Hyundai Genesis Review

?‘A demonstration of capability’ is how Hyundai introduces the Genesis. And demonstration is a perfectly apt word, because Hyundai doesn’t really want to sell you a Genesis. It’s being positioned very much as a flagship model, demonstrating the kind of technology and features you can expect to see on the Hyundai vehicles you will buy in the future.

It’s available in strictly limited numbers and through a select group of Hyundai dealers, so don’t expect it to be a common sight on Britain’s roads. The question is, what does Hyundai’s future look like?

Only one engine is available - a meaty 3.8-litre V6 petrol engine, which goes some way to explaining why the Hyundai Genesis will remain a rare sight on Britain’s roads. It’s mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, which helps the big Genesis sprint to 62mph in just 6.5 seconds, going on to a top speed of 149mph. It all feels rather restrained, with the power delivered in a smooth, silk-like fashion. Not that this is meant as a criticism.

In fact, it’s probably one of the car’s greatest strengths. You could travel great distances in the Genesis and the car would barely break sweat. The 292lb ft of torque at 5,000rpm makes for confidence-inspiring overtaking manoeuvres and the shifts up and down through the eight gears are seamless and subtle.

In truth, the Hyundai Genesis doesn’t excel when it comes to ride and handling. The air suspension can be set to either normal, comfort or sport, but in whatever setting the Genesis is easily unsettled on Britain’s pot-holed roads. Switch to sport and while the entire car does feel tighter, it all feels a little too soft to encourage you to exploit the rear-wheel drive characteristics. And we’re pretty sure the novelty of lighting up the rear tyres would soon wear off.

There’s simply too little in the way of feedback for you to enjoy a spirited drive in the Genesis. You never feel 100% connected to the road. But does that really matter in a car like this? Those looking for B-road thrills from their large executive saloon will almost certainly look to Germany than to Korea. The Hyundai Genesis has other tricks up its sleeves.

Take refinement as an example. It’s here that the Hyundai Genesis starts to live up to its eye-watering price tag. The doors shut with a reassuring thud and the cabin exudes the kind of ambience you’d associate with a car of this nature. There’s a feeling of calm inside the Genesis - a real sense of occasion that can be lacking in other wannabe luxury cars. Yes, we’ll use that word with no hesitation - the Hyundai Genesis does, in places, feel like a luxury car.

Press the start button and the 3.8-litre engine roars into life before settling down to a low and satisfying rumble. Engage drive, press the gas pedal and the electronic handbrake releases to allow the Genesis to waft silently away. The only sound you’ll hear is the crunching of the gravel beneath the tyres as you leave your country abode. The interior is free of squeaks and rattles, helping to raise the impression of refinement further still.

The Genesis looks and feels quite unlike any Hyundai you’ll have sat in before. The layout and style of the lower half of the centre console will be familiar to anyone who has driven a BMW 5 Series, but in truth it’s a bit of a mixed bag. It’s an extremely comfortable and opulent place to be, but the cabin is let down by a cheap-feeling steering wheel and the limited headroom, which isn’t helped by the standard-fit panoramic glass roof.

But it’s supremely comfortable and we’d be quite happy wafting from boardroom to airport departure lounge in one of these. The TFT display is excellent and the overall level of fit and finish is first rate. It’s just a shame that the infotainment screen looks and feels a bit old school.

Headroom aside, the Hyundai Genesis feels incredibly spacious inside, but while it does offer five seats, strictly speaking it’s better as a four-seater. That’s because the middle seat in the rear is raised up, with legroom hampered by the transmission tunnel running through the centre of the cabin.

In the boot, which can be opened via a hands-free mechanism, you’ll find 493 litres of space, which gets smaller the further in you go. That said, the rear seats can be folded 60:40 to provide even more boot space.

It’s impossible to look beyond the £48,005 price tag. Sure, the Hyundai Genesis is well-equipped and does a very good impression of its German rivals, but it would be hard to recommend buying one new. Depreciation will be a real issue - good news if you fancy buying one in a few years time.

Hyundai claims you could see 25.2mpg on a combined cycle, but in the real world this is likely to be closer to the high teens. Not only that, but the CO2 emissions of 261g/km means you’ll be paying £1,100 in road tax for the first year, dropping to £505 for each year thereafter. Ouch.

The Hyundai Genesis is an unknown quantity in the UK, so it’s hard to say whether it will be reliable or not. That said, the creamy V6 engine and transmission are likely to lead a relaxed life, so we don’t foresee too many issues there. What’s more, the Genesis comes with the same five-year warranty you’ll find throughout the Hyundai range.

The Hyundai Genesis hasn’t been tested by Euro NCAP, but it does come loaded with a range of safety equipment designed to keep you out of trouble. There are seven airbags, an active bonnet system, brake-assist, downhill brake control, lane-keeping assist, autonomous emergency braking, around view monitor, blind spot detection and hill-start control.

Remember, this is a big advertisement for Hyundai, so what you see on the Genesis today, you can expect to see on the brand’s lowlier products tomorrow.