2015 Hyundai Genesis First Drive

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty. Then man came along and paved over portions of it. This need for pavement was driven by advancements in the evolution of the automobile, many of which were quite good. Eventually, it came to pass, that to get a really good car, one with great power, a comfortable ride, engaging handling, and a strong feature set, the expenditure of vast sums of money were required.

So then God created Hyundai.

At first, Hyundai only produced extremely low-priced cars, some of which were not so good. Over time, the company’s cars got better and better—yes, they evolved. The company became fruitful and multiplied. Eventually, there came the Hyundai known as Genesis. And it was good. Genesis proved Hyundai could build an automobile with great power, a comfortable ride, engaging handling, and a strong feature set—without requiring the expenditure of vast amounts of money.

And actually, it was very good.

As good as it was however, there was room for improvement—which brings us to the subject of this first drive. The 2015 Hyundai Genesis is better in every way than that original Genesis. And yet, it is still being offered for thousands of dollars less than the cars it is designed to compete against.

Read on…

2015 Hyundai Genesis First Drive: Models And Pricing

For the 2015 model year, Hyundai is offering the Genesis in three models with four trim packages available. A host of new features set the model apart from its predecessor. These include; an in-dash eight-inch monitor featuring navigation and a rearview camera, paddle shifters, hill hold control, power folding outside mirrors, a driver’s knee airbag, a height adjustable power operated passenger seat with power lumbar, HD radio, a 4.3-inch TFT LCD cluster display, Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics system, SiriusXM Travel Link, a telescoping steering column, one-touch up and down power windows for rear seat passengers, and rain sensing windshield wipers.

The $38,000 base model is called Genesis 3.8, its standard equipment includes:

• 18-inch Alloy wheels with P245/45R18 All-Season tires
• Vehicle Stability Management (VSM)
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control System (TCS) and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• Nine airbags: Advanced dual front airbags with Occupant Classification System (OCS), front and rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags, roof-mounted side-curtain airbags, driver knee airbag
• Front and rear outboard seat belt pretensioners
• Anti-whiplash front head restraints
• Automatic headlights w/ LED headlight accents
• Daytime running lights
• 4.3-inch TFT LCD cluster display
• Power folding outside mirrors with Genesis logo puddle lamps
• Hands-free Smart Trunk opener
• Heated dual power outside mirrors with turn signal indicators
• 12-way power heated leather front seats (with power lumbar)
• Leather seating surfaces
• Power windows with front & rear auto-down/up with pinch protection
• Electroluminescent gauge cluster
• Proximity key with push-button start
• Intelligent drive mode select
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel with tilt and telescopic adjustment
• Steering-wheel-mounted cruise control and audio controls
• Dual automatic temperature control
• Auto-dimming inside rearview mirror with compass & HomeLink®
• Touchscreen Navigation System w/8-inch Display
• Rearview camera
• AM/FM/SiriusXM®/CD/MP3/HD Radio® audio system with 7 speakers
• Bluetooth® hands-free phone system and audio streaming
• Rain-sensing wipers w/ auto defogger windshield
• TPMS with individual tire pressure indicator
• Hyundai Blue Link® Infotainment System with Google™ (90-day trial)
• SiriusXM Travel Link® (includes SiriusXM Traffic, stock, sports, weather, gas prices, movie info - 3-year complimentary)

The all-wheel drive Genesis 3.8 HTRAC starts at $40,500. Its standard features include everything from the rear-drive Genesis 3.8 plus:

• HTRAC AWD system
• Heated rear seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Headlamp washers

The $4,000 Genesis Signature Package can be added to either the rear-drive or the all-wheel drive 3.8-liter models. Its features include:

• Power tilt-and-slide panoramic sunroof
• Integrated memory system (IMS)
• Power tilt-and-telescopic steering column
• Auto-dimming outside mirrors
• Blind spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert
• Lexicon 14-speaker Discrete Logic 7 Surround Audio
• HID headlights
• Parking guidelines
• Power rear sunshade and manual rear side shades
• Ventilated front seats

The $3,500 Technology Package can be added to the Signature Package—in other words to get the Technology Package, you have to order the Signature Package as well. The Tech Pack fits the following:

• Ultra-premium leather seats
• Power driver’s seat cushion extender and side bolster
• Lane departure warning system
• Lane keep assist
• Smart cruise control (with full stop / start capability)
• Haptic feedback for the steering wheel
• Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
• Electronic parking brake w/ automatic vehicle hold
• Pre-safety seatbelt
• High beam assist
• Front & rear parking assistance system
• Seven-inch TFT LCD cluster display

