By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
By the way, was the car as quiet as we have been told?
I'd say you and the owners are of the few. From my experience, the Azera does not quite measure up to the Avalon. It's close, but as usual on past Hyundais-actually on all of them minus the VC and Genesis, it just falls short here and there. Not by much, but the overall package isn't qute as good as the Avalon. I think what the owners really mean is that the money they saved over the Avalon makes it just as good a buy as one.
There must be a button on the right side of the license plate, under the chrome trim. It's just hidden and not noticeable.
FINALLY, factual news!! I was falling asleep reading all of the "I know everything about cars and I'm gonna make you believe what I believe" posts.
Thanks ladave1, let us know anythng else you find out.
But they're fighting history. Back in 1996 they came out with their sports coupe the Tiburon.
Jul 13, 1996
TIBURON, Calif. -- If you still harbor doubts about Hyundai's ability to play in the big leagues, you've missed the signs.
There was last year's tough, capable Accent, the easy pick of the entry-level cars.
Then came the sophisticated Elantra compact sedan and wagon, launched on the road last February and on the race track this summer. This model is currently second-in-class-and-rising in
the Enduroseries for showroom-stock cars, despite occasionally having me behind the wheel.
(Get to the Molson Indy early tomorrow morning for what will surely be the best race of the weekend.)
Hyundai is now the world's 14thranked carmaker by sales volume. Its goal is to reach the Top 10 by the year 2000. If you know anything about South Koreans, you'll know not to stand in
front of them when they're on a mission.
*****************************
The Accent GT, Elantra GT with "token" moves at being sporty.
Now you have the 09 Elantra touring with B&M shifter.
Need I say more?
But Hyundai seems to be making progress with the Genesis coupe with a truely sporty car.
I expect with US economy and stk market to make a major slide into June of 2011, and I expect to get a very good buy on a coupe.
With a slight up move in the market, once this low is put in shortly till the 1st qtr of 09.
But I'm gettin a little off topic here....lol
A friend of mine has a 6 speed Tib - very much a fun car. It's nice to see Hyundai as one of the few mainstream automakers still sticking with the niche market.
Hyundai is now the world's 14thranked carmaker by sales volume
Interestingly, a dozen year later, they've moved up to fifth in the world.
Really? They are in front of Chrysler? I didn't know that. In the future, could Hyundai be to Toyota what Toyota is to GM?
He is most impressed with the engine, and pretty much rips on the handling. He also hates the high speed stability, braking and transmission.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8GEz6ioGTI&feature=related
Bottom line, the Genesis can compete.
The reviewer pointed out a few things which made little or no sense:
1) VDC
2) Braking
3) Handling/Dynamics felt like a FF sedan - what?????
A friend told me the review company is related to Samsung, which is a competitor of Hyundai in the Korean market - go figure...
Anyway, what's more interesting:
The same Korean spec car was tested by the US journalists, and none of them reported anything close to what this dude was talking about - all of the US journalists had different conclusions than this guy.
I want the Genesis to succeed more than any other car in Hyundai's lineup.
Why? Because I'd absolutely love to see someone kneecap both BMW and Mercedes (okay, even Lexus) for charging ridiculous premiums for cars that don't warrant it.
Do you know what the new S550 is selling for? As much as 110k, fully loaded. A BMW 7 Series is selling for 80k+. Heck, even the LS430, Lexus' flagship sedan, is arguably massively overpriced at 75k.
The Lexus ES 330 is just an insulation stuffed, more richly trimmed Camry, yet Toyota gets as much as 11k more for it than the V6 Camry.
So, I want the Genesis to succeed. My fear is that they cut corners on some important parts and components, in order to be able to load the car up with expensive content on the interior, and that the driving dynamics of the car will suffer as a result.
Like I said, I plan on taking a Genesis for a very long test drive when they arrive at local dealers. I am not about to pay anywhere near 30k for a Hyundai at this point in time unless I am very confident that warts will not show up in the way the car handles, drives or feels after the initial honeymoon warmth is over.
