GENESIS A LUXURY NEWCOMER
Hyundai has dipped its toe into the luxury sedan field by rebranding Genesis as its premium model — pitting the new G80 against Lexus, Acura and Infiniti.
This handsome and athletic four-door sedan has styling notes of Audi and BMW, clear signs the Korean auto giant is continuing to remake the company into a formidable all-market player. An effort launched in 2011 aimed at bringing in engineers from the German and European markets led to the introduction of this new luxury brand.
It’s a true competitor to the Lexus GS350, the Infiniti Q70 and the Volvo S60. Priced nicely at an MSRP of $41,400, our fully optioned G80 slotted in at $51,300.
This sharp looker will be comfortable in the front row at work, at the club or
while running weekend errands.
The deep five slat grille is framed by cat-like LED headlamps that are offset by creases along the hood. The tapered roofline ends at the powered trunk lid.
Take time to admire the striking exterior before sliding into the driver’s cockpit and firing up the 311-hp 3.8-liter V6. As you take command of this solid machine, you’ll notice it’s an easy driver and its best response is in the “Sport” mode — one of three in the car — which firms the suspension and pushes the shift points to higher RPM. As you glide down the highway in the quiet leather-and wood-trimmed interior, you’ll definitely notice the powerful feeling the G80 emits.
As with most Hyundai brands, the G80 comes pre-loaded with awesome features and the options really trick it out. Our fully loaded G80L increased the touch screen’s size to 9.2 inches, added 19-inch alloy wheels, quad exhaust, a 17-speaker Lexicon sound system, HUD, panoramic sunroof and parking sensors.
Heated and cooled leather seats, with contrast piping, climate control and every imaginable safety feature, also mold the driving experience. Passengers will appreciate the panoramic sunroof that creates a comfortable and spacious cabin. Simple smartphone integration with the company’s Bluelink connectivity makes making phone calls and streaming music a snap.
Made for more than daily commuting, the gigantic trunk offers room for weekend bags, golf clubs and more without crowding the cabin. There’s even a drop-down for skis.
With the Hyundai HTRAC all-wheel-drive system, mileage is 16 in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. I found the car to be pretty easy on the wallet as I drove it about — and the AWD was rocksolid through a couple of rainy days. Once again, I find myself impressed with another nifty Hyundai automobile.