The Hyundai Genesis Sedan 2015 was officially launched today by Hyundai Middle East. I love the fact that the media drive was quickly organized on the same day as the launch (as the drive is what matters!) So off we went for a media drive to Hatta-Oman roads, experiencing both the 3.8 liter and the 5.0 liter versions of this important model for Hyundai. In our drive I was able to test 0-100 km accelerations, 100-0 km braking times and gauge handling, stability and suspensions compared to the previous generation.

Style

The first thing to notice about 2015 Hyundai Genesis is an upgraded style. This is the old Genesis:

And this, is the new generation:

The new one seems properly grown up, has huge European influences, and looks a bit inspired from Jaguar and Aston Martin. Do I like it? It's definitely a huge improvement over the previous generation but it has some way to go before it can match the curvaceous aggressiveness of it's European rivals. For example, I think the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan has a more exciting design compared to the Genesis sedan. A lot of work has gone in improving the front bumper and side profile, but the rear end is a bit plain and uninspiring. Having said that, the new Genesis Sedan has definitely gone up a notch or two in the style department. Good work.

Interior Materials and Finishing

Impressive. Full grain Nappa leather and high quality stitch adorned the test cars. There were no hints of hard plastic anywhere and the wood trim certainly looked quite elegant. Again, there is some way to go in terms of matching the likes of, say Mercedes-Benz or Audi, however it is certainly an audacious attempt at giving the Germans a run for their money. For the price tag, the interior has definitely raised the bar. For me the steering wheel could have been appointed with better material and better design. The grip is certainly good but the feel could be improved with some friction material similar to Audi models.

Interior Space and Visibility

While the interior space and visibility seem good enough for the most part, there are some areas of concern. For example, the rear leg room could definitely improve (some sedans like Nissan Sunny have more rear leg room than the Genesis). The sloping roofline of the new Genesis sedan restricts rear head room a bit and significantly reduces rear visibility, especially if three adults are seated at the back.

Technology and Safety Features

While it remains to be seen how many features will be offered as standard, the test cars I drove came fully equipped with practially everything you need from a premium sedan. Electric seating arrangments included cooled seats (front and rear), various settings for increasing the sportiness and multiple seat bolster options. Safety features include audio-visual blind spot warnings, audio-visual collision alerts and adaptive cruise control. I was a bit surprised though to see there was no lane departure warning in my test car. The sound system is a 16 speaker Lexicon and sounds very good. The navigation system included actual pictures of exits and fork lanes which was a pleasant surprise, something I haven't seen in a lot of cars. There is a panoramic moon roof as well which opens halfway upto the passenger side.

Power and Transmission

The rear wheel revamped Genesis comes with an 8 speed automatic transmission, with regular and sport drive modes, complete with a paddle shifter offered as standard. We had the opportunity of actually testing 0-100 km acceleration three times on this hot afternoon at 1pm. Our average result was 8.8 seconds for the 3.8 version and 7.1 seconds for the 5.0 liter engine. The 3.8 engine overall feels a bit underpowered when accelerated on highways (maximum torque arrives at 5,000 RPM), although it is a solid cruiser, offering 310 horsepower. The 5.0 liter engine obviously is much more fun and has a much smoother pick up, offering 420 horses which is a bit less than the recently reviewed highway cruiser, Cadillac XTS V-Sport.

Handling and Stability

The best improvement in the new Genesis. Driving at 200 km / h, I never thought the Genesis Sedan 5.0 will be that stable. At 50% high tensile steel structure and a weight distribution very close to 50:50, the Genesis platform now is the best it has ever been. The original Dunlop tires don't disappoint as well. Our braking test of 100 - 0 km showed a 3.5 second brake time. Steering, although not the best in appearance is actually quite good. It's not as light as the previous Genesis and gives more control over the car on sharp turns. The handling is easily better than the aforementioned Cadillac XTS V-Sport. Good job.

Verdict

Priced between $40,000 - $50,000 for the 3.8 liter and $56,000 for the 5.0 liter, the price is quite competitive. There are some good strides made on the structure, stability and interior. Yes, there is some way to go before the Germans feel threatened but Hyundai has definitely arrived to the luxury party.