As I consider a sedan for the first time in a long time, I am considering a Pontiac G8, an Infinity G37, and possibly, the Genesis.
I know that's a divergent mix. I suspect the Pontiac will be the tautest, the Infinity will blend comfort and sport nicely, and I am anxiously awaiting the Genesis test.
Do you have the same concerns about the G8? Do you think GM has a better chance of executing on the G8 than Hyundai has with the Genesis?
I would not take that bet.
http://jalopnik.com/cars/jalopnik-hearts-chazwazzers/first-pontiac-g8-rolls-off-- - holden-assembly-line-275050.php
First Pontiac G8 Rolls Off Holden Assembly Line
Happy times for American hoons. Number minus-one from a first-year batch of 30,000 Pontiac G8s just crawled out of its shell. That is, the first Pontiac G8 — an engineering prototype not among the first production models — rolled off a Holden assembly line in the South Australian town of Elizabeth. Essentially, the G8 is a re-skinned Holden Commodore VE, which has collected reviews in several shades of awesome. To recap: A few months back, the General, spooked by the prospect of rising CAFE standards, said it had "pressed the pause button" on its rear-wheel-drive plans. Then, whoops, it pressed play again. Back on track, the G8 is the first American domestic market vehicle built off GM's RWD platform known as Zeta. (The Camaro will likely be #2.) A nearly 400 horsepower (391 hp) 6.0-liter V8, along with and six-speed manual, will be standard fare on the GT model. Good on you, GM. – Jonny Lieberman
By the way, Lexus no longer sells the LS430 as a new car, ditto on the ES330, but you can find good deals on the used lots. Also, Infiniti has released the G37 sedan for the European market but not yet here in the states, stay tuned though
I opted out of the G8 upon seeing the list of features/equipment, although the car drove pretty nice; the G35 sedan is a bit smaller for my likes.
That said, Backy was talking about the magnitude of the Genesis, as compared to the G8. The Genesis means just that much more to Hyundai than the G8 to GM.
By the way, the article posted is obviously outdated - The 6.0L V8 in the Pontiac G8 GT puts out 361hp (not 390), and no 6-sd manal option, much less as standard equipment...
Comparison at-a-glance:
Genesis 3.8L V6 - 290hp 6spd Aisin A/T 18/27 MPG
G8 3.6L V6 - 256hp 5spd A/T 17/25 MPG
Geneis 4.6L V8 - 375hp/368hp 6spd ZF A/T 17/25 MPG
G8 GT 6.0L V8 - 361hp 6spd A/T 15/24 MPG (with cyclinder deactivation)
The Genesis V8 gets exact mileage figures as G8 V6, with an extra 119hp, or 112hp on regular...
What have the Lexus LS430 and ES330 become? I haven't been keeping up with Lexus (obviously) because their pricing turned me off a long time ago - they are way overpriced for what you get, IMO.
The ES is now the ES350 with the 2GR Toyota motor and the LS is now the LS460. Essentially the same models, just redesigned with updated engines. BTW the hybrid LS will tip 100K.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
Well, though these vehicles are so much alike, they are more different (obviously). Yes, the G8 does want to be a poor 5 series fighter ( and it succeeds), while the Genesis almost squarely competes with lower end midsize Japanese lux models, so the two have somewhat of a comon interest. But the goals are different, as Pontiac is going for performance and Hyundai, luxury. And though the Genesis has more horsepower, the G8 is much quicker. Although the two are the same size with rwd, I don't realy think they can be considered in the same market.
As for those who say the G8 falls short, consider GM put forth a lot less effort than Hyundai for this vehicle. Hyundai has a lot more riding on this. GM probably didn't want to put forth too much of an effort because Pontiac was, and is being considered for termination (athough they would be idiots to get rid of Pontiac before Hummer and Saab). If GM put forward half the effort that Hyundai did, the G8 would be just as nice, if not nicer. They probably will, but in the form of a Buick.
