Auto Test

Hyundai Genesis Coupé 3.8 V6

Cars with two doors and a propensity for slinging their tail ends around are not manufactured only in Munich or in Zuffenhausen. The Asian alternative is called Hyundai Genesis 3.8 VC Coupé and we put it to the test. (Florian Maier , 13.01.2012)

This is it

When it was first introduced back in 2007 at the Los Angeles Motor Show the Hyundai Genesis Coupé as a concept car generated plenty of buzz. The series version which had its première at the 2009 New York Auto Show was greeted with almost unanimous enthusiasm.

: The registration statistics indicate that the Genesis Coupé is in just an exotic outsider.

Only since the autumn of 2010 has the rear-wheel-drive Hyundai Genesis Coupé been available in Germany. And while the manufacturer can be entirely satisfied with sales in the North American market it is a model which in Germany has hardly more than a niche existence, a fate it regrettably shares with other sports models of Far Eastern origin. From January through November 2011 only 498 new vehicle registrations were recorded. 363 of these cars were powered by the 3.8 litre V6 naturally aspirated motor… the version we tested… while 133 had the two-litre four-cylinder turbo engine under the bonnet. These are statistics which almost beggar belief… given that no other car maker offers a sports coupé with over 300 horsepower with prices starting at just 29,900 Euros.

: The Genesis Coupé has all equipment on board which one might expect. The Korean car features solid… if not highest quality… workmanship.

This is what it offers

For most in this country the sight of a Genesis Coupé is not only rare but also perplexing, for the marque is mainly associated with little compact models or budget SUVs. And so even the exterior look of the Genesis Coupé seems to many rather exotic and unusual. With its broad and low-slung silhouette the coupé built in South Korea makes a strong first impression… and not just when it comes in the optional ‘Lime Green Metallic’ finish. The front fascia is aggressively styled. At the back the spoiler which manages just to be discreet, together with the ‘3.8’ badge and the tail pipes left and right make up a picture which evokes dynamism even when the auto is standing still. The starter knob triggers the cacophony to be expected from a 3.8 litre V6 trimmed for sporting performance. The car’s interior certainly does not qualify for the description ‘high-end’… leather upholstery is only on offer for the well conceived sports seats. The rest of the interior features an abundance of plastic which… while it cannot be called cheap looking… fails to be anything more than average. The workmanship must, however, be seen as acceptable and in conformity with the value proposition. The Genesis Coupé has all equipment on board which one might expect… ESP, TCS, ABS, rear-axle differential and plenty of air-bags. For the front row occupants at least there is more than adequate space. But in back anyone taller than 1 metres 60 will feel badly cramped. Boot capacity is at 332 litres sufficient for the shopping trip or the weekend getaway.

: The suspension scores points for firmness although the steering is a bit too light. But in general the driving dynamics make a good impression.

This is how it drives

The sound of the Genesis 3.8 V6 is… as already noted… more than promising even before the car moves off. And it gets even better as the driver gears down using the good sized and well positioned paddles on the sports steering wheel. On the straightaway the rear-wheel-drive Korean speedster convinces with a zero-to-a-hundred time of 6.2 seconds. Our test verified that the top speed is electronically limited to 242 kilometres an hour. The steering is crisp and direct, becoming stiffer as speeds increase although generally to be regarded as slightly too light. Given the output of 303 horsepower and 361 Nm of torque more vehemence could be expected of the V6. The power delivery is relatively constant even if at both extremes of the RPM scale there is something of a lack of bite. As for the suspension, it is definitely firm and possibly for more mature drivers and passengers somewhat too merciless. The most fun can be had with the Genesis Coupé on winding country roads… with the ESP disengaged and the shifters being used frequently. The tail soon becomes very lively, dancing whenever the accelerator is used while cornering. But the two-door auto is always under the driver’s control and behaves very well. The man at the wheel soon comes to appreciate the favourable 55% to 45% balance of weight which is enabled by the lateral positioning of the naturally aspirated motor.

: The basic price is certainly fair, the extras are not exorbitant and the fuel consumption is reasonable for a sports coupé. Price is the big advantage of the Hyundai Genesis 3.8 V6.

This is what it costs

The entry level cost of the Hyundai Genesis Coupé is very reasonable. 34,990 Euros is the tag imposed by Hyundai Germany for the V6 Coupé. The vehicle we tested had a few extras… the metallic lacquer finish and the full leather interior… and would imply an expenditure of 37,550. By way of comparison, a BMW 335i Coupé with just three more horsepower would cost 46,450 Euros… and that would be before ticking off any of the optional extras. It is true to say that competing models feature a higher level of workmanship and more refined materials. But whether these attributes justify such a price difference is an open question.

With regard to the fuel consumption Hyundai claim their Genesis Coupé with the 3.8 V6 calls for 9.9 litres of Super per hundred driven kilometres. But to attain this result the driver must limit his indulgence in the sporty performance the car so willingly offers and have a light foot on the accelerator… and even then it will not be easy. In the course of our testing the Korean sports coupé needed around 13.8 litres of costly fuel which puts the Genesis roughly in the same league as German rival models.

: The Hyndai Genesis Coupé 3.8 V6 tested for motorvision.com by Florian Maier.

This is what we think

It is in many ways a shame that a car like the Genesis Coupé will probably not be able to make a big breakthrough on the market here in Germany. For in spite of the price advantage, here in this country when it comes to sporty coupés marque awareness is more important than either economics or even motoring enjoyment. The Korean car features solid… if not highest quality… workmanship. The equipment coming as standard is certainly generous and thus the cost of the car can still be seen as fair. In terms of the driving dynamics there is little to criticize and any driver who appreciates a lively rear end can have a lot of fun with the ‘big’ Genesis. All of this means, finally, that a driver who places more emphasis on sporty fun… drifting inclusive… than on Teutonic badge prestige… could do a lot worse than visit a Hyundai showroom.

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An Asian alternative… the Hyundai Genesis Coupé offers really sporty driving, 303 horsepower, rear-wheel-drive and a relatively low price. Picture 1 of 18

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