As Hyundai prepares to move forward with a plan to split its luxury models off into a sub-brand called Genesis, the sedan that currently bears that name moves into 2016 with no major changes.
That means shoppers will continue to find an attractive sedan powered by a choice of 3.8L V6 and 5.0L V8 engines, both of which come bolted to an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive.
If there was any doubt Hyundai could build a legitimate luxury car, this sedan has erased it: Genesis is a roomy, well-appointed and powerful vehicle that feels competent in just about every respect. The base engine makes 311 hp and 293 lb-ft and, honestly, is all this car needs, thanks to tightly-spaced ratios that make excellent use of that power.
For those with a fear of missing out, the 5.0L V8's 420 hp and 383 lb-ft lets Hyundai run with the best of the European and domestic luxury cars, but it comes at a price: for one, it only comes in top-spec Ultimate trim and is a $9,000 upgrade over the V6-powered 3.8 Tech model. And second, it's a thirsty beast, with official fuel consumption estimates of 17.3/10.5 L/100 km (city/highway) while the V6's ratings are more attractive at 14.4/9.4.
A starting price of $43,000 puts the mid-size Genesis smack in the meat of the compact luxury sedan segment so that it competes, money-wise against the likes of the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Lexus IS but has the power and space to keep up with a 5 Series, E-Class or GS. All that's wrong with this car is the low-rent association a certain cadre of drivers still attaches to the Hyundai name, even though some of its non-luxury models are easily as well-finished as $40,000-plus luxury-branded models.
In keeping with its luxury market position and Hyundai's value-intensive tendencies, Genesis is a well-equipped car that, in 3.8 Premium trim, comes standard with navigation, 12-way power front seats with lumbar, acoustically-laminated glass, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and power-folding side mirrors, leather seats, intelligent keyless entry, HID headlights, LED daytime running lights, fog lights and taillights, backup camera and hands-free trunk.
3.8 Luxury models get blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, lane change assist, front and rear parking sensors, 14-speaker stereo, heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, wood trim, driver's seat thigh support, power-adjustable tilt-and-telescopic steering column, ventilated front seats, auto-dimming side mirrors and a panoramic sunroof.
3.8 Technology trim brings adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, electric parking brake, lane departure warning, upgraded gauge cluster, rear side window sunshades, head-up display and automatic high beams.
5.0 Ultimate trim adds a continuous damping control (CDC) suspension, 9.2-inch navigation display (upgraded from 8.0-inch in lesser trims), 17-speaker stereo, smart key card and headlight washers.
This vehicle has not yet been reviewed