What? No.
The LS460 is a whole new redesign with a brand new engine, brand new platform, brand new exterior and brand new interior. There are virtually no relation between it and the old LS430 except for the LS designation.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Hyundai-Genesis-4-6-GENESIS-4-6-V8-TECHNOLOGY-PKG- - -5-TOP-OF-THE-%20LINE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6262QQihZ016QQitemZ260253918502- - QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
I am concerned about my timing. I have to make a purchase by October 1 so that won't leave enough time for the V8 Genesis to satisfy the initial demand surge and then settle into a longer term trend. I'm a little worried that this model could go the way of the VW Phaeton, which I almost bought as well. Hyundai seems to be a very serious competitor, however, and I suspect that they will support the Genesis through any turbulent times. The product launch does seem to be pretty choppy, however. There is just way too little information out there. Most of the reviews I've found are based upon a preview in Korea last January or a car show where they just sat in it. I'm waiting for the big magazines to do a thorough review of the U.S. model that will actually be for sale. I guess that those reviews will be coming in the next month or two and that Hyundai will greatly intensify their marketing at that point.
One other point about the Korean car review that was kind of lukewarm. I have read in several reviews that the Korean model that he tested has a much softer suspension. The cars for export to the US will be firmed up in several ways, which should help a lot.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Hyundai-Genesis-Prem-2009-Hyundai-Genesis-3-8L-Pr- emium-Plus-Package_W0QQitemZ120274853881QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item120274853881&
The strongest argument right now is whether or not the Genesis can compete with the likes of the Infinity M, 5-Series or E-Class vehicles. Personally, I don't think THAT is the true arguement. If you look at what you pay for the car and how close it may come to providing what the prestigous makes give you...that says a lot. I truly don't feel that one will get the exact performance of any of the mid-level premium cars. I think you'll get some semblance, but not dead on. The real question is...does the money saved justify overlooking the fact that it doesn't provide the driving dymanics of a BMW, Benz or Infinity? Are there other aspects of the vehicle that make up for what it may lack?
I will agree, Hyundai did hurt themselves by putting it out there that they benchmarked Benz & BMW when it came to putting the Genesis together. That really set the expectation bar really high. Personally, I hope that bar is met or at least they get close enough as to not take a serious hit. The biggest thing right now is the rampant speculation, like you said...needs to be handled by a serious review by a few respected magazines and car folks.
I hate to say it...Hyundai has succeeded in generating a serious buzz and hype over this car. I would almost say a buzz that rivaled that of the Pontiac Soltice/Saturn Sky.
A friend of mine has a 6 speed Tib - very much a fun car. It's nice to see Hyundai as one of the few mainstream automakers still sticking with the niche market.
*********************************
Thanks for the tip Joe. I try not to tell people where they can go, if you know what I mean...
I have no idea what you are talking about as far as Hyundia sticking with a niche market.
They want to be "in all markets" like all car makers, not just cheap cars.....
Hyundia moved up in sales because of the effort they put into quality, the warranty, and under pricing other car makers to get people to buy their cars after making junk before new leadership came on board.
All done by providing a low cost high value economy cars in emerging countries.
They have yet to prove themselves in the sport or premium segment.
They have proved to raise their prices as fast as they think they can to get up to the competition even if sales fall.
PS. I'm not here to bash Hyundai or argue with the likes of you. But, whatever........
Hyundai Moves Up To Sixth Among World's Largest Car Makers
14 June, 2006
The Hyundai Automotive Group has overtaken Nissan to take sixth place in the
world ranking of the largest automotive manufacturers, according to
Detroit-based Automotive News.
Hyundai Motor Co. and its subsidiary Kia Motors Corp. registered an 11.6 percent jump in global sales in 2005 to 3,715,096 units, the largest percentage gain of any carmaker in the million-plus sales category, reported Automotive News’ most recent survey of global automotive sales and production of cars, recreational vehicles and all types of commercial vehicles.
