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REVIEW
Hyundai Genesis 5.0 2015 Review
Where's the passion? The shiny new Genesis with a 3.8-litre V6 is on its way, but Hyundai is undecided about the V8 for Oz. We figure it's a no brainer...Hyundai Genesis 5.0 Review
Road Test
Monterey, California
The crew at Hyundai are quick learners. Their Genesis, now in its second generation, is a legitimate luxury sedan and earns respect with real blood-rushing performance on request from a 313kW V8 and eight-speed transmission. While it ticks all the boxes, kicks arse and puts impressive technology at your fingertips, in the end it left us asking a few questions about refinement.
What's under the bonnet shouldn't matter so much but it does in this case. Luxury isn't so much defined anymore by country but by content. The Koreans know it; the Japanese proved it. For sure a big luxury sedan needs a big powerful V8, at least. That's a universal truth known by everyone from BMW to Lexus to Jaguar and Cadillac. The exception is Tesla, but Tesla is just bloody different.
Hyundai has done so much in the past decade to reinvent itself as a 'real' car manufacturer and not ugly tin at a cheap price and a warranty. Graceful interior and beautiful exterior design has gradually become a brand quality ever since Hyundai opened its European design centre in Frankfurt about 10 years ago and lured talented automotive designers from Italian and German competitors.
It's been a helluva turnaround that's played well in the USA and Australia. Within the new Hyundai body image lives technological substance – comparable to the Europeans in the same way, some might say, of Samsung Galaxy versus Apple iPhone.
So, you see, the 2015 Genesis 5.0 is an ego thing, a power thing and a technology thing. And a dollar thing ... The Koreans have a thing or two to prove.
The 2015 Genesis with 5.0-litre V8 rolls onto the American market at a price point significantly less expensive than a like-spec European luxury sedan, and about $10k more expensive than the Genesis V6 and $6k above a Chevrolet SS (aka Commodore).
You get the benefit of an additional 81kg under your backside with the Hyundai V8 and the fuel penalty is liveable. The V8 during our week's 1600km drive, the car averaged 10L/100km and it returned under 9L/100km cruising above 120km/h.
Hey, nice engine and the chassis seems to like it. There's not a lot of conflict between the two, and this is a big heavy sedan on a long 3010mm wheelbase. At 2060kg, the Genesis is heavier than a Commodore SS by around 260kg.
As hefty as it is, the Genesis offers a deep consciousness of how it behaves and how it protects and comforts. There isn't much that's not monitored by some system that provides feedback on a high-resolution 233.5mm colour screen or colour heads-up display (HUD) on the windscreen. Info on the HUD can be tailored for size, placement and colour, and remains readable even driving into the direct glare of a setting sun.
Credit Hyundai for an exterior design with distinct cues that uniquely identify the Genesis, but from the driver's seat the sleek reclining D-pillars and tall bootline disrupt rearward vision. It's a compromise overcome by a reversing camera and distance sensors.
Lateral blind spots are watched by a fairly advanced, but at times intrusive, Blind Spot Detection system that strobes amber lights, buzzes and shakes the steering wheel if you dare to change lanes with a car loitering off either rear quarter. In the quick, tight flow of Los Angeles traffic, the thing shakes like a wet dog.
Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keep Assist are also included. Love this technology, especially for Australia where the lanes are narrow and frontal offset impacts are common, but, if you're an attentive, non-text-ing driver you might want to find the off switch.
Most high-spec luxury sedans offer the same technologies; Hyundai simply provides most of the clever stuff as standard equipment along with the V8. There's a lot to comprehend but once you've dialled the audio system, the HUD, the climate control to your personal settings, then you've time to notice the Genesis quietly travels on and covers the distance.
There are limits, however. Hyundai gives and you get, but does the Genesis really need two clocks, paddle shifters, four transmission shift modes and computer-controlled suspension damping?
On the right stretch of winding road where the temptation is too much to resist, the big rear-drive Genesis is surprisingly agile and shifts its weight controllably from corner to corner. The engine and transmission awaken from a relaxed highway cruise and transition in tone and temperament. There's that V8 growl, and the transmission quickly adapts to hold each gear longer and lets the Genesis finds its legs. It feels quick.
Actually, feel is the wrong word. Right when a deep and meaningful conversation would be very welcomed, the steering, suspension and brakes don't want to be friendly. Overall grip is actually good but doesn't communicate that realisation through the steering.
The ride control is at the same time entirely too stiff, unrelaxed and doesn't allow the suspension to absorb the minor road irritants. Hyundai claims Lotus assisted in the final suspension setup. Okay, but the Genesis V8 still has the ride refinement of a 1997 Excel.
Transmission and V8 engine as a package is, however, impressive. Hyundai claims it's recalibrated both for the 2015 Genesis to achieve better mid-range power and performance. And it feels strong, aggressive and is surprisingly fuel efficient.
The Genesis 5.0 covers motorway distance with total ease. Melbourne to Sydney - no worries. And after a few days around town, the big Genesis showed it also has urban charm, a great sound system, and real presence.
Genesis 5.0 is a legitimate luxury sedan. No doubt, but with a more compliant suspension tune and improved steering feel, on challenging roads it could also easily be more GT than oh jeez.
2015 Hyundai Genesis RWD 5.0 pricing and specifications:
Price: $US55,700 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 5.0-litre V8 petrol
Output: 313kW/519Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 13.1L/100km (Combined – US claimed)
CO2: 304g/km (Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star NHTSA
| What we liked: | Not so much: |
| >> Strong engine and transmission combination | >> Numb steering and pedal feel |
| >> Personalised heads-up display | >> Choppy ride quality |
| >> Interior size and layout | >> Very coarse cruise control |
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Written byTodd Hallenbeck
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