Hyundai Genesis Coupe goes on sale early - A few first impressions
The first Genesis Coupe has landed in the driveway of Eager American Buyer Number One before Hyundai has even finished launching the car for the press, which is a slight reversal of things. In other words, the Korean automaker is actually ahead of schedule in launching its latest product. How refreshing.
Lucky for us, we managed to spend a few days in a Lime Rock Green Genesis Coupe before the press preview, and in that time we got some good first impressions of the car both on the street and at the track, in the rain and under the sun, on four wheels and two (just kidding, Hyundai).
We did our time in a 3.8-liter V6 with the track package. The car strikes a beautiful mix of pep and power from stoplight to stoplight, which is to say it will jump off the line but isn't frenetic while doing it. The shifter itself is oddly shaped, but the quality of the shifting is very good. The seats – except for the headrests – are supportive, comfy and pretty. The controls are also nicely placed and the stereo is a blast, but you'll need a minute to figure out all the buttons to operate it.
While on the track at Willow Springs, we were able to unchain the frenetic little devil that the Genesis Coupe keeps leashed around town. The steering wheel is the perfect size and provides plenty of feedback. The exhaust note, less than inspiring when you're nice to the car, finds its bellow when you stomp on the gas and let the revs climb. The brakes will keep up the good work for lap after lap after lap. The handling will even make a few other cars take note -– there's no "in it's price bracket" caveat here – and its rear-wheel-drive reflexes are nicely tuned. It is easy to get quick in the Genesis Coupe, and once there, it's pretty easy to stay quick.
Of course, there were a few details we wondered about: the headrests are canted so far forward, like they were designed for people with either long necks or little heads (NOTE: Hyundai has confirmed that the headrests do adjust for comfort, but you have to crank them all the way forward before they can go back) the car needs a rear window wiper in the worst way – trying to see out the back in the rain is to understand glaucoma; and long journeys on L.A. freeways was a less than thrilling experience – you'll be glad to have that stereo. Nevertheless, it is a fine proposition, and if Hyundai can give the four-cylinder the same balanced handling, then that's a car that will make us all tingly.
Stay tuned for our full report on the Genesis Coupe in a couple of weeks to find out.
Get a WordPress.com Blog
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg "2011 Audi A8: Live from Miami")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
JayP 12:05PM (2/26/2009)
The local dealer has one 'around back'. I'm -very- tempted to go try it out.
Reply
Franz 12:59PM (2/26/2009)
A very, very good first effort from Hyundai. They hit most of the important points. A few notable misses though:
1. No rear wiper
2. No quick entry tilt/slide feature for access to the rear
3. Three second "torque reduction" lag in power after upshifting, programmed to hit if you brush the past redline (a "soft" fuel cutoff that wouldn't let you bounce off the limiter would have been more sensible IMO)
turbocoupe87 2:13PM (2/26/2009)
If you do take a test drive report back what you find... post it up on one of the Genesis Forums.. i prefer Genesisforums.org (http://genesisforums.org) as it seems to be one of the better ones with lots of vendors already signed up to provide aftermarket support..
http://genesisforums.org/supporting-vendors/
JayP 7:36PM (2/26/2009)
It's no longer in the back but up front.
Time to see about a test drive.
GenCoupe.com 1:24AM (2/27/2009)
We have a lot more articles of reviews of the Hyundai Genesis coupe come check them out at
http://GenCoupe.com
MachinaDC5 12:06PM (2/26/2009)
No rear wiper blade post 1995?
Reply
Dan_77 12:08PM (2/26/2009)
This car is turning out to be a fantastic, refreshing buy of cars of late. I very rarely find myself excited for a car but Hyundai seems to have found that balance between daily reliable drivers car and a car that can perform on the track. Im glad to see RWD "coming back" so to say. I drive an 89' Supra, its getting old, and this hyundai got my attention.
Reply
zamafir 12:58PM (2/26/2009)
I'm with you, saw one on the street last month, interior is beyond what toyota and honda are offering in terms of quality at this price and the reviews are already comparing the driving experience to the G37, very very cool for a car $5,000 less. This thing will sell. I'd love to see it on a track with a similarly priced Mustang just for comparison sake. Hell or a GTI. Or a MS3. poor. poor. GTI :p.
