We have an opportunity to check out a number of different cars on the road and love to be able to do so. I really enjoy it and love certain aspects of every car we test drive. However, my beautiful wife can be a little more picky when it comes to cars.
We recently had an opportunity to test drive for a weekend, the new Hyundai Genesis AWD 3.8. After driving it the first time, my wife came in and said “I want this car.” She has really liked other cars in the past, but until the Genesis, she has never been so adamant about wanting one.
The feeling is mutual, Hyundai hit a home run with their luxury sedan. That is not a typo, Hyundai, which has mastered pricing and performance with a number of their cars has stepped into the luxury sedan game, and they do a bang up job with their first vehicle, the Genesis.
My first impression of the Genesis can be summed up in one word . . . swanky. It is classy, luxurious, fun, very spacious matched with a drive that is strong and very smooth. It feels and looks like you think a luxury sedan should feel like.
In just the 3rd year for Hyundai’s entry into the luxury, they have it down pat and seems like they have been doing it for decades.
It compares favorably to a BMW, this is based on the appearance, size, design and interior. The main difference though is the price. This is a major accomplishment for Hyundai to come up with, especially when you compare the price point of the Genesis to its competition.
Here are the top things we liked about the Hyundai Genesis.
Drive and performance
The Genesis handles with a perfect blend of power, stability and smoothness. The ride is perfect, as you are driving, you feel in total control of the car. If you need to accelerate, the Genesis has you covered with 311 HP (420 HP in the larger engine 5.0 option). The Genesis drives like a dream.
Interior
The Genesis is a bigger car. About as big as a sedan can get. The front seat is very spacious and is simply a very comfortable car to drive. The back seat has plenty of leg room, even for taller adults. Our kids loved sitting in back, they enjoyed looking up through the panoramic sunroof and when they weren’t looking up, they were focused on the mini control center that comes in the fold down center console in back – We’ll cover this in the tech section soon.
Lastly, the trunk offers tons of space for storage and is perfect for family trips.
Tech & Safety
There are some very functional and handy items included in the Genesis. My favorite was the mult-colored Heads-Up-Display (HUD). From the driver’s seat you could set the HUD to show you MPH, directions, lane departures and speed limit. It was very useful and was the most information I have seen on a HUD. The 9.9” touchscreen is huge and very crisp. Seats have the option to not only heat, but also ventilate along with a ton of additional features available with different packages.
Every potential hazard is made aware to the driver to help keep you safe, lane departure and lane assist (steering wheel will lightly pull back to keep you in your lane), blind spot detection, automatic emergency braking, and much more to keep you and your loved ones safe.
The backseat’s fold down console lets the “backseat drivers” have some control too. They get an extra pair of cup holders, can heat their seats and also control a rear window sunscreen as well. The kids loved sitting in back, they felt like they were in control of their own little world!
The neatest thing we noticed on the Genesis was what I called the Bat Signal! When you open the driver’s door in the dark, a light shines down from the side mirror (which is normal), but there is a design to the light which is pretty fun, check it out!
This is kinda like the Bat Signal!
Overall the Genesis is an incredible car, starting at under $39,000, it is well below the competition price wise. Our version was loaded and the sticker price was $53,000. Even at that price it is a bargain compared to its competition. I know Hyundai and luxury sedan are not normally in the same sentence, but it is time to get used to it. The Genesis is for real, test drive it and tell me what you think about it, I am certain you will be impressed.
If you liked this, you may also enjoy:
