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Adam Davis24 Dec 2014
REVIEW

Hyundai Genesis 2015 Review

Hyundai's Genesis is Korea's Ultimate car, but is it worth the price of admission...?
Model Tested
2015 Hyundai Genesis Ultimate
Review Type
Road Test

Just as the last light of local large car manufacturing flickers away, Hyundai has introduced its premium Genesis large car to the Australian market. Designed to take on the larger Europeans on quality and spec, but with pricing more aligned to their smaller offerings, the Genesis is an intriguing prospect. It's available three grades: Genesis at $60,000, Genesis Sensory for $71,000 and the tested Ultimate variant, for $82,000 (all plus on-road costs). But will buyers be tempted to part with their hard-earned...?


Generally speaking, Australian new car buyers are a savvy lot, and can recognise value and quality when they see it. Witness the performance – particularly over the last five years – of Korea's major automobile manufacturer, Hyundai. Once considered a 'cheap and cheerful' car company, the brand's portfolio is today as impressive as anyone's, and it has the sales figures to back it up.

According to VFACTS data (November 2014), Hyundai has five models taking sales podium places this year, with the i20 and ix35 leading the light car and small SUV segments, respectively. It is from this base that Hyundai has decided to bring its Genesis range-topper to these shores.

Available from 2008 in its original form, the first Genesis was made only in left-hand drive form, and was clearly aimed at the North American market with its bias to comfort, petrol V8 engine availability and proud chrome snout.

For this second-generation model, Genesis is now available in right-hand drive and has the potential to go global. Consequently, it's been introduced to Australia for the first time. Available solely with a 232kW/397Nm 3.8-litre petrol V6, eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive (some markets have an all-wheel drive option), the Genesis arrives at an interesting time, given the wind-down of local large-car manufacturing. Then again, its aims are rather higher.

Hyundai has made no secret of the Genesis' intent: to match the best Euro rivals from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, while substantially undercutting them on price and adding value through Hyundai's renowned after-sales program. As with all Hyundai products, Genesis benefits from a five-year / unlimited-kilometre warranty, 12-month complimentary roadside assistance (which can be extended up to 10 years), lifetime capped-price servicing and three years of free map updates for the satellite navigation system.

We've had a comprehensive look at the Genesis's impressive specification at launch, but the highlights include nine airbags, adaptive cruise, dual-zone climate control, a 9.2-inch sat-nav / infotainment / reversing camera display, keyless entry and start and 12-way adjustable leather seats available across the range.

The Sensory pack adds a blind-spot monitor, lane-departure warning, head-up display, around-view monitor, electric steering column adjustment and premium leather, while Ultimate builds further with panoramic roof, heated and cooled front seats (with rear seat heating too), power boot, rear curtains, a 7.0-inch dash screen and specific 19-inch alloy wheels.

In short: Genesis is comprehensively equipped, though a lack of rear-zone climate control is a notable omission.

Given these high-end attributes and Euro-beating intent, it is a curious that Hyundai decided to run with a large-capacity naturally-aspirated V6 where the competition has all downsized and turbocharged to maximise efficiency. A fuel consumption comparison is tough on the Genesis, which has an ADR Combined-cycle figure of 11.2L/100km: even a 441kW BMW M5 30 Jahre uses less fuel (9.9).

In the lead-up to the Genesis launch there was speculation that a 5.0-litre V8 would also be available in the Australian market, however, it's a left-hand drive only option… and the fuel bills would be even higher.

Evidence of just how important our market is to the Korean brand can be demonstrated by its locally-developed suspension tuning program. Genesis has been through a comprehensive evaluation in Australia. It involved computer modelling and on-road testing against Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar benchmarks, as well as the Japanese competition (Lexus and Infiniti). The resultant evaluation included 42 individual combinations of spring, damper and anti-roll bars before settling on the tune that has come to market. It's time to see if this exhaustive process makes sense from behind the wheel.

Externally, there's only one obvious reference to the Genesis's origin: the Hyundai boot badge. Up-front, and also on the rear, is a Genesis-specific badge that apes Aston Martin, though it is somehow 'Americanised' in font; think Buick rather than BMW.

It's a long vehicle, the Genesis, but Hyundai has created a cohesive, premium design, especially on the Ultimate's 19-inch alloys and wide, low-profile Dunlop rubber.

Moving closer does reveal an orange-peel affect to the paintwork [Ed: a result of too much paint being applied and dried too quickly], which isn't something you'd expect, but opening the softly-hinged door reveals a truly sumptuous cabin, the electric driver's seat set back to allow easy access and that winged badge displayed on the massive centre screen and multi-function wheel.

Although sumptuous, the interior lacks that scent of rich leather, instead giving off a synthetic scent that reduces the cabin ambience. There's also a lot of surfaces within, the leather, wood, carpet and grey dash plastic contrasting with fabric roof lining and hard-textured cream plastic sections. It's busier than it needs to be.

All controls are easy to access and the control systems intuitive, the sound from the premium 17-speaker Lexicon audio system of particular note and arguably superior to the German offerings. Bluetooth phone control is also simple.

Starting the V6 reveals an engine of quiet culture, thanks to the sound-deadening work completed by Hyundai engineers. Around town it's purry-smooth and quiet, and under power it offers a natural V6 sound – nice compared to turbo-four opposition – although it lacks that final aural edge of a Lexus V6. It has no problems accelerating the Genesis, with mid-range torque its strong suit.

On test, we recorded fuel an average fuel consumption figure of 12.1L/100km, according to the trip computer.

In town, the Genesis feels its 4990mm length, occupying parking spaces with its tail sat out past many a mid-size SUV. Once out of the lot it retains a large-car feel, though its ride and its almost complete isolation of NVH make longer-distance trips a pleasure. Genesis smooths out the bumps with the best of them, and though it can become floaty over larger bumps at higher speeds, it's not the game this Hyundai was designed to do.

Cornering grip is competent, though of course there is some roll evident. Braking is also confidence-inspiring for a vehicle of this size, the lack of steering feedback less so.

Taken as a whole, the Genesis impresses, but does it match the best of Europe? Of course, that can only be answered with back-to-back testing [Ed: stayed tuned]. But from this road test the reality is it's not quite there. It lacks the final degree of polish found in its identified rivals, though to be fair its opposition has been honed over decades.

Add value to the equation, however, and the Genesis makes a lot of sense.

2015 Hyundai Genesis Ultimate pricing and specifications:
Price:
$82,000 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.8-litre six-cylinder petrol
Output: 232kW/397Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 11.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 261g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star (ANCAP)

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Written byAdam Davis
See all articles
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Expert rating
75/100
Engine, Drivetrain & Chassis
15/20
Price, Packaging & Practicality
16/20
Safety & Technology
17/20
Behind the Wheel
14/20
X-Factor
13/20
Pros
  • Buttery ride
  • Fully-loaded spec
  • Near-silent at speed
Cons
  • It's thirsty
  • Lack of drivetrain options
  • Lacks interior ambience against rivals
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