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Hyundai’s bargain E-class fighter is finally coming to the UK. This second-generation Genesis gets major upgrades and comes in right-hand drive

What is it?

The new Hyundai Genesis in US specification, a model which made its debut in Detroit earlier this year and that’s due to come to the UK in limited numbers later this summer.

It’s aiming to build significantly on the first Genesis, which launched back in 2008. For the money, that car offered loads of features, but the lack of optional all-wheel drive and no right-hand drive limited sales. Less-than-stellar chassis dynamics and interior detailing didn’t help, either.

From listening to Hyundai’s press presentation, it’s clear the company is fully aware of the original car’s shortcomings. That’s why the new car makes greater use of high-strength steel and structural adhesives to help give it superior body rigidity to the Mercedes-Benz E-class and BMW 5-series. Hyundai even hired Lotus Engineering for chassis tuning validation. Interior quality has been improved and all-wheel drive is optional in some markets.

It’s interesting to find out that before starting development of the new Genesis, Hyundai sent a group of engineers on a European work holiday. They immersed themselves in lavish hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants. They benchmarked luxury items such as Mont Blanc pens and Rolex watches, and flogged the original Genesis back-to-back against its German competition around the Nürburgring.

Hyundai wants the new Genesis to be more than a bargain-price luxury car. Instead it see the Genesis going head to head with the best in the business.

What's it like?

Quiet and refined – at least on smooth roads. It’s definitely more in the luxury vein of an SE-spec E-class, however, rather than the dynamic world of a Jaguar XF.

On rougher asphalt, the Genesis loses composure and the rear suspension crashes over potholes, while the electric steering is linear but offers little feel. It also lacks the straight-line stability of the Benz. It’s a shame because the basic chassis has great potential, the car is very neutral in smooth, fast corners and it resiliently resists understeer, even when pushed. 

European Genesis models will receive unique suspension tuning, which will hopefully address some of the handling issues.

We drove the only powertrain combination that will be offered in the UK: a rear-wheel-drive, 3.8-litre petrol V6 coupled to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The engine develops good power and is refined as long as it isn’t pushed too hard, but the fuel economy is nearly 10 per cent off that of a BMW 535i and the Hyundai lacks the low-end shove of the turbocharged 5-series. 

However, it’s the lack of a diesel option that will drastically limit sales in the UK and Europe. Understanding this, Hyundai UK only expects to sell 20 to 30 cars a year.

Inside, the Korean company has worked closely with its suppliers to make sure the buttons and controls have consistent feel and weight. Our test car's top-spec 16-way adjustable seats are extremely comfortable and trimmed in rich quality leather. Rear-seat room is also excellent. 

The large central navigation screen features a 720p HD display and can be controlled via touchscreen or an iDrive-like rotary controller. You can also sweep across the 233mm-wide screen like a smart phone. Also of note is the ventilation and air-con system, which uses the industry’s first CO2 sensor to help prevent drowsiness and reduce fatigue.

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Overall, it’s an impressive interior. The only real let-downs are some sub-par plastic trim, intrusive headrests and slightly wayward scattering of buttons.

Should I buy one?

The addition of right-hand drive and a luxurious interior with tons of technology and safety features make the Genesis a worthy halo car for the Korean brand in the UK.

If the suspension tuning is sorted before arriving on these shores, the Genesis could make for an earnest and idiosyncratic alternative to established luxury saloons. Throw in a competitive diesel engine and Hyundai’s wish to take on the class best wouldn’t be too far off.

Hyundai Genesis 3.8

Price £40,000 (est) 0-62mph 6.4sec (est) Top speed 150mph (est) Economy
 35mpg combined (est) CO2
 195 g/km (est) Kerb weight
 1877kg Engine
 V6, 3778cc, petrol Installation Front, longitudinal, RWD Power
 311bhp at 6000rpm Torque 293lb ft at 5000rpm Gearbox 8-speed automatic

John Howell

John Howell
Title: Senior reviewer

John is a freelance automotive journalist with more than a decade of experience in the game. He’s written for most of the big car mags, not least as a road tester for Autocar and as deputy reviews editor for our sister brand, What Car?. He was also the features editor at PistonHeads and headed its YouTube channel.

Cars, driving and machines are in his blood. When he was barely a teenager he was creating race-bale racetracks on his family’s farm – to thrash an old Humber Sceptre around. It broke regularly, of course, which meant he got a taste (and love) for repairing cars. That’s why he eschewed university, choosing instead to do an apprenticeship with a Jaguar dealer. That’s where he built up his technical understanding.  

After that he moved into high-end car sales, selling Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, Ferraris and Maseratis through the franchised network. But it was a love of writing and appraising cars that, eventually, led him to use his industry experience to prise open the door of motoring journalism. He loves cars that exceed their brief in some way. So he finds as much pleasure in testing a great, but humble, hatchback as he does sampling the latest Ferrari on track. Honest.

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Nicholas Pike 28 April 2018

Hyundai luxury brand Genesis ranked No. 1 by Consumer Reports

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Hyundai luxury brand Genesis ranked No. 1 by Consumer Reports

fresian 16 August 2016

Infiniti

A good case in point. Renault and Nissan made some pretty good luxury cars over the years, but were poos sellers due, in part to the badge. Hence the creation of the Infiniti brand. Much in the same way as Lexus is Toyota's luxury arm. Nothing much wrong with Hyundai these days, but most people would shirk at the thought of paying that amount of cash for something without the badge. Give them time, though. It wasn't that long ago (70s) that people were writing off Datsun and Honda as Jap Crap. Same with Skoda in the early 90s. Nimmler's rant is just that...A rant!
MaxTorque 14 May 2014

Maybe you should calm down

@nimmler
Getting rather emotional are we? Judging by your anti-Korean diatribe you are most probably a Japanese trying to pass off as a Brit.
I think as a Japanese you should know better than anyone else how much copying the Japanese car companies have done over the decades (and still do) especially of the German brands. So much so that the CEOs of BMW and Mercedes went on record a few years ago saying that due to the Japanese habit of carbon copying their concept cars and putting them into production first, they would no longer be exhibiting any at the auto shows.
As a result, nowadays you hardly see any concept cars from Germany's Big Three.

Sorry to burst your bubble but I think the Koreans will soon be overtaking the Japanese (in fact already are) in every segment of the car industry. In fact their real aim is the high-end German marques.