2009 Hyundai Genesis Review

2009 Hyundai Genesis - Award winner.

By: John Stein

Writing about a Hyundai vehicle that has captured the 2009 North American Car of the Year award feels a lot like writing a screenplay where we see the youthful main character continually falling while trying to learn to ice skate, only to score the winning Olympic goal as an adult.

Perseverance pays off. That's the message and the Hyundai Genesis is the reward for the Korean automaker's dedication to getting its new sedan right. While a great story, the Hyundai script is even more unlikely when you consider that kid on the ice skates was close to never walking again.

Hyundai's ascension to the value auto throne has come with some hefty bumps in the road and in the early days of its introduction to the American consumer it was considered a lousy product. You might be able to pull some things over on the average consumer, but bad products won't survive and rarely get the chance to re-invent themselves once they are labeled "poor."

Hyundai beat the odds and recreated their product line (and their reputation) by investing in quality materials, sound production standards and by standing behind their cars with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The new Genesis sedan is the crowning jewel of this unlikely Cinderella story.

The all-new Genesis is a world-class sedan that will succeed in the competitive American market for many reasons akin to Hyundai's dedication to quality, but value is still the driving point for the Genesis. In order to hit their mark, Hyundai admitted it fixed its sights on the world's top midsize sedans: Infiniti M, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and the Lexus GS. These rear-drive sedans represent exceptional quality and extraordinary performance and ride. Those cars also average about a $50k sticker price. This is where the Genesis is amazing -- it has a base price of about $33,000.

The Genesis is offered with two engine options: the 3.8-liter V6 and the 4.6-liter V8. My tester was the V6 mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission that delivered 290 horsepower and 264 lb.-ft. of torque. This rear-wheel-drive sedan goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds. The 32-valve V8 engine goes from 0 to 60 in 5.7 seconds. It has a horsepower rating of 375 and torque of 324 lb.-ft. The EPA ratings on the Genesis V6 are 18 mpg city, 27 mpg highway. The V-8 is rated at 17/25 mpg.

Genesis' exterior styling is attractive. It does not emulate anything I have seen Hyundai doing with their other vehicles' exteriors. In fact many people asked me what kind of a car it was. So, right there, it clearly is different from other Hyundai's. Another hint that the branding of Genesis was taking a different approach: there is no Hyundai badging on the Genesis. They have done this before with other premium sedan offerings, but they have never offered anything with as much value as this Genesis.

My tester had the $3,000 Premium Plus Package that included great looking 18-inch alloy rim upgrades and, among other niceties, a 14-speaker surround sound audio system. High-quality materials and craftsmanship are evident throughout the Genesis cabin. I was especially impressed with the use of materials used along the door trim panels, dashboard and console controls. These are the smaller points the better sedans always get right. So does Genesis.

Sitting in the cabin I found myself quite comfortable surrounded by leather, power adjusting seats, optional power tilt and telescoping steering wheel and a power moonroof. A center console splits the front seats and a control knob located in the center of the console allows easy adjustments to the key interior comfort functions while the in-dash screen displays key status points. You also get eight standard airbags (front and rear seat side-impact airbags) in Genesis.

The independent rear suspension and rear-drive configuration give Genesis drive characteristics more inline with those high-end luxury sedans. The overall driving experience was pleasurable, though I'm certain I would opt for the V8 power option. Acceleration is good and responsiveness was above average. If you appreciate what rear-drive brings to a mid-size sedan, you will not be disappointed by Genesis.

The name of the game is value, and the manufacturer who can deliver it without damaging its bottom line, or its reputation, will find buyers, even in tough time, ready to visit their showroom. Hyundai seems to be ready to skate, albeit on some thin economic ice.

John Stein

John Stein grew up in an extended family that valued the art of going fast. Spending plenty of weekends at U.S. 30 Drag Strip and Sante Fe Speedway, he fondly remembers the screaming machines and the flying mud that made those long-gone racing havens such special memories. With plenty of late nights spent ‘tinkering’ with cars throughout high school, he never anticipated his interest cars and his love for writing might find a common ground. After graduating from Eastern Illinois University in 1988, John started writing for the weekly Southtown Economist. So, when the Economist went to a daily in 1994, and needed an auto editor, John took the proverbial steering wheel. Featured weekly in the Sun-Times and its 17 suburban publications, as well as ELITE Magazine, John balances being the Automotive Editor for Sun-Time Media with being a husband and dad in Plainfield, Illinois.

2009 Hyundai Genesis Review

2009 Hyundai Genesis - Award winner.

John Stein

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