Hyundai is steadily making inroads into the international luxury car market with its new Genesis line-up. While the freshly revealed Genesis G90 (EQ 900 in Korea) will go on to become the flagship of the range, the Genesis 3.8 sedan rears up the lower rungs of the ladder. The Genesis 3.8, along with the 5.0 have been around for a while now in international markets, way before Hyundai had officially announced Genesis as a sub brand. The 2016 Genesis 3.8 was showcased in India for the fist time at the Auto Expo 2016, indicating Hyundai India’s intents with the luxury brand.
The Genesis sedan is built around a platform that utilizes advanced high-strength steel, while a 0.26 coefficient of drag helps the Genesis skim the airflow around it more efficiently, resulting in lower fuel consumption. Styling is pert, with the front end being ornamented by a massive grille flanked by standard High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights and even LED fog lights.
In profile, the Genesis sedan possesses a long wheelbase and a swooping, coupe like roof-line. The 3.8 rides on 18-inch alloy wheels with P245/45R18 tires, while the 5.0 rides on 19-inch alloy wheels with P245/40R19 front and P275/35R19 rear tires. The clean looking rear end features LED tail lamps and dual exhaust tips, while the 5.0 gets quad exhaust tips.
Inside, there’s wood and aluminum trim, plus the heated front seats are standard. Available interior features include: matte-finish wood trim, premium leather, panaromic sunroof, ventilated seats, power rear sunshade, side-window sunshades and more. Then there’s a 17-speaker, Lexicon surround sound audio system to satiate those aural cravings.
The 3.8-litre V6 GDI petrol engine is good for 311 hp, while a 5.0-litre V8 GDI petrol engine pushing out 420 hp is also available. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a 8-speed automatic transmission. A HTRAC All Wheel Drive system is offered as an optional feature on the Genesis 3.8. Also, there are four modes to choose from: Eco for conserving fuel, Normal for comfort, Sport for dynamic driving and Snow for low-traction road conditions.
Safety features on the Genesis sedan include Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Detection With Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Smart Cruise Control, Heads-Up Display And LCD Color Instrument Panel Display, along with nine airbags. Prices for the Hyundai Genesis 3.8 start at $38,750 in the US, and the 5.0 retails from $53,850. An Indian launch can be expected sometime later this year, at prices well below its German rivals.
Hyundai Genesis (US) Specifications
DRIVETRAIN / TRANSMISSION | 3.8 | 5.0 ULTIMATE | |
---|---|---|---|
Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) | |||
HTRAC All Wheel Drive (AWD) | |||
8-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC | |||
Final drive ratio | 3.909 | 3.538 |
BODY / SUSPENSION / CHASSIS | 3.8 | 5.0 ULTIMATE | |
---|---|---|---|
Body construction: Unibody | |||
Front suspension: Multi-link with high performance gas shock absorbers | |||
Rear suspension: Multi-link with high performance gas shock absorbers | |||
Intelligent Drive Mode | |||
Rack-mounted Motor-Driven Power Steering (R-MDPS) | |||
Turning diameter, curb-to-curb (ft.) | 36.2 | 36.2 | |
Power 4-wheel disc brakes, front ventilated | |||
4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA) | |||
18-inch premium alloy wheels with P245/45R18 tires | |||
19-inch premium alloy wheels with P245/40R19 front and P275/35R19 rear tires |
EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS | 3.8 | 5.0 ULTIMATE | |
---|---|---|---|
Wheelbase (in.) | 118.5 | 118.5 | |
Length (in.) | 196.5 | 196.5 | |
Width (excludes mirrors) (in.) | 74.4 | 74.4 | |
Height (in.) | 58.3 | 58.3 |
WHEELS | 3.8 | 5.0 ULTIMATE | |
---|---|---|---|
Track (in., front/rear) | 64.1 / 65.3 | 63.8 / 64.3 |
WEIGHT | 3.8 | 5.0 ULTIMATE | |
---|---|---|---|
Curb weight (lbs.) | 4,138 (RWD) 4,295 (AWD) |
4,541 |
INTERIOR VOLUME | 3.8 | 5.O | |
---|---|---|---|
Total interior volume (cu. ft.) | 123.0 | 123.0 | |
Passenger volume (cu. ft.) | 107.7 | 107.7 | |
Cargo volume (cu. ft.) | 15.3 | 15.3 |