The Hyundai Genesis just feels right. The steering has enough weight and precision to interest a driving enthusiast, while remaining light enough to appease the casual commuter. The engine and transmission are smooth and restrained, but can usher up performance if you mash the go pedal. All the buttons, gauges, and screens are legible and easy to use. The headlights now have a cool curved LED accent strip, which looks fantastic at night. In short, every part of the Genesis feels taut, precise, and elegant.
For 2012, the car's 3.8-liter V-6 has been upgraded with direct fuel injection, yielding more horsepower and torque, while the five-speed automatic is replaced by a new eight-speed automatic. The ostensible goal of the changes is better fuel economy, but the improvements also make the Genesis significantly quicker. The V-6 car now feels as fleet as the outgoing Genesis V-8, and there is even a subtle, sporty intake snarl above 3000 rpm. While the eight-speed auto is very good, its manual-shift mode is useless: manual shifts are slow and hesitant.
Not only can the Genesis engage driving enthusiasts, it can also serve as an outstanding luxury sedan. The styling is refined and classy, and the interior appointments wouldn't look out of place in a competing German luxury machine. The ride is smooth, the trunk is large, and the rear seat offers enough space for taller business associates. Just like the car company that built it, the Hyundai Genesis excels without calling excessive attention to itself.
Jake Holmes, Associate Web Editor
The V-6 makes this big car so surprisingly quick that I had to double-check that this wasn't the new 5.0-liter Genesis. This is actually the first time I've driven a V-6 Genesis sedan, and I now see less reason to recommend the V-8. This remains the highly impressive, lots-for-your-money sedan that came out in late 2008; the V-6 saves you a whopping $10,300 versus the V-8 and offers 2 or 3 more mpg as well.
I drove mostly on newly resurfaced roads, but it seems like Hyundai has improved the Genesis's ride quality since we tested our Four Seasons 2009 Genesis 4.6. Another note: I was impressed by how vault like the Genesis sounded when I closed the door upon entering it last night. I felt like I was in a Lexus or an Audi commercial.
Rusty Blackwell, Copy Editor
