Car review: 2012 Hyundai Genesis

The Genesis remains an attractive sedan, and sometimes understated is a good thing in today's world of aggressively styled cars. However, many shoppers might also call it forgettable.


Clearly, the winning formula for Hyundai is offering a lot of content and quality for a lower price. The same is true even with this large sedan. It's hard to think of what exactly competes with the 3.8 trim level's $34,200 price considering its size. You could get into an Acura TL or a Lincoln MKS, cars with similarly sized V-6 engines with front- or all-wheel drive, but both are considerably smaller inside.

Inside, Hyundai has definitely matched the Acura in terms of a premium feel and has surpassed Lincoln. The leather seats are downright plush while still offering plenty of support. The optional leather-wrapped dash gives an upscale feel to the entire cabin.

View/Submit Comments for this story

What I often find in large sedans these days is that they don't feel all that large inside. Not so with the Genesis. It's cavernous in front and back, with wide front seats and a backseat with 38.6 inches of legroom. This is identical to the MKS and bests the TL, Infiniti M and Lexus GS, which measure 36.2, 36.2 and 36.4 inches, respectively.

The trunk is respectably sized at 15.9 cubic feet, but it's not tall enough for really bulky items. Golf clubs won't be an issue, though. Still, that figure again trumps most of the above-mentioned competition by at least a cubic foot. The MKS is an exception with 18.7 cubic feet.


The Genesis won't confuse you with option packages or trim levels: Only the 3.8 has option packages to choose from, and there are only two.

The Genesis 3.8 starts at $34,200 and comes equipped with 17-inch wheels, the LED-accented headlights, leather upholstery, heated front seats, dual temperature control, push-button start, keyless entry, Bluetooth and a seven-speaker stereo.

That's pretty good, but most buyers will opt for at least the Premium Package, which adds 18-inch wheels, a navigation system with a 7-inch screen, 14-speaker stereo system, moonroof, backup camera and a power adjustable steering wheel, bringing the price to $39,000.

The Technology Package features a larger 8-inch navigation system and 17-speaker stereo system along with adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, cooled driver's seat, heated rear seats and high-intensity-discharge xenon headlights for a sticker price of $43,000.

The Genesis 4.6 features everything in the 3.8 Technology Package at $44,500 and adds just a few extra touches, like chrome body accents and a wood and leather steering wheel. The $1,500 price increase to get even the smaller of the two V-8 engines is a modest one.

And as you get to the top-dog Genesis 5.0 R-Spec for $46,500, you get those impressive 19-inch wheels and the added performance benefits I mentioned above, but no other additional equipment over the 4.6.

The navigation system and upgraded stereos worked quite well. The 3.8 with the tech package and above comes with a vibrant display between the two center gauges to show trip info as well as multimedia selections such as song titles and radio stations. However, the glare of the Nevada sun made all the displays hard to read at the worst parts of the day.


The 2011 Genesis is a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. A spokesman from IIHS says that typically for a car that does not undergo significant structural changes from one model year to the next, like the Genesis, the Top Safety Pick designation will carry over. However, the IIHS has not done so for the Genesis at this time.

Neither the 2011 nor the 2012 has been tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The 2012 Genesis is equipped with eight standard airbags, including seat-mounted side airbags for front and rear passengers. Rear-seat mounted airbags are not the norm for any class of vehicle. Side curtain airbags for both rows are also standard.

Genesis in the market

Hyundai's lineup of cars and crossovers is impressive, with many leading their respective segments in terms of both value and performance.

The Genesis has a problem finding a segment to fit into because it is priced so far below some competitors from Infiniti, Lincoln and Lexus and higher than a Chrysler 300 or Nissan Maxima.

Can a Hyundai compete on status levels with the premium brands? Probably not, even if the car is on par or better than many of them. On the other side, it seems too expensive to non-luxury shoppers, making it a hard sell indeed no matter how good a vehicle it may be.

I would say this, though: Ford has been trying for years to rebuild Lincoln's car lineup to match the historic view of that brand's powerful, elegant cars of the past. Hyundai may have in fact built a better Lincoln at a better price than Ford.


Starting MSRP $34,200 -- $46,500

City: 16 -- 19
Highway: 25 -- 29

Available Engines
385-hp, 4.6-liter V-8 (premium)
8-speed automatic w/OD and auto-manual

New or Notable
* New 333-hp V-6 for 2012
* New eight-speed automatic for 2012
* High-performance 5.0 R-Spec model
* Eight airbags
* Electronic stability system

What We Like
* Performance potential
* RWD dynamics
* Front- and rear-seat comfort, space
* Detailed, high-quality interior
* Braking response

What We Don't
* Tilt-only steering wheel standard
* Ride may be too firm for some
* Backseat doesn't fold
* No AWD option
* Faux-silver dash buttons

© 2011,