There's lots to like about the 2010 Hyundai Genesis, including its powerful engines, smooth ride, spacious cabin, top crash safety scores, long list of standard features and options, strong value for the money and generous warranty.
Since its debut with the 2009 model year, not only has the Genesis received a myriad of accolades, but it's made a serious new challenge to the upscale European and Japanese automakers who traditionally dominate the luxury car segment. With a starting price of $33,000, the 2010 Genesis offers the style, quality, features and performance of many of its competitors at thousands less. And still more value is added with its long 10-year/100,000-mile factory warranty.
True, it doesn't have the name and brand prestige yet of its famous rivals, but for those seeking a premium automobile at a discount price, the Genesis makes a lot of sense.
Nor has it been idly sitting on its laurels, but has instead continued to add value. The newest model has added available features such as touchscreen navigation, adaptive cruise control, premium leather and an electronic parking brake.
Trims, Standard Features And Options:
The rear-wheel-drive 2010 Genesis is available in two trims, named to indicate their engine sizes: 3.8 and 4.6.
Standard features on the Genesis 3.8 include leather upholstery, an 8-way power driver seat, a 4-way power front passenger seat, heated front seats, full power accessories, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless ignition, keyless entry, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, steering wheel audio and cruise controls, 17 inch alloy wheels, foglights, Bluetooth and a 7-speaker stereo system with a CD player, satellite radio, iPod integration and an auxiliary audio jack.
There's also a Premium package for the Genesis 3.8 that adds premium leather seating surfaces and interior trim, driver memory functions, a sunroof, a power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, automatic windshield wipers, a rear power sunshade and a Lexicon 14-speaker surround-sound system with a 6-disc CD changer and HD Radio.
The 3.8 also has an available Premium Navigation package (must already have the Premium package) that includes a hard-drive-based navigation system (with real-time traffic and a rearview camera) and 18 inch wheels.
Standard features on the Genesis 4.6 include all of those on the 3.8 as well as both the Premium and Premium Navigation packages.
The optional Technology package is available for both the Genesis 3.8 and 4.6 and includes a ventilated driver seat, adaptive xenon headlights, an electronic parking brake with automatic vehicle hold, front and rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, an upgraded 17-speaker Lexicon stereo system, Bluetooth and a 6-disc DVD changer and navigation system. The Technology package also features Hyundai's Driver Information System, similar to BMW's iDrive and Mercedes' COMAND, which conveniently integrates many of its system controls into one on-screen interface.
Engines, Powertrain And Gas Mileage:
Powering the Hyundai Genesis 3.8 is, not surprisingly, a 3.8 liter V6 engine that pumps out 290 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque. Under the hood of the Genesis 4.6 is a 4.6 liter V8 that's good for 375 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque. Both are coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control.
In performance testing, the Genesis 4.6 went from a standstill to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds. And the 3.8 made the same sprint in just 6.3 seconds. These are fairly remarkable times for a sedan of these large proportions and price range.
The EPA-estimated gas mileage for the Genesis 3.8 is 18 mpg city and 27 mpg on the highway. The fuel economy for the 4.6 is impressively only slightly lower at 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.
Safety:
Standard safety features for both models include antilock disc brakes (ABS), traction control, stability control, front and rear-seat side airbags, active front head restraints and full-length head curtain airbags.
The 2010 Genesis also excelled in government crash tests, earning perfect five-out-of-five-star ratings in every frontal and side-impact protection category.
Interior:
The interior of the 2010 Genesis is elegant and refined while solidly constucted of top-notch materials. Its sweeping dashboard arcs and brilliant electroluminescent gauges make for an appealing and high tech ambiance. Even with the abundance of features and buttons, the layout has been logically designed and is user-friendly.
With generous amounts of padding, both the front and rear seats are very comfortable and supportive, even on long trips. The rear passenger area is particularly spacious with plenty of room for even taller adults. And most will be satisfied with the 15.9-cubic-feet of trunk space.
Drive:
The 2010 Genesis' soft and compliant ride is just as one would expect from a luxury vehicle, handling most road bumps and imperfections with ease. While specifically engineered to optimize a smooth, quiet and refined driving experience, the Genesis is still capable of some dynamic maneuvers when needed. The available power is right up there with its better known rivals and linear acceleration is impressive with either the V6 or V8.
Update: Weak Economy Leads To Lower Genesis Prices:
Hyundai's sales have been weak for months now, right along with the other carmakers. This is evidence of the continuing poor economy and an especially weak car buying trend.
The bottom line is the current combination of a soft market with fierce dealer competition has created an ideal opportunity for nailing down great deals. And here's exactly how to do it ...
How To Buy A New Genesis At The Best Price: Before listing MSRP and invoice prices for the 2010 Hyundai Genesis, here's the best way to get the lowest price, especially given the current slow car market.
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