Cover the badges on the new Hyundai luxury car,Genesis and you would be hard pressed to pick it as a vehicle from the Korean car maker, such is its level of style,elegance, quality and features.
The Genesis is a very large car.. almost five metres long and two wide, it sits purposefully and looks the goods from any angle. There's a touch of BMW in the side bonnet and front fender line and a bit of XF Jaguar from the rear three quarter angle. It's a very sleek and smooth design.
Even on this base 60K model there are more than enough attractions to go around. One is the serenity in the cabin. Not a whisper of road nor wind noise intrudes to upset the eerily silent interior. Acoustic glass helps here as does 35 kilograms of sound absorbing materials throughout the car.
Under the bonnet the attention to detail continues with not only a sound deadening pad on the underside, but a rubber seal that mates with one below it to create an almost total sound barrier.
The smoothness of the ride is staggering.. the equal of any of the other established luxury brands including Mercedes, Lexus and Audi.
Undulations and rough road surfaces are simply absorbed and swept aside.
The Genesis badge looks a little like the trademark Aston Martin wings,but is also a sign that Hyundai has built something very special.
There's every conceivable technical device including, heated seats, an electric rear window blind, active cruise control, with a lane departure warning system,that vibrates the steering wheel,wing mirrors that fold and open on approach and an electronic handbrake.
The gigantic 9.2 inch information screen is a bonus and easily read and operated, as are the other instruments.
A quality multi speaker sound system completes the serene interior ambience.
Head and legroom are more than ample in front and rear and seat comfort is exceptional.
Hyundai has gone to great lengths in terms of detail.
For example the puddle lights project the Genesis logo and car name on the ground below at night.
The 3.8 litre V6 engine produces 232 kw and 397nm... more than enough to haul the car away from the lights with surprising speed.During my week with the car I averaged around 12 litres per 100 kilometres.An eight speed automatic gearbox in a Hyundai? Yep and it's silky smooth with good spacing between ratios.
As mentioned before, it's whisper quiet on the move.
But when accelerating hard has a faint, delightful refined snarl from under the bonnet.
For such a large car cornering is a revelation..there's some body roll but it's not alarming... the Genesis powers through bends with poise. The steering wheel is well weighted and feels good to grip.
The Genesis is light years from Hyundai's humble beginnings thirty years ago with the Excel, and shows how far the company has come.
Will it be desirable enough to be chosen by customers over established luxury marques? Perhaps not, but it deserves to have a place on your shopping list.
You will be as surprised as I was at the level of refinement and sophistication.
If you are not a "badge snob," the big Genesis could just fit the bill with its level of luxury without the luxury price. It is remarkable value for money.
A test drive could have you hooked.
Genesis starts at 60K and rises to 82k for the top spec model.
Peter Sellen
