Hyundai Genesis review, test drive

Hyundai's halo product, the Genesis, will find its way into some right-hand-drive markets. This is what the luxury sedan feels like to drive.

Published on May 13, 2014 09:31:00 PM

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New Hyundai Genesis sedan.

Make : Hyundai

Model : Genesis

The new Hyundai Genesis in US specification made its debut in Detroit earlier this year and will be launched in limited numbers later this year in some global markets.

It’s aiming to build significantly on the first Genesis, which launched back in 2008. For the money, that car offered loads of features, but the lack of optional all-wheel drive and no right-hand drive limited sales. Less-than-stellar chassis dynamics and interior detailing didn’t help, either.

It’s clear the company is fully aware of the original car’s shortcomings and that’s why the new car makes greater use of high-strength steel and structural adhesives to help give it superior body rigidity to the Mercedes-Benz E-class and BMW 5-series. Hyundai even hired Lotus Engineering for chassis tuning validation. Interior quality has been improved and all-wheel drive is optional in some markets.

Hyundai wants the new Genesis to be more than a bargain-price luxury car. It sees the Genesis going head to head with the best in the business.

The Hyundai Genesis is quiet and refined – at least on smooth roads. It’s definitely more in the luxury vein of an SE-spec E-class, however, rather than the dynamic world of a Jaguar XF.

On rougher asphalt, the Genesis loses composure and the rear suspension crashes over potholes, while the electric steering is linear but offers little feel. It also lacks the straight-line stability of the Benz. It’s a shame because the basic chassis has great potential, the car is very neutral in smooth, fast corners and it resiliently resists understeer, even when pushed.