Hyundai’s main gains have been its double digit sales increases in the Chinese, Indian and Russian markets whilst still finding more new customers in the crowded, mature markets of North American, Europe and Australia.
The steady climb up the charts is attributable to the leadership and vision of Chairman Chung Mong-Koo. Since taking the helm of Hyundai and Kia in 1999, he has made quality his mantra, resulting in a dramatic turnaround in brand reputation and thereby fuelling increased sales. He has also spearheaded Hyundai’s drive to invest in overseas manufacturing. During his tenure, Hyundai-Kia has passed Fiat, Honda, PSA/Peugeot-Citroen, Nissan and Renault in global sales to move into the number six sales spot.
Ranking Automaker 2005 Global Sales
1 General Motors Corp 8,381,805
2 Toyota Motor Corp. 8,120,000
3 Ford Motor Co. 6,208,700
4 Volkswagen AG 5,242,793
5 DaimlerChrysler AG 4,854,700
6 Hyundai Automotive Group 3,715,095
7 Nissan Motor Co. 3,597,748
8 PSA/Peugeot-Citroen SA 3,390,000
9 Honda Motor Co. 3,365,000
10 Renault SA 2,533,428
*Source: Automotive News June 5, 2006 Edition
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyundai
I have no idea what you are talking about as far as Hyundia sticking with a niche market.
They want to be "in all markets" like all car makers, not just cheap cars.....
The moderators here do a good job with content posting, so I was just saying, if you wanted to discuss further on the Coupe, there are already threads setup. I wasn't trying to tell you what to do - hey you are free to do whatever you want. If the mods give us warnings for off-topic subjects, don't say I didn't warn you :P
As for the Tiburon in the niche market - that's exactly what I am saying.
Anyway, back to the Genesis sedan, well, let the official Genesis era begin, at least with the public:
http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomeP- - age&art_aid=85333
I love the way the Azera looks. My honeymoon phase of the Azera started when I first saw it in person. I didn't really like it in the pictures, but in person and when driving, they look classy as heck!
I don't really care how many are sold. As far as I'm concerned, if fewer people have them, the more unique the car is to the owner.
I would like to purchase one, but can't afford it for the time being.
The Genesis also looks to be somewhat of a shocker. I've actually seen one up close at a wedding down in Irvine, California. Very nice car!
Still have yet to figure out its driving dynamics though...
Blessings,
-dan
link title
Hyundai is taking their new Genesis across the country and letting people come and test drive it. Sounds great to do before the cars hit the dealerships, but why would someone want to drive 100-300 miles to test drive a car they can see at their local dealership? The tour is scheduled to run into October. Would be great if they had some of the competition (M35/45, 528/535, GS350) present to drive back to back, but I really doubt that will happen. FYI.
If this is accurate, then the price with Tech Pkg is not 37K.
You may be thinking about sneak preview - which has happened already.
Brief overview- I only got to drive the V6. The car is not a perfect "10" (in my opinion), but it is REALLY good.
More details below.
Okay, so like I said, I got to drive the V6 version only. The only V8 at the event that I attended was parked inside in a room with a E350 and A Lexus GS. I'm not sure which engine the Lexus had. Now, I want to make a distinction about the driving on this car. This is a car that has almost no body roll and it changes directions pretty well, however, it is not the corner-carving BMW fighter that Hyundai asked for. I was pretty impressed while driving the car, and since I was driving a $37000 car, it was outstanding, it just wasn't the equal of a 5-series. One other thing on handling. I tried my best to lose the back end on this car. I never got close. One time I got the front tires to bark while going around a curve, but I was going into the curve with the throttle floored and then straight onto the brake while turning hard. I never felt as though the car was out of control whatsoever.
