- sedan 96,457
- 531 below average
- 10,056 fair
- Buford, GA
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- autoshopper.com
- 531 below average sedan 96,457 gasoline black automatic
2009 hyundai genesis review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. All-new luxury car is super smooth. introductionthe 2009 hyundai genesis is a totally new luxury sport sedan. With its rear-wheel drive and available v8 power, the genesis aspires to the bmw 5 series, lexus gs, mercedes-benz e-class, and infiniti m, but is priced more like american competitors such as the chrysler 300 and pontiac g8. the genesis seats five and is offered with v6 or v8 engines. Hyundai is best known here for the econoboxes it sold when it first came to america, but the korean automaker has been moving upmarket for several years. The genesis represents its biggest leap yet and is the company's most expensive and most luxurious car. inside, the genesis is nicely appointed, with chrome accents, wood and aluminum trim, and soft-touch materials. Easy-to-read electroluminescent gauges greet the driver, and the available navigation system includes voice activation and a multimedia interface that is easier to use than those from most luxury manufacturers. An ipod interface is standard, and customers can choose a 17-speaker audio system that has 7. 1 surround and sounds great. Room in the front and rear seats is excellent. the genesis marks the debut of hyundai's first v8, a 4. 6-liter dual overhead cam engine with 375 horsepower. The v8 provides plenty of smooth, willing power and gets decent fuel economy. Also available is a 290-hp 3. 8-liter v6. Both engines run quietly and are mated to smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmissions with manual shiftgates. hyundai touts the genesis as a sport sedan, with a rigid rear-wheel-drive structure and advanced five-link front and rear suspensions. On twisty roads, it performs well, with a generally nimble feel and a fairly flat disposition through corners. Of the two models, the v6 rotates easier through turns, while the v8 is more prone to push. The v8 model, on the other hand benefits from electrohydraulic steering that keeps the boost up in the tightest slaloms, while the v6's hydraulic steering can bind in quick changes of direction. the genesis rides well, ironing out most bumps with little effect on passengers. It doesn't float or wallow like other hyundais, but the ride can get bouncy over humps and ruts at highway speeds. On the whole, the genesis is a legitimate sport sedan, but it's not as agile as top performers, such as the bmw 5 series. both genesis models are fine values that deliver fine handling, a smooth ride, and willing power. They also have plenty of interior room, with nicely appointed interiors. Though not quite up to the high standards of the european and japanese luxury cars the genesis aspires to, it is viable and cheaper alternative to those cars and a better appointed option versus large american sedans. lineupthe 2009 hyundai genesis is offered in two models. The 3. 8 model has a 3. 8-liter v6 that makes 290 horsepower and comes with a six-speed automatic transmission. The 4. 6 model has hyundai's new 4. 6-liter tau v8. It puts out 375 hp (with premium fuel, 368 with regular fuel) and also comes with a six-speed automatic. A premium plus package 3000) has the same equipment, plus p235/50r18 tires on alloy wheels with chrome inserts. The only option is the technology package 4000). safety features include dual front airbags, front and rear side airbags, curtain side airbags, tire-pressure monitor, electronic active front head restraints, antilock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution, traction control, and electronic stability control. Front and rear park assist and a rearview camera come with the technology package. walkaroundthe genesis is based on an all-new rear-wheel-drive architecture. (this same structure will host an upcoming two-door genesis coupe.) the genesis is sized similar to the pontiac g8, both in length and wheelbase, and is about six inches shorter than the chrysler 300. on the outside, the genesis looks like the lovechild of a bmw 5 series and a mercedes-benz e class. Hyundai says the design is 'athletic, not so aggressive, assertive, but not polarizing.' we agree, though, we feel a little more flavor might draw more customers. up front, the trapezoidal grille is reminiscent of a mercedes design, but instead of rounded headlights, it's flanked by more modern eye-slit headlights. Fog lights are standard on the lower fascia, which also features a large lower air intake. Halogen headlights are standard, and the technology package includes auto-leveling high-intensity discharge adaptive headlights that point into turns to improve night-time vision on dark corners. character lines echoing the shape of the grille flow into the hood and resolve themselves at the front pillars. The rest of the car has more angular shapes like a bmw instead of the softer, rounder shapes of a mercedes. The greenhouse is practically identical to that of the 5 series, right down to the dogleg shape of the rear pillars. Ornamentation along the flanks is minimal, with only an upper beltline that flows from the front wheel openings to the taillights and a kickout at the bottom of the doors. A lower fascia flanked by dual exhaust gives a hint to the genesis's sporty character. interiornowhere are the genesis's luxury intentions more clear than in the cockpit. From the driver's seat, customers are greeted with tight tolerances, chrome accents, and numerous soft-touch materials, including a leather-wrapped dash, a feature usually reserved for much more expensive vehicles. While the materials are certainly nice, the rounded shape of the dash isn't as appealing or modern as the best from europe. the driver is presented with electroluminescent gauges with white numbers on a black background and blue accents. The gauges are easy to see and read. There is a small, rectangular display between the two main gauges (speedo and tach) that shows trip computer information. the base setup includes a small screen at the top of the center stack that shows radio and climate information. Below that are the radio controls and at the bottom of the rounded center stack are 10 buttons devoted to climate control. We would prefer the three easy-to-use knobs that many manufacturers are using these days. The cd slot sits below the center stack and below it is a small cubby to fit cds and the like. the center console has an ashtray-type bin below the center stack and behind that is an aluminum plate that houses the shift knob. Two cupholders sit behind the shifter, and the center console bin is big enough to carry most of the small bits we carry day to day, though a flat, rubberized tray in front of the shifter would help, too. More small items storage can be found in fold-out pockets on each door. the navigation option features a central multimedia controller for the radio, navigation system, ipod interface, trip computer, bluetooth phone, and settings in the driver information system. It uses a large rotating knob and six buttons. Compared to bmw's idrive, the hyundai system is simpler to use, but it still adds a couple steps to simple tasks like programming a radio station. The ipod interface works well, too, displaying songs, artists or playlists on the dashboard screen. Nonetheless, other manufacturers would do well to study the simplicity of hyundai's multimedia interface. the technology package includes a 40-gigabyte hard drive to hold music files and navigation map information. Songs can be loaded from cds or through a usb interface. front and rear head and leg room are plentiful. Only tall rear passengers will have a complaint, and probably only with head room. The rear center passenger will also have to deal with the driveshaft hump as we.
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