ride with me because its not cool to go through the "Dad thing" again when we arrive at our destination. The neighborhood kids are giving them a hard time at school. Anybody else have this experience?

houdini1

LOL, I know I have done that before but I don't remember having to start the car to put it in park. Maybe try it with your foot on the brake?

jmonroe

The neighborhood kids are giving them a hard time at school. Anybody else have this experience?

I’ve never had that problem. I never forget things.

It sounds like you should move to another school district or it’s time to enroll the kids in a boxing class. I wouldn’t put up with that crap.

jmonroe

dbt

2010s have been around, and there was some speculation that there would be revisions to the suspension. Does anyone know whether it has happened?

tjc78

Several people have noticed a difference in the 2010. Its really a "see for yourself" kind of thing. If you are considering the Genesis and are coming from something that rides soft like an Avalon/ES350/Buick etc you may not be happy. It is a firm ride (although not as firm as a 5 series).

alonzo2

The thing I enjoyed the most about buying this car was the purchase experience. I negotiated the price with an out of town dealer over the phone and he delivered it to my house. I signed the paperwork and wrote the check at my dining room table. By contrast when I bought a new Chev PU the dealer insisted I come in to the dealership, I go through a high pressure finance dept. session where they attempted to sell me things I didn't want, refused to give me a copy of the disclosure statement I had to sign and then when I received the statement in the mail they had added over my signature several rebates I knew nothing about.
The bottom line: Genesis...exastential experience; Chevy...Nightmare on Elm Street.

colegar

V6 loaded (incl. tech pack)

I will roll over the 40K mark this week. Some of you may have followed my updates at approximately every 5,000 miles. This one will be uneventful because there is not much to say that I haven't already posted in past updates. In summary:

* Great road car
* No problems to report
* No squeaks or rattles
* Still don't like how the suspension handles wash-boardy roads
* Suspension is great on decent roads
* Great performing V6 (amazingly close to the V8)
* Great fuel mileage (still getting 28+ at interstate speeds)
* Great six-speed automatic
* See my last couple of posts regarding my tire experiment. Nothing has changed since I installed the Michelins. They are nosier but really improve the handling.
* Least expensive luxury car that I have owned to maintain (scheduled service). About $80 every 7,500 miles.
* Absolute best sound system!
* Great navigation system

I will end by asking, "What else is there for under $40,000 that compares?" The Avalon is similarly priced and is a great car but does it look and feel like a car that can honestly compete with $50k to $55k luxury brands? The Genesis suspension needs to be tweaked (not completely reengineered) but I can't find anything else to moan about and I think I have more seat time in the Genesis that almost anybody.

I will be back at 45,000 miles with another update.

stephen987

I will end by asking, "What else is there for under $40,000 that compares?"

That depends on whether or not RWD is necessary. IMHO RWD implies sporting intent, making the Genesis a competitor for the likes of the G37 and 3-series. Of course, the Genesis offers a lot more space than those cars, and a more luxurious interior.

But I wonder if people will be cross-shopping this car against FWD entry-lux cars like the ES350 too. If so, then the LaCrosse CXS and the Taurus SHO are also cars to be taken seriously. This is not meant as an insult to the Genesis--it's merely a statement of how muddy the market is at this price point.

colegar

Stephen, you are correct that the G37 is serious competition for the Genesis and probably is more "sporty". In fact, the G37 is a great driving car, although it may have an even more stiff suspension than the Genesis. Apples to apples, it lists for approximately $1,000 more but it can be bought for about $2,000 less because Infinity and their dealers are cutting "deals" and most Genesis dealers are not. I like the size of the Genesis better for my needs, but the G37 is its most legitimate competition.

I know that I will catch a lot of grief when I say this but I look at the ES350 as a dressed up Camry that sells for $3,000 to $4,000 more than a comparably equipped Genesis. It has rock-solid, bullet proof quality and craftsmanship and is incredibly quite but I just can't get myself to think of it in the same category as the Genesis.

fedlawman

RWD does not make the Genesis a sport sedan.

The G37 and Genesis are in completely different classes. If I had to use generic terms, I would call the G37 an entry-level sport luxury sedan and the Genesis an entry-level premium sedan.

I also think the Camry and ES350 argument, while valid from a specification standpoint, is a big reach. The current Camry has horrible quality control, with inferior interior plastics and gaps, and uncomfortable seats. The Lexus, while technically the same car, offers a completely different driving experience.

I don't think the Genesis is any more sporting than it's true competitors - the FWD Taurus and LaCrosse. Having recently seen the Taurus and LaCrosse in person, I can say that the Ford does not stack up to the Genesis in terms of quality and luxury. Although the Taurus looks great, cheap plastics and flimsy trim and switchgear really pull down an otherwise impressive car. The Buick, on the other hand, is beautiful inside and out - and has more style and character than the nice but conservative Genesis.

houdini1

The Genesis is a much larger car than the G 37 and I agree that they are very different. In fact, I would think that the Infinity M class would be more of a match to compare the Genesis to. IMO they are very similar.

colegar

You make some good points and I think your generic descriptions of the G37 and Genesis are fairly accurate.