Also, the interior of the car is actually quieter that I had expected. This was just amazing. The outside world was almost nonexistent. I heard a few sounds when we went over some tire pieces laid out on the ground to simulate expansion joints, but even this was muted very well. Oh, and by the way, this car was preproduction with no sound deadening in the doors!! The engine is completely silent and there was zero wind noise.
Braking is OUTSTANDING. Some of the best I have ever seen in a car of this type.
My only complaint on driving was that the car weighs 3700 pounds and as such takes a moment to change directions. Also, I felt like the low end response was a little slow. Now again, this was the V6, and it was still decent, but just not a world beater.
Bottom line on driving. Super quiet, fairly solid acceleration with V6 (assume that the V8 will rip!!), outstanding braking, pretty good handling with zero body roll. Always feels composed.
On to the interior. The first thing that I noticed was how well done the leather is. If you are trying to compare this interior in your mind with any other Hyundai you have seen, well, just quit. The Lexus GS that I sat in was pretty similar. I was very pleased with the seat design. Also, there is a TON of room in this car. The reviewers are telling the truth about the back seat. Room for days.
The DIS (I-drive) seems pretty intuitive. I played with it for a while after I drove the car and I think that after a couple of days of owning the car that one would have the hang of it.
The sound system rocked. The one that I was playing with was the top end system.
Now, I do have a couple of gripes on the interior. The driver's seat being the only one that is cooled is stupid. I know this has been covered, but good grief!! Also, the foot pedals are not power adjustable. Why not? Next, no power folding exterior mirrors. Uh, hello? Finally, a four way power passenger seat? How much does the extra functions really cost?
On a positive note, there IS a trunk release on the outside just like the Azera. No need for an aftermarket kit afterall.
Interior final thoughts-- Lots of room, VERY good fit and finish, MOST of the right buttons, completely on par (and better in may ways) with the E350 and GS that I sat in.
Oh yeah, on the outside this thing is SHARP!! Better than in the pictures for sure.
Alright, a few other notes. I was told two things on pricing.
1. The V6 tech pkg should be $37000, not $40000.
2. Expect a price jump in as little as 6 months.
Also, the cars should be on the lot in 7-10 days.
And lastly.........Drum roll please........ The south central region announced promo APR rates on the Genesis. I was pretty shocked. Anyway for 24-48mths there is 0.9%-6.9% for tiers 1-4. On 49-60mths there is 1.90%-6.9% for tiers 1-4. On 61-72mths there is 3.90%-8.50% for tiers 1-4. The credit tiers are based on a bunch of stuff, score, history, whatever. But hey, these make a bargain even more of a bargain.
Final thoughts. Well, the car isn't spot on "perfect". However, for the price delta that I saw ($17k on a V6 Genesis to an E350) I think that this thing is an absolute steal. My wife, an avid M-B fan, even admitted that this thing was really "HOT". The car drives great, it looks good, and the interior is excellent. If you can overlook the few little omissions on the feature list, you will smile every time you start your car!!
:shades:
From what I got out of your posting, the car definitely exceeds, but I'd rather hear it from you as opposed to assuming. If that is the case,
I think if enough folks complain about the little things that were left out (power folding mirrors, power pedals, cooled passenger seat, etc), I can see those as being upgrades for next year's Genesis. At least I would hope that is the case.
Again, thanks for the posting, very, very informative!!!
P.S. On a scale of 1-10 (knowing you didn't give it a 10) how would you rate the car itself; and separately...how would you rate your initial experience with the car on the same scale?
And.. this is one little question i have. how do you feel about the suspensions of the Genesis. We heard that US version of Genesis would get stiffer suspensions than Korea domestic version has.
There is no truly perfect car, just some being better than others. Take for instance...the Azera, while being far from a perfect car, it has been the perfect car for me. The Genesis, while it could very well be a much better car than the Azera, doesn't necessarily make it the perfect car for me (at least at this time
I guess one way it could be looked at is...while not being a perfect 10 (as per jeffreid's earlier assessment), the Genesis could very well be the best offering for the money. While not being spot-on in terms of driving dynamics as compared to a BMW, is it close enough that it's seen as overachieving for a $35K, near 2-ton car?
