10 Things You Need to Know about the 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe is a fun and exciting two-door compact car that provides performance fans with a range of different engine choices, handling packages and price points. A definite looker, the Coupe stands out from the crowd of affordable entry-level cars and offers an interesting alternative to the more traditional Japanese and American automakers that have dominated this segment of the market. The Hyundai Genesis Coupe also comes with the Korean brand’s strong reputation for quality, which makes it even more appealing for budget-conscious drivers interested in a vehicle that won’t put them to sleep during their morning commute.

Let’s take a look at 10 things you need to know about the 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

01. The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Offers A Turbocharged Base Engine

The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T starts out with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine under the hood that is paired with a turbocharger in order to produce 210 horsepower and 223 lb-ft of torque. Fuel mileage for this engine checks in at 21 mpg in city driving and 30-mpg on the highway, and transmission choices include either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic that offers driver control over gear changes. With the pedal to the floor the four-cylinder turbo engine offers healthy acceleration, and the compact coupe can hit 60 miles per hour from a standing start in just a tick under seven seconds.

02. The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Provides The Option of V-6 Power

A more robust engine package awaits 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe buyers in the form of a 3.8-liter V-6 upgrade. This six-cylinder unit packs an effective 306 horsepower, and also generates 266 lb-ft of torque while returning fuel economy figures of 17-mpg around town and 26 mpg on the highway. A six-speed manual transmission remains standard for the Genesis Coupe 3.8, but a six-speed automatic (featuring paddle shifters) replaces the turbo engine’s five-speed gearbox. The extra power allows the two-door Hyundai to launch itself to 60 miles per hour in a respectable 5.9 seconds.

03. The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Comes With Sleek, Sporty Styling

The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe looks exactly how you would expect a sporty two-door would. The Genesis Coupe provides aggressive, flared rear haunches, strong style lines running down both sides of the vehicle and canted headlights that project a barely contained menace. The Coupe’s front bumper features prominent fog light emplacements as well as aggressive air intake vents and a lower valence that suggests an aerodynamic functionality to accompany its eye-catching design. The Hyundai’s roof line slopes dramatically towards the rear, sacrificing some backseat headroom in the name of vanity, but overall the trade-off is well worth it for the slippery coupe.

05. The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe is Nicely Equipped

Like most Hyundai automobiles, the 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe provides a substantial amount of standard equipment. The Genesis Coupe starts out with power windows and door locks, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, Bluetooth integration, an MP3-capable CD player and a trip computer. The two-door also comes with cruise control, air conditioning, 18-inch alloy wheels and keyless entry. Upgrading to the 2.0T Premium trim adds a sunroof, power adjustments for the driver’s seat, automatic climate control and a navigation system, while the 3.8 Grand Touring edition includes all of the above plus heated side mirrors, heated leather seats and a rear parking assist feature.

05. The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Offers Two Performance-Oriented Trims

The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe can be ordered in two different editions which are each intended to boost its handling capability and improve its overall performance. The R-Spec trim plus-sizes both the brakes and the wheels (Brembo stoppers and 19-inch rims, respectively), and it also installs a stiffer suspension system, grippier tires and a limited-slip rear differential to help increase traction. The Track model, which can only be had with the V-6 engine, adds HID headlights plus much of the Grand Touring’s comfort equipment to the R-Spec’s upgrades, making it an all-around competitor that is fit for duty on either the street or the circuit.

06. The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Provides Substantial Value for the Money

In addition to offering excellent performance stats, classic styling and a solid level of standard equipment, the 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe is also something of bargain. The entry-level Genesis Coupe features an MSRP of $22,250, which makes it less expensive than either the base Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro or Nissan 370Z. Even the most affordable six-cylinder edition of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, the 3.8 R-Spec, checks in with a surprisingly low MSRP of $26,750, which is again cheaper than the Ford Mustang coupe with the V-6 performance package. In fact, it is difficult to find a vehicle which is priced lower than the Hyundai Genesis Coupe while still offering comparable thrills when the roads turn twisty.

07. The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Packs A Substantial Warranty

It’s important to note that Hyundai offers the longest powertrain warranty of any automaker operating in the United States, and that this protection covers the 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe. The engine, transmission and certain other driveline components are all guaranteed by Hyundai for an exceptional 10-year / 100,000 mile term. This is over and above the Coupe’s five-year / 60,000 mile new vehicle limited warranty, seven-year / unlimited mileage anti-perforation warranty (protecting against rust and corrosion) and five-year / unlimited mileage period of 24-hour roadside assistance. Taken together, it’s clear that Hyundai is very serious about looking after the owners of its automobiles.

08. The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Brings With It An Improved Interior

The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe has benefited from an interior refresh that places its passenger accommodations on another level compared to those offered the year before. Hyundai has expanded the use of “soft touch” materials throughout the passenger compartment, most notably on the top of the dash and the inside of the A-pillars, and the steering wheel’s leather wrap has also been improved along similar lines. The Genesis Coupe’s interior metal accents are now darker than they were in 2010, and a few other functional changes have also been made to the vehicle’s cabin (including extra handles and hooks for storage and to ease hatch access).

09. The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Is Loaded With Safety Features

The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe comes replete with both active and passive safety systems. The compact two-door provides front and side-impact airbags for front passengers as well as front side-curtain airbags that run the length of the vehicle’s cabin. Active headrests are designed to prevent whiplash in the event of a severe collision, and a number of electronic systems work together to prevent an accident from occurring in the first place. These include electronic stability control, traction control and an anti-lock braking system that offers electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist for authoritative stopping power.

10. The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe is an Enthusiast’s Dream

The automotive aftermarket loves compact sports cars, and the 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe is no exception. The Hyundai Genesis Coupe has been the target of many different performance part manufacturers, especially the turbocharged four-cylinder edition which offers intriguing potential for those tuners willing to get their hands dirty and reprogram the engine’s software. Extra power joins suspension upgrades, body kits and brake parts that are all engineered to turn the Genesis Coupe into an even more potent track day weapon, allowing owners to take their vehicles to as hardcore a level as they feel comfortable with.