New Genesis a bargain in luxury market
Hyundai stakes claim in segment
VERNON, B.C. — If you want to gain traction in the Canadian luxury market, get a grip. That’s just what Hyundai has done: the big news here is standard allwheel drive for all versions of its second-generation Genesis luxury sedan.
Perhaps you haven’t been paying attention and the big news here is that the words “Hyundai” and “luxury sedan” were just used in the same sentence. Make no mistake, the previous Genesis sedan was already the real deal, outselling cars such as the Cadillac CTS, Lexus GS, and the Audi A6 last year in our market.
However, it was also roundly whipped in numbers by traditional luxury cars that include the BMW 5 Series and the Mercedes E-Class. Hyundai hopes to narrow the gap with this new leather-lined cruiser. It’s a very good effort, it’s still kind of a bargain, and it’s here to make you take a good, long look at what you consider to be luxury.
The new Genesis just plain impresses. Leather seating is standard, and it’s now of a higher quality, with better bolstering and comfort. Brushed aluminum and gorgeous open-pore wood are available at one step up from the base model, as is nappa leather.
Even though there is a 420-horsepower V-8 on offer, this car is about comfort rather than sport, and doesn’t have the closed-in cockpit feel that’s found in more driver-focused cars. With a total length now just a hair short of five metres, the Genesis has a longer wheelbase and more passenger room than pretty much anything in the segment. Where others might sell outright speed, the Genesis promises relaxation.
To that end, it’s jampacked with every conceivable entertainment and convenience feature you could imagine, and several you didn’t know you even needed.
The central feature is the de rigueur touchscreen, the standard sizing being 20 centimetres, with satellite navigation standard as well. The upgraded 23cm screen is not just larger, but also higher resolution at 720p, and comes standard on the V-8 model. A head-up display is also available, with blindspot monitoring built right in, and all cars will come with an 11cm colour display screen mounted right in the instrument cluster.
Standard audio is a 14-speaker Lexicon system, with an optional 17-speaker upgrade available. Both sound great, and are certainly up to the category benchmarks.
Two engines are on offer, with most Genesis sedans sold coming with the 3.8-litre V-6. Here, it makes 311 hp and 293 pound-feet of torque, slightly down from the outgoing model, although Hyundai claims a broadened torque curve. The other offering is a 5.0L V-8 that cranks out an impressive 420 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque.
Hyundai calls its system wheel-drive system HTRAC (for obvious reasons), and it’s capable of splitting torque through an electronically controlled wet-plate clutch in the transfer case. Up to 100 per cent of the power can be diverted to the front to claw you out of trouble, or the torque can be sent mostly to the rear to carve through a corner. Depending on which of the three driving modes you select (eco, normal, and sport), the system diverts power to either maximize efficiency, or performance, or any middle-ground between the two.
While the Genesis can boast a new stiffer chassis that beats both Mercedes and BMW in terms of outright rigidity, every effort has been made to give the suspension supple compliance. And yet, in spite of this comfort-first strategy, it’s still very good to drive.
In a world of front-wheeldrive, bargain-priced Benzes, compact luxury crossovers, and coupe- styled BMW sedans, it’s a refreshing experience. Add in the new levels of grip, and the German marques need to watch their six — Hyundai’s catching up, and fast. The 2015 Hyundai Genesis sedan will be available for a base price of $43,000 for the 3.8L premium. The car tops out at $62,000 for the 5.0L ultimate trim.