I just went and test drove one. It has 90% of the quietness, smoothness, performance, features, and build quality of the Lexus LS460 (current industry benchmark for non sport luxury flagships) for literally half the price.

I was just blown away at the level of refinement, build quality, and feature content they were able to pack in a car that starts very well equipped at 32k with a mid-14 second 290hp V6 and 6-speed auto and tops out at 40k with a features list that'll make your head spin... the 375hp V8 comes out next month with a few other added luxury touches including better leather (and the leather in the one I sat in was already very soft and nice looking) for only 37k base, 42k loaded (2k more than the V6 loaded). I've heard great things about the Tau V8... they spent over 260 million developing it so it should be great.

The materials quality showed a few areas where a bit of cost cutting was done but I guess all that proves is Hyundai still intends to actually make a few bucks on the car.

This car is really worth checking out if for nothing else to see what can really be done for this amount of money if a company puts their mind to it and uses cheaper labor.

This really does bring back memories of the original Lexus LS400 first entering the scene. Except this car is actually selling for less money than the LS400 did in 1990, and that's before even considering how much inflation has occured in the last 19 years.

All of the major editorial reviews I've seen have raved so far as well. Edmunds, MT, etc.

 

Still hard for me to buy a Hyundai as a luxury vehicle. Might be the greatest car in the world, but base 32k for a Hyundai...

Base Cadillac CTS is 34k. I would put my money there.

 

I've driven both and while I prefer a few things about the CTS, especially the interior and exterior styling, the way the Genesis drives is just a whole different level.

I'd still have to go back and drive the CTS in a more side by side comparison before making my mind up.

Either way I think I'm done with expensive cars for the time being and will probably be getting something cheap to drive for now.

 

It's pretty attractive outside of the fishbone grill. That interior layout looks really Hyundai though, even if it is nice.

 

I bet the Genesis is a smoother ride since the CTS is more of a luxury sport vehicle. It would also be interesting to see how it comes up to the new Buick Invicta.


I think the big problem Hyundai will have is getting people who want to spend 32k on a car looking at a Hyundai. After all, how many Kia Amantis do you see on the road?

I am not saying the Kia is on par with this Hyundai, but I can't imagine what the resale value of a Hyundai Genesis would be after 2 or 3 years.

 

The sad, sad, sad thing is that there may *still* be more Americans who would give the Genesis a chance before a new Cadillac.

Perception is brutal.

 

Indeed. What's even more mind-numbing is how quick people are to forgive and forget the serious and utter crap that the Koreans built not more than 10-15 years ago but they still can't get past the 80's for American cars.

 

80s? More like the late 70s, 80s, 90s, and early 00s

I really don't expect many people to give the Genesis a chance, though.

 

That's the same thing people were saying about Japanese 'luxury' brands some time back... now look! Cadillac comes a distant second compared to those same Japanese brands, in the eyes of many, today.

 

It looks like Hyundai has done a good job.

The Genesis V6 is larger than the CTS, yet it is also lighter (for all the hand wringing over Camaro weight, the CTS has much more of a weight problem than Camaro does). The 3.8 V6 gets better EPA numbers than the Cadillac DI V6, and it is a little faster so far in testing. Plus, you can get an advanced V8 if the V6 isn't enough. At Caddy, you have to move up to the STS to get a V8, and, well, you're pretty much better off with the Caddy V6.

Yet I think the Lexus GS and Infiniti M have more to worry about than the CTS does. Not to mention the Acura RL.

I was just thinking that this is a great time to be an auto enthusiast, where the base model 1-series (in the U.S.) and Genesis are both mid-14s cars (Edmunds posted a test of both the 128i and Genesis V6 last week).

 

My mother traded in her XG300 for a G6 and misses the Hyundai everyday. We were raised a GM family, but that Hyundai put the G6 to shame.

 

It seems that Hyundai has built a fine product in the Genisis.

If I was in the market for a luxury car, I'd certainly check it out. Like many here have said, I'd be very worried about the resale value after a few years...

One of my best friends has a Hyundai XG-300 that he leased. Hyundai was apparently confident (and subsidising) that the resale value would hold up so he got a GREAT lease rate... He'll definately turn in the car at the end of the lease because he couldn't sell the car for half of what Hyundai established as the residual value...

The Genisis could be a GREAT value used in a few years...

 

Yes, but the luxury brands had their own brands. This is just an upscale Hyundai. I think that is the problem.

 

I haven't seen any advertisements for the Genesis. Is it being marketed as a sport luxury vehicle? If it is, it might pose a threat to the CTS, but I doubt it. I also doubt you will see the Genesis on any drag strip. For the people who can afford either a 30k plus automobile, I don't think the fuel economy differences are going to be that big of a deal.

 

I saw one, the interior looks to be of decent quality, as does the exterior, but with all asian makes. Its boring...I will say though that I am impressed with the strides they seem to be making