by J.T. Hills

Top
• High-end look and feel
• Powerful 3.8-liter V6
• Spacious interior

Bottom
• Some fit and finish details are
   a bit cheesy
• Rear seat doesn’t fold down
• Available all-wheel-drive would be nice

The Genesis is Hyundai’s all-new flagship rear-wheel-drive entry-level luxury sports sedan. Offered in two versions, the Genesis 3.8 is powered by a 290-hp 3.8 liter V-6 with an Aisin six-speed automatic transmission, and the Genesis 4.6, which is powered by a 4.6-liter 375-hp V8 engine and ZF six-speed automatic transmission. Hyundai describes the Genesis as delivering the interior luxury of top European luxury sedans, world-class dynamics and the latest high-tech features at the price of entry-level premium brand vehicles. The Genesis moves the Hyundai brand up-market from its roots as a manufacturer of inexpensive, practical vehicles. After spending a week with the 2009 Hyundai 3.8, I’ve assimilated, corrugated, encapsulated, conjugated, and insinuated my own observations, and here they are:

Wow, that’s a really pretty car. 
So, what is it?
For most, your car tends to be one of the most expensive purchases you make in a lifetime. Call it the narcissist in me, but if I’m writing out a big check for something each month for five years, I want an ego stroke. Traditionally when you think Hyundai, you think practical, inexpensive, great warranty, and value. Big, fast, luxury, and status aren’t words that necessary come to mind with the Hyundai brand. What the Japanese manufactures did in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, the Korean manufacturer Hyundai is doing now: breaking molds and changing consumer impressions.

For one, the styling of the Genesis is beautifully done. Hyundai for years has sold a lot of product by making them stylistically very similar to top-selling cars and SUVs. That really hasn’t changed with the Genesis, but instead of buying something that kind of looks like a Corolla or an Accord, the Genesis has styling influences that make it kind of look like an Infiniti or Lexus or Acura. If you’re going to go copy a car, you might as well go out and copy the best cars in the industry. Unlike the Genesis’ premium-brand competition, you can purchase more car, more horsepower, and more luxury options for thousands of dollars less.
Out on the road, the Genesis’ 3.8-liter V-6 is really a lot of fun to drive. The engine is an impressive 290 hp. It has more than competent handling and performance and, unlike Acura, Hyundai has an available 4.6-liter V8, and for thousands less than an RL. Just for practicality, living in the Northwest, I do wish there was an optional all-wheel-drive version. I’ve read some complaints that the ride is a bit stiff in the Genesis, but after spending a week in it, a too-stiff ride wasn’t even something that came up on radar.

The same great design esthetics of the exterior follows into the cabin. Hyundai again takes the “best-of” approach in their design philosophy and gives you a functional, roomy interior with high-end luxury appointments. Although, for a high-end car, I don’t get it why Hyundai made a tilt/ telescopic steering wheel as an option – that seems a bit odd. Also, I like the spacious trunk, but I don’t get why the rear seats don’t fold down, but I also always seem to be hauling oversized stuff around, so that’s my pet peeve.

Okay, for an MSRP of $36,000, what do you get?
The 2009 Hyundai Genesis 3.8 comes packed with a host of standard features, and a pricey luxury package. Here’s a look at some of my favorites:
 
Technical Features
• 290 hp 3.8-liter DOHC 24-valve
   V-6 engine
• Aisin six-speed automatic transmission 
       with SHIFTRONIC shift function
• ABS w/ electronic brake force
   distribution and brake assist
• Electronic stability control w/ traction
   control
• 17” alloy wheels

Safety Features
• Driver and front passenger dual
  stage airbags
• Driver and front passenger side airbags
• Side curtain airbags
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Fog lamps

Interior Features
• Leather seating surfaces with heated
  front seats
• Multi-adjustable front seats
• Proximity entry w/ push-button start
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel with
  audio controls
• AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio system
• Bluetooth connectivity

Optional Features
• Premium Plus package includes: 18”
     alloy wheels, 14-speaker premium sur
     round sound system with six-disc in-
      dash CD changer, leather-wrapped door
      and dash, power sunroof, tilt/ telescopic
      steering wheel, integrated memory sys-
         tem, rain-sensing windshield wipers, au-
        to-defogging windshield ($3,000)