As far as your gripes, I can live without the power foot pedals and folding mirrors. The 4-way passenger seat is a disappointment. Will the V8 be limited to 4-way as well? In the real world it probably does not make that much of a difference but it does cheapen the car or at least your perception of the car. I think once you get above 35K you have to go with at least an 8-way passenger seat.
Now to answer the questions that you have posed.
I think that overall MOST people are not going to drive this car, or the 5-series, or any of the other cars in this set like I drove on Tuesday. I was in a test car that I did not own and wanted to try and find SOMETHING to bi**h about in the driving dynamics. With that being said, the car performed extremely well. I was doing my best to lose the back tires and never got close. The car always felt very balanced and composed. I just didn't feel like it was "on rails".
Now as far as taking price into account when comparing the driving, you change things considerably. I am going to have to agree with the edmunds reviewer in that, for the price, this thing may be in a league of its own. The quiet interior, the balanced and composed handling, and the overall feel of a substantive automobile made me think that this car is just an absolute STEAL!! I surely say that the Genesis exceeds it's $37000 without breaking a sweat.
As far as the little extras that were not available on the car go, Hyundai did something that I've never seen before. All through the session, there was a form that we were to fill out that asked for what things we thought were right and what things needed to be changed. I was told that HMA would be reviewing these forms and trying to make the changes that are needed. I used a lot of exclamation points on the features that should be in any "luxury" car. They used that phrase to the point that my ears were about to bleed.
Now, to rate the car. I want to say two things in this rating. In comparison to the cars Hyundai says it wants to compete with (E-class, GS, 5-series) I can easily rate the car at a 8.5-9.0 without any talk of price. If you knew me personally, you would appreciate how hard it is for me to rate any auto from Hyundai that highly against that type of competitor. With that being said, I think that this car is THAT GOOD. Now, if you give me the HUGE price advantage then I can't help but move this car into the 9.5 range. I just keep going back to the thought in my mind of how I thought the Genesis was so much more comfortable than the E350 and, really, just as good looking. Then I think about the $18,000 that I would still have in my pocket with a V6, or the $13,000 with a V8 (not to mention all the extra power), and I just am amazed. It is just SO MUCH car for the money. It's crazy. Or maybe the competition is just way too high.........
Bottom line is this. If you can buy/drive a car without the badge being your main concern, and you want a good (no, not GREAT) handling, quick, very well appointed, and really quiet 4 door sedan then you have GOT to go drive one of these. I mean good grief, save the extra money on price and gas mileage (and depreciation as I have mentioned earlier; it has less room to fall) and take an extra trip to Hawaii every year with the difference. Or pay off credit cards or whatever. Put this ride heads up against anything short of a M-B AMG, or a M series from BMW and you have a real competitor. But for lots less. No Hyundai dealer should have to say "Well, but it doesn't cost as much" to sell this car. Just let people drive the car, tell them about all of the places where the car meets or exceeds the competition, and then say "Did I mention that all of this costs $10,000-$20,000 less than its competitors?"
There was virtually no body roll and through the tight turns the car was very easy to "toss around". I think that looking back it was even a bit more impressive now that I realize that I did not have a great feel for the course since it was only one run. Also, there was very little impact felt in the cabin from things on the course. Even the pieces of tire that we were running over, were seen, and then heard a little, but there was very little feeling of being bouced about.
Again, the car was a solid performer even heads up with the M-B and the Lexus, but holy cow, for the difference in price, this thing was just incredible.
There was a post I saw a week or two ago stating that the interior of the trunk was not lined or finished out. This must have been a test mule because the cars that I saw were fully lined and the hinges were covered as well.
If you have seen the inside on the E350's trunk, then you have seen the Genesis trunk. Except the Genesis trunk is bigger.