Ligor 1:29PM (2/26/2009)
@ Zamafir
you must have not see the interior yet
'better than anything Honda and Toyota" - that's just not true. I was in one and the interior is just barely past the cobalt level
the new Mustnag interior is way better and with much softer materials
you'll be surprized - go drive one, you'll gladely pay yhet $5k for the G37 and will think you're just fine with the new Mustang
this thing ain't worth it
tanooki2003 1:32PM (2/26/2009)
i am definitely with you there Dan,
I myself drive a 99 Mitsubishi 300GT VR4 and even that is getting old, as much fun it is to drive. This Genesis Coupe happens to be one of the very few 2 door coupes with RWD that completely gets my attention. In fact with the hot streak that Hyundai has been on since the turn of the millenium, I can honestly say that I would expect this in my driveway as soon as they go on sale at the Hyundai dealership located closest to me.
tanooki2003 1:33PM (2/26/2009)
Yes I meant 3000GT
Red 1:37PM (2/26/2009)
@ zamafir,
"interior is beyond what toyota and honda are offering in terms of quality at this price.."
Unless Hyundai changed the materials from when I saw the car at the auto shows, I'd say you've lost your damn mind. Unlike the Genesis sedan, it's quite obvious where Hyundai cut costs in the Coupe.
That said, everything else seems to be on point, so interior materials could possibly be considered a minor gripe. But if I'm paying $30,000 for a vehicle (which is on the lower end of the sport coupe segment), I'd still like to get better materials. Keep the leather, upgrade the plastics and I'm cool.
For the record, I'd still buy a Genesis Coupe if the banks weren't being such jack asses.
Monkaroo 2:43PM (2/26/2009)
Here's the interior in the top of the line Grand Touring with the tan leather. It's not bad.
http://www.hyundai-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/2010-hyundai-genesis-coupe-18.jpg
Chris 4:46PM (2/26/2009)
@ Zamafir
You need to go check out the interior in a V6 Accord Coupe.....its got the Hyundai beat I think....not that there is anything wrong with the Hyundai...the car is fantastic.
Mehdi Cheddadi 12:09PM (2/26/2009)
RainX on the back window should fix that
Reply
Kattleox 12:32PM (2/26/2009)
Well, the scirocco's back spoiler altered airflow so that your window wouldn't get wet while driving. They may have done the same thing here.
Menice 1:14PM (2/26/2009)
+1 on rainx.
back wipers are for minivans + suv's not coupes. it takes away from the look.
i removed mine- shaved the whole. looks 100x better.
nice write up. look forward to seeing one on the road.
Tony 12:09PM (2/26/2009)
Edmunds Insideline really likes this vehicle and the model they reviewed looks much better in black.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=142686?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..1.*
Can't wait to test drive one.
Reply
jcar302 4:11PM (2/26/2009)
Thanks for the link.
I read through to the important port of the edmunds article.
Car weight is 3488, lighter or equivalent to most other rwd sports car.
Hp is 306
tq 266
These numbers should translate into a faster car, but they don't.
The genesis coupe gets pretty much spanked by every rwd sports car on the market
The mustang, g37, 350, 370 and even the 128i bmw with 76 less hp crush it in the quarter mile. 14.5@97mph isn't anything special these days. You could run that with a stock 5.0 mustang 15 years ago, and that only had 225hp.
This is why the v6 fails, just like the rx8, just not enough torque.
I know there is some fanboys out there that love this car, but unless you like the view of other cars tailights, steer clear of this thing.
MikeW 9:59PM (2/26/2009)
Something is amiss up at Edmunds.
Did they really use regular fuel?
Why didn't they try to short shift and find the best engine speed to shift at (or figure out the tach latency). That car should be 14@100 if not faster.
or 13.5@105 (in 3rd, like the Mustang) if you wind out the engine past 7500rpm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7wZAD97Q68