Better yet. What am I doing here?
Well, our sister site currently has somewhere between six to eight different reviewers for new cars. Most of those folks get to pick and choose their rides since Detroit, San Francisco and NYC have extensive press fleets.
Yours truly, who lives in northwest Georgia, is not one of those people. So when certain models have already gone through the proverbial TTAC ringer and find their way to my driveway, I will offer my insights here.
With one small twist. I love to look at anything new with the prismatic beauty of history. As for Hyundai’s luxury roots? They are truly youthful and bitter. But they are bearing some unusually unique fruits. Let’s delve into it shall we?
Korea’s elite brand has struggled more than most in the North American luxury market. The Hyundai XG300 and XG350 fell far short of even a Buick LeSabre back in the day. Cheap interior materials and awkward styling elements turned Hyundai’s first luxury car into a one generation wonder.
Hyundai then decided to get even more Buick-oriented with the Azera. Although a hit in its home market, it has become little more than the Hyundai version of a modern day Toyota Cressida. Popular in the domestic front. Ignored here.
But what of the Hyundai Genesis? At the $35,000 to $40,000 price range it remains one of the strongest competitors in the near-luxury market. Prestige is not a must-have when a model’s price is within spitting distance of a Toyota Avalon or a Chrysler 300.
But what happens when Hyundai develops an ‘R-Spec’ performance and trim package? A unique blend of tastes that couples entry level luxury with performance that was strictly in the realm of the exotic only a generation ago. Can the Hyundai Genesis R-Spec make way in the big boy market of $50,000 and beyond?
The Walkaround
Is it a Mercedes up front? A cookie cutter on the side? A Sonata in the rear? Not in person. Not at all.
The Hyundai Genesis has a ‘fluidic sculpture’ exterior design. Nothing protrudes at all beyond the chrome and modest curves.
The front has no diamond star halo or Lincoln-esque waterfall. No Bangle butt in the rear. No sweeping strakes or deep indentations in the side profile to give off the usual sporty overtones. The Genesis offers strength and simplicity in a world where everything from portholes to protruding headlights and taillights are as common as LED’s.
Some call it bland. Others look at it as a modern day Q-ship. I see it as “What a luxury car should be.” The more time I spent with the Genesis, the more I thought that this is what Lincoln should have become. Conservative with a sound level of presence. At least from the outside.
The Interior
The interior is a completely different story. Here is where the Genesis R-Spec fell into the cost cutting realities of today’s new car market.
Most near luxury vehicles that are priced in the $35,000 to $42,000 range use the same exact tricks to look good. Shallow chrome inserts around the vents. Dark interiors enshrouded with Jethro Tull levels of dark intent: to make the few well padded interior surfaces blend in with cheap dashboard materials and upper door panel plastics.
This is nothing unusual. Most new car buyers consider this to be par for the course these days. Nissan Murano, Mercedes C-Class, Lexus ES350, and this Genesis all come with softness at the touch points and hardness at the look points. At the $40,000 level, you have to make do with budgetary constraints.
The problem with the Genesis R-Spec and its $48,500 MSRP becomes obvious when you look at the interior of say, an Audi A6…
…or a Lincoln MKZ.
Both of these models start in the $41,000 range. While the base Genesis is $6,000 cheaper at $35,000.
What happens when the Genesis competes in the higher price points? It ends up one notch lower in the interior department. If I could encourage the folks at Hyundai to do anything for the Genesis, it would be to offer a more upscale interior with the R-Spec.
Which is okay…because the powertrain on the Genesis R-Spec is comparable to one you would find in a $70,000 car. Unrivaled smoothness. An engine that is so strong and happy, that you get the sense it can run nearly forever and out-diesel a diesel. The Genesis in R-Spec form is truly an epic upgrade that makes the car perform; especially if you are a road warrior with many miles to cover.
The Drive
Four hundred and twenty-nine horsepower. Now mind you, I’m not much of a numbers guy. But when you take a Genesis R-Spec on the road, the pace of every journey seems to hurry up a bit.
Want to go up a 25 degree incline and lose virtually no speed at all? Done.
Heck, do you want to just gain speed on nearly any mountainous journey without losing eighth gear? Or have your ‘Holy *@&!