Hyundai Genesis V8 2016 Review

Hyundai Genesis V8

Quick spin
Santa Barbara, USA
Australia’s love affair with V8s doesn’t stretch as far as Hyundai Australia’s product planning department. Least not to the extent that they’ve been able to convince themselves or their global counterparts to build a right-hand drive version of the Genesis V8...

And that’s a shame, because while the V8 version of Hyundai’s most expensive car is no rocketship, it is a very polished and refined luxury car. Note polished, refined, V8 and Hyundai in one sentence.

So, just to be accurate, there is no chance – repeat zero, zilch – of the V8-powered Genesis coming to Australia. A twin-turbo V6 with even more power and torque? Well, that’s a very different question...

motoring.com.au drove the Genesis V8 on the west coast of the USA last month, in part to provide feedback to the brand on ‘where to’ for Genesis Down Under. This is important because no longer just a flagship model for Hyundai, G is now a brand within a brand.

The roll-out of models won’t be fast, but with the launch of the G90 limo at January 2016’s Detroit Auto show, the brand is now officially out of the starting blocks. Think Lexus to Toyota, Infiniti to Nissan. But also consider that, in Hyundai’s arguably more pragmatic way, even in the USA, the company is not rushing to make its dealers spend big on separate dealerships – not until the volume warrants it anyhow...

This car, which we know simply as THE Genesis, will eventually be renamed G80 – probably when a mild facelift hits later this year. The Korean brand says it’ll be just one of five all-new models set to hit the road between now and 2020. Hyundai Australia’s introduction of the wider Genesis line-up may run a little later than the US timetable but there’s a definite commitment to the brand Down Under.

To say Hyundai insiders are excited is more than a little understatement.

You see, now the decision has been made, the company is serious. Its recruited key execs from brands like Bentley and Lamborghini.

They’re charged with building on the G90’s foundation. The big limo looks impressive but is essentially a USA and Korea-only proposition. In markets like ours, however, there will be a new large coupe and importantly, a full size SUV.

What Australian buyers will be most interested in, however, is the proposed mid-sized rear-drive sedan and the sporty crossover that will share its underpinnings. And in case that doesn’t excite you, the brand has also promised fettled models to take on the likes of BMW’s M cars, AMG and the like.

Cue another mention of the twin-turbo V6...

For the time being, the G80 will set the tone for the new brand. Closely based on the car we’ve driven hereabouts, Genesis promises tweaks for the 2016 model year and in the US market at least, more safety features and higher specification levels have been launched.

The ‘teaser’ V8 we drove differed in a number of areas from the Genesis we get Down Under – notwithstanding the extra two-cylinders. Lane keeping assist is one extra goodie and there’s a dial-based human machine interface that’s likely to come Down Under with the facelift.

At around US $54,000 in the Stateside top trim, it’s priced in-market within cooee of its Japanese (read: Lexus) and German (think E-Class) opposition. Stateside at least, the brand is not shy of asking serious money...

Under the bonnet the 5.0-litre ‘Tau’ V8 is rated at 313kW and 519Nm, a useful 82kW (+35 per cent) and 122Nm (+31 per cent) boost compared to the local 3.8 V6 version. Alas there’s also an additional 200kg or so aboard. Thus performance is not appreciably more muscular than ‘our’ Genesis.

Hardly known for its parsimonious habits in V6 form, the Genesis in V8 guise is no better. On the USA fuel economy cycle, the V8 version is 18 per cent thirstier. That would officially make it a ‘guzzler’ Down Under.

But there’s an attractive lilt (albeit subdued) to the engine note of the Hyundai V8 and the car is very smooth and refined. One hiccup was wind noise – I was firmly of the impression that the US car was noisier around the A-pillars and mirrors than our local Genesis. It shouldn’t be but that’s what my ear suggested.

The US-spec Genesis V8 seemed to be a step up in terms of trim compared to the local offering – with better front seats and more supple leather. On top of the fact the car delivers more cabin room than the likes of Audi A6 or BMW 5 Series, there’s been a definite effort made to hone fit and finishes. Pretty bloody good really.

There’s all the equipment you’d expect and a decent quality feel to the cabin and touchpoints. But this is a segment that’s moving quickly. We expect the new Mercedes E-Class to raise the bar for the class so Hyundai, oops, I mean Genesis will need to respond if it expects to be taken seriously

The other area where the brand will need to work on its game is chassis dynamics. In American spec, at least, there’s a gulf between the dynamic abilities of the V8 and its German opposition. The US-spec car’s suspension is bordering on soggy and there’s not the positive response from the pointy end that you’d take for granted from a Beemer or Merc.

If our short V8 drive is anything to go by, Hyundai Australia’s team deserve a big pat on their collective back for their local Genesis suspension tuning efforts. Let’s hope that the next generation of cars get some of this Aussie input.

Such is the nature of our sedan market that Australians have never bought more Mercedes, BMW or Audis. Four doors and a prestige badge now seem to go hand in hand.

So, there’s no question we’re increasingly attracted to premium cars. But as Infiniti and to an extent even Lexus have shown, it’s a harder road Down Under than other markets for start-up prestige brands.

As attractive the V8 and the potential of that twin-turbo V6 sound, Genesis will need to do things better for a consistent period to win top-shelf buyers. Indeed, even with big plans, deep pockets and good engineering, Genesis will face an uphill battle...