To go full boat, get the $3,500 Genesis Ultimate Package. This requires ordering both the Technology Package and the Signature package. Its elements include:

• Genuine matte finish wood trim & aluminum trim
• Full color head-up display
• Premium DIS Navigation w/9.2-inch HD Display
• Lexicon 17-speaker Discrete Logic 7 Surround Audio
• Power trunk lid
• Dual-mode climate control with CO2 sensor

If you prefer the 5.0-liter V8 engine to the 3.8-liter V6, you’re looking at a MSRP of $51,500. Your car will come equipped like the Genesis 3.8 with the Technology Package, plus:

• 19-inch Alloy wheels with P245/40R19 (Front), P275/35R19 (Rear) All-Season tires
• LED fog lamps
• Quad exhaust tips
• Illuminated door sill plates
• Genuine matte finish wood trim & aluminum trim

The Ultimate 5.0-liter Genesis adds $3,250 to the price above. Standard features of this model include all of the above—plus:

• Continuous damping control suspension
• Full color head-up display
• Premium DIS Navigation w/9.2-inch HD Display
• Lexicon17-speaker Discrete Logic 7 Surround Audio
• Power trunk lid
• Dual-mode climate control with CO2 sensor

Hyundai adds a $950 shipping and handling charge to the base price of each model. All-wheel drive can only be had with the 3.8-liter V6 engine. It is not offered with the 5.0-liter V8.

2015 Hyundai Genesis First Drive: Design

The evolution of Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture design language, Fluidic Sculpture 2.0, is introduced along with the new Genesis. Debuting on the 2009 Sonata, the Fluidic Sculpture styling theme is singularly responsible for the graceful good looks of all of Hyundai’s current models. And, in no small part it can be said to be a major aspect of Hyundai’s more upscale reputation these days.

The look of the new Genesis is primarily characterized by its long nose/short deck profile. The greenhouse of the car sits very rearward on the platform. Taking advantage of the longer wheelbase, the design team kept the overall length of the new Genesis very close to the outgoing version of the car so overhangs are minimized considerably. This makes the 2015 Genesis look more spacious and more powerful, while telegraphing it is indeed a rear-drive performance-oriented sedan.

Probably the most prominent feature is the new hexagonal grille treatment. This is the new face of Hyundai, and will appear throughout the product range as new models emerge. Perhaps fittingly, the next Hyundai to get the grille will be the upcoming revised Sonata.

As good looking as the car is, truth be told, it really isn’t groundbreaking. In fact, if you cross the latest version of the Lexus ES with a contemporary example of BMW’s 5 series, and add a hexagonal grille to the car’s face, you’ll pretty much have the look of the new Genesis.

2015 Hyundai Genesis First Drive: Features And Controls

The look of the interior definitely says “premium product”. Fit and finish in our test cars was quite good we found the environment to be delightfully pleasant. The black piping on the bone-colored leather seats in the 5.0 Ultimate model we drove was particularly fetching. Riding in this car, we felt we were being conveyed in quite the substantial automobile, and yet it was also down-to-earth.

As we’ve mentioned, this is the most heavily equipped version of the Genesis to date. In fact, the only model in Hyundai’s lineup carrying more features is the top-line Equus. Practically every modern technical convenience you can think of is either standard equipment, or offered as an option. The vast majority of these features are managed through the Hyundai’s dash-mounted eight-inch touchscreen monitor. In addition to touch, many the features can accessed by both voice, and through the use of the dial and pushbuttons on the center console of the 2015 Genesis.

With this much tech on offer, operating it could get very confusing. And frankly, we don’t advise trying to figure it out while you’re on the move. The good news is, a few minutes on the driveway spent working your way through the menus is all you’ll need to acquaint yourself with the interfaces. It’s all rather logical and intuitive—once you’ve spent a minute or two seeing how the car wants you to communicate.

2015 Hyundai Genesis First Drive: Comfort And Cargo

The ergonomic seat design, thoughtful placement of storage, and the specific attention paid to the incorporation of mobile devices, demonstrates a great deal of consideration. The multi-adjustable seats made finding a comfortable position very easy. Once we set them, we pretty much forgot about them. The seat memory function made it easy to lock in our two favorite positions; bolt upright for negotiating twisty mountain roads and urban environments; and slightly reclined for long highway runs.

Hyundai made good use of the extended wheelbase of the car, as legroom front and rear is quite adequate—though taller passengers will be required to be mildly compromising. During our day of driving, we ran the car for some 60 miles with two six-foot males on the passenger side of the car. Both rode quite comfortably. Head and shoulder room are more than adequate as well.

