Road test: 2009 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
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Presence, handling prowess
by Graeme Fletcher	 | August 31, 2009
Hyundai Genesis Coupe.
Graeme Fletcher, National Post
The 2009 Hyundai Genesis Coupe.
Handout, Hyundai
Hyundai's rise through the automotive ranks has been meteoric. The company has shot from non-entity to the fifth largest in the world in what seems like the blink of an eye. Likewise, in a depressed market — down 15.7% overall this year in Canada — it is one of the few companies that has managed to grow its business — up 25.5%. Success like this comes from one thing — product. Having conquered the entry-level market, Hyundai has moved steadily up the price ladder.
The latest expression is the Genesis range. The big sedan debuted to rave reviews; now there's the Coupe, a car that's based on the same rear-drive platform.
The Genesis Coupe has style galore, which, perhaps, explains its head-turning quotient. However, as with all coupes, the expressive side comes at the expense of function. For example, the Coupe is a 2+2, not a four-seater. Rear-seat legroom is limited, headroom is even tighter and getting back there is only viable from the passenger side. That's the bad news.
When viewed as additional storage space, it works. The form-over-function thing also puts a crimp in the trunk — the opening slot is narrow (360 millimetres top to bottom), the hockey stick-style hinges crush anything placed below them and there is only 10 cubic feet of storage space. The back seat does fold flat, although the fact it does so in one piece is a limitation.
The front half of the Coupe has more clarity — it is logically laid out and the bulk of the materials is rich. Likewise, the wingback-style front buckets, which were wrapped in soft leather, deliver excellent support.
There's also plenty of content — all the usual power features plus a sunroof and Infinity sound system. The last two are part of the Premium package. The audio system, which includes iPod and USB inputs, belts out 360 watts of crystal-clear sound through 10 well-placed speakers. The nits? The lack of telescopic steering wheel adjustment and the hard plastic above the gauge cluster are disappointing. The other nit is the availability of a navigation system. It costs $1,500, which is affordable by today's standards, but it can only be added to the V6 model (it's standard on the V6 GT), which makes it an expensive proposition. With the system along for the ride, the Coupe's price jumps from the mid-20s to the mid-30s.
All of this really matters not a whit, as this car is about the driving side of life. Here, the Coupe succeeds. The base engine features variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust cams, along with an intercooled turbocharger. The combination blows 210 horsepower and 223 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels. It's not so much the pony count that impresses but the fact that peak torque turns up for work at 2,000 rpm. Once through a very minor bout of turbo lag, the Coupe runs quickly. It sprints to 100 kilometres an hour in 7.8 seconds and accomplishes the 80-to-120-km/h trick in an equally speedy 6.2 seconds.
The five-speed manumatic transmission works well with the engine — the ratios are nicely spaced so a quick downshift puts the engine in the heart of its powerband. The drawback? The manual mode only works when the shifter is in the manual position. This rules out a quick downshift heading into a fast corner until the driver switches modes, and when the lever is moved to the left, the box abruptly downshifts to fourth gear. The combination renders the manual side redundant.
The Coupe also shines in the manner in which it handles. The suspension dials out body roll very effectively, while the rubber — P225/45R18 front and P245/45R18 rear — provides the desired lateral grip. The net result is a remarkably neutral feel that stays with the program right to the ragged edge. Should the Coupe's tail step out, the electronic nanny reins things in with little drama. The handling does come with a slight price. The suspension is firm — expansion joints and frost heaves do not slip by.
If you want the real deal, move up to the V6 GT. The 3.8L engine pushes 306 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. When fired to the tarmac through the six-speed manumatic, the zero-to-100-km/h time drops to around six seconds. It also earns massive Brembo brakes, a limited-slip differential, a sports suspension and 19-inch wheels.
There's a lot to like about the Genesis Coupe. It has power aplenty, especially in V6 guise, it handles very well and it has serious road presence. The driving experience, in both the sedan and Coupe, might lead one to believe Hyundai has higher aspirations.
Could the Genesis nameplate morph into the company's equivalent of Acura? The range sits well above Hyundai's everyday portfolio. Rebadge the Veracruz and add the Equus full-sized sedan (due later next year) to the lineup and you have the genesis of Genesis … Alas, the prevailing climate is just not conducive to launching a new premium brand.
Type of vehicle: Rear-wheel-drive compact coupe
Engine: Turbocharged 2.0L DOHC four-cylinder
Power: 210 hp @ 6,000 rpm; 223 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manumatic
Brakes: Four-wheel disc with ABS
Tires: P225/45R18 front, P245/45R18 rear
Price: base/as tested: $24,495/$28,995
Destination charge: $1,565
Transport Canada fuel economy L/100 km: 10.4 city, 6.6 hwy.
Standard features: Manual air conditioning with filtration, power door locks, windows and heated mirrors, cruise control, tilt steering wheel, AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio system with six speakers, USB/iPod inputs and steering wheel-mounted controls, Bluetooth, trip computer, outside temperature readout, six-way manual driver's seat with adjustable lumbar support,
variable intermittent wipers, rear defroster, fog lights, six air bags, active front headrests.
Options: Premium package ($3,000, includes Infinity AM/FM/XM/MP3/six-disc CD audio system with 10 speakers, leather seats, power sunroof, heated front seats).
automotive@sympatico.ca
Graeme Fletcher
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