I run through cars like most people do shoes with my last three prior to the Genesis being a BMW 5 series, Mercedes E class, and an Acura TL. I have also owned two Lexus LX's and one Lexus SC. I see the Genesis as a hybrid that tries to split the difference between premium sedans and sport sedans. It is certainly more sporty driving than a Lexus but is not as gracefully sporty as the BMW 5 series (you will see that I have repeated that several times in my previous 5,000 mile updates). But guess what! The Genesis does an admirable job of being successful at emulating the traits of each of its "target" competitors. It is a fantastic freeway cruiser (I should know!). It is quick. It handles curvy, hilly roads with aplomb. And it surrounds you with enough comfort and gadgets to qualify as a luxury sedan. Combine that with very good fuel mileage, low maintenance costs and the best warranty in the industry and you get back to my question ... "What else is there for less than $40,000 that compares?"

In reading the above back to myself, I realize that I am falling prey to the type of post that I hate in this forum. I am making it sound as if the Genesis is near-perfect, and it is not. I guess I have been drinking too much of the cool aid!

Thanks for your insightful post. Also, Houdini1 made a good observation by comparing the Infinity M class to the Genny (except for price).

fedlawman

I agree with everything you said except, "What else is there..."

Here's what else I think compares: Ford Taurus, Buick LaCrosse, Toyota Avalon, Nissan Maxima, Volvo S80, Honda Accord (EX-L V6).

I think the Genesis is at least as good as any car in this crowd, but every one of them compares favorably to the Hyundai and would make a compelling alternative.

stephen987

Isn't the S80 quite a bit more expensive though? I think the base price of the S80 V8 is over $50k. Granted, you're paying for some extra features, like AWD, but I still think the S80 is in a different class. Not necessarily better--just that it competes with a different set of cars because of the price range in which it operates.

This reinforces my earlier point that the Genesis (along with the surprising upmarket migration of the Taurus and LaCrosse) has fundamentally altered the market. The lines between mass-market brands and so-called premium brands are blurrier than ever. Five years ago, who would've thought that a Ford Taurus or a midsize Buick or an upscale Hyundai would be taken seriously as a competitor for Infiniti, Lexus or BMW?

Not since the first Lexus LS400 in 1990 has the luxury car market been shaken up this thoroughly.

jyym

The suspension for 2010 was tweaked for a more compliant ride over bumps.

Also, several owners have stated that it corners even better than the 2009 model.

jyym

More likely that people (who care more about a car than just the badge) would compare the Genesis to the GS (despite the price diff.) than to the ES (the LaCrosse CXS and SHO, at least, have a modicum of "sport" to them - the ES does not).

Several former owners of the GS who have migrated to the Genesis have stated that the Genesis corners a little flatter than the GS.

Just based on a survey from Genesis owners - there seem to be more buyers coming from sportier models (5 Series, G35/37) than soft-riders like the ES.

jimbres

Good point, & one that might explain why the Genesis isn't selling well in the colder parts of the country.

A little over a year ago, not long after the Genesis was introduced, I stopped by a local (suburban NYC) Hyundai dealer to look at one. While there, I spoke with a salesman who showed a surprising lack of enthusiasm for the new car. His reason: many prospective Genesis buyers would cross-shop it with the Infiniti M. When they realized that the Infiniti offered AWD while the Genesis did not, they would buy the Infiniti.

A year later, I can see that he was right. Almost all of the Infiniti Ms that I see in the NYC metro area are the "x" AWD variant. And I see very few Gens.

I can't begin to guess how many sales Hyundai has lost because it doesn't offer an AWD version of the Genesis.

fedlawman

The 3.2L Volvo S80 stickers for $39,200. And frequent incentives make them an attractive option.

poodog13

I've got to take issue with including the Accord at any trim level in the comparison to the Genesis. It is clearly at the bottom of the continuum of the vehicles listed in terms of luxury appointments and appearance, and also falls significantly below in some of the performance attributes.

If you extend the continuum long enough, I guess any car can be compared (for example, I think that the Mazda6 is a direct competitor for the Accord), but we should limit the comparison in this case to something a bit closer.

fedlawman

Have your sat in and driven an Accord EX-L V6? It's a very nice $30,000 sedan - big, fast, and luxurious.

marvinlee1

Buyers naturally differ on what constitutes luxury. For me, living on a rough gravel county road, rough road ride and silence are important. I regard the Honda as a bit marginal in that respect, and had reservations about the 2009 Genesis. I hope to learn of clear ride improvement in the 2010 models.

backy

(Sorry, can't reply directly since the wide photos pushed the Reply link off the page)

Leather seating surfaces and plood doesn't turn a nice family sedan into a luxury car, or more precisely a direct competitor for a car like the Genesis (for those who don't think it's a luxury car). The TL is closer to the mark there.

obyone

won't be taken seriously as a luxury marque simply because they don't offer a V8 nor do they offer RWD.