Genesis receives our highest recommendation
Hyundai Genesis sales are up more than 20 percent over last year, and it’s easy to see why. The already-good engine-trans combination was snuck into a new chassis underneath a gorgeous new body. That’s among the reasons we picked it for a year-long review.
“No, it’s probably not the last word in high-speed dynamics, but it is extraordinarily comfortable, capable and just plain right for daily use,” said one editor.
“At 80 mph, it felt surefooted and solid,” said another.
That was the general consensus for our second quarter with the plush sedan. We put about 3,000 miles on it, a bit less than last quarter—we’ve had a lot of new sheetmetal passing through our fleet.
The HTRAC all-wheel-drive system and Nokian winter tires laughed in the face of one of the worst cold seasons we’ve seen, doing double duty as a commuter vehicle and a plow when a snow blower went down. The quick-heating seats and steering wheel were welcome.
One big thing with the Genesis (something we keep coming back to) is what a screaming value it is at about $ 40,000. Sure, we added about 10 grand in options, but for a legitimate luxury midsize competitor, it’s a steal.
Six months in, the Genesis feels like it just came off the lot. All the gaps are tight, and the damn thing still smells new. The doors close with a solid thunk, and the cabin is dead quiet unless you’re really into the throttle. Speaking of, the 311-hp V6 is perfectly matched to this car, and the eight-speed is still smooth. We don’t say, “This car doesn’t need any more power” very often, but we have with this sedan.
One concern is the plastic buttons and rotary knob on the center console—we’d like more-expensive and heavier-feeling metal instead; and the weather stripping is making noise after the spring thaw. We know we’re just picking nits now—this car is that good.
Recommendations don’t come easy around Autoweek HQ, but talk to an editor who has driven this car and they’d tell a friend to buy one. That feeling ranges from the young interns to the AARP crowd. That’s one of the highest honors we can give.