A distinctive new feature, an industry first actually, is Hyundai’s new self-opening trunk solution. Stand behind the car with the key in your pocket for three seconds, the Genesis will emit a series of audible alerts, flash its parking lights, and then open the trunk with no physical interaction whatsoever. Once the trunk is open, you’ll find some 15.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity.

2015 Hyundai Genesis First Drive: Safety Technology

A pretty comprehensive safety suite makes the 2015 Hyundai Genesis potentially one of the safest cars out there. The basics are well covered with the usual array of ABS, traction control, stability control, electronic brake force distribution, daytime running lights, nine airbags, and tire pressure monitoring.

Next level stuff includes available features like lane departure warning, lane keep assist, lane change assist, automatic emergency braking, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, a head’s up display, front and rear parking sensors, and a sensor.

The sensor actually monitors the amount of carbon dioxide present in the passenger compartment of the Genesis, and will admit fresh air if it senses a concentration above 2,000 parts per million. This is intended to help prevent drowsy driving.

2015 Hyundai Genesis First Drive: Engines And Fuel Economy

A choice of two engines is offered to power the 2015 Hyundai Genesis.

The base powerplant is a 311-horsepower, 3.8-liter V6 capable of generating 293 ft-lbs of torque on regular unleaded fuel. The engine uses an aluminum block and aluminum cylinder heads. Further, it is equipped with direct fuel injection, a variable intake system, and continuously variable valve timing.

The “big” engine is a 5.0-liter V8 capable of delivering 420 horsepower on premium-unleaded fuel and 407 on regular unleaded. Variable valve timing and continuous fuel injection are applied here as well. Maximum torque output is 383 ft-lbs on premium and 372 ft-lbs on regular.

Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive system is offered with the V6. The multi-mode variable torque split system is biased toward rear drive in steady state operation, and is capable of transferring the entire output of the engine to one wheel if all the others have no grip. Further, the system is capable of diverting 100 percent of the motive force to either the front or rear wheels as required.

Hyundai’s eight-speed transmission with manual shift capability and paddle shifters links the engine to the rest of the drivetrain with either the V8 or the V6 engine. Gearing is a bit different with each engine, but otherwise the transmission is the same.

Fuel economy is rated at 18 miles per gallon in the city, 29 on the highway, and 22 combined with the 3.8-liter V6 and rear-drive. The 3.8 HTRAC’s fuel economy numbers are 16 in the city, 25 on the highway, and 19 combined. The V8 returns 15 in the city, 23 on the highway, and 18 combined.

2015 Hyundai Genesis First Drive: Driving Impressions

This is the quietest Hyundai we’ve ever driven. Hyundai’s representatives say the 2015 Genesis contains more sound insulation, improved aerodynamics, and more foam insulation; including a foam seal around the engine compartment. Structurally, the car was reworked with an eye toward reducing noise levels as well. Noise has been a consistent criticism regarding Hyundai automobiles, happily, it’s been addressed here with considerable success.

The 2015 Genesis is also a smooth-riding car, albeit with a dual nature.

Handling is considerably improved over the previous model—which is a big statement because that car was a lot of fun to drive. The new Genesis displays a wonderfully neutral attitude, turns in nicely, and grips with considerable determination. The steering feel is quite good, almost lively in fact—owing to the relocation of the electric drive motor to the steering rack from the steering column. There is a slight amount of body roll, but not so much to affect a driver’s confidence level.

Power output of both engines is quite robust; they wind freely, and sound very nice under hard acceleration. The V6 is more than adequate, while the V8 is capable of committing some serious mayhem. Both engines will smoke the rear tires, and interestingly, the Genesis looks quite natural doing so.

2015 Hyundai Genesis First Drive: Final Thoughts

Ego aside, this Hyundai might well be all you really need if you’re looking for a mid-sized luxury sports sedan. The 2015 Genesis really does tick all of the boxes. It’s good-looking, it’s luxurious, it boasts the latest in telematics and safety technology, it’s fast, it handles well, and it costs thousands less than the other cars in its competitive set.

Notice however, we said “ego aside”.

For a certain segment of the car-buying public, as well as the voyeurs out there, if it ain’t adorned with one of the commonly accepted luxo-badges, or if you have to deign to enter the same showroom as people availing themselves of Section Eight housing, the luster of this new Genesis just ain’t going to be as enticing for you.

But if you couldn’t possibly care less about what other people think, and your primary concern is to get as much car as possible under you—for as little money as possible out of you—this creation of this evolution of the Hyundai Genesis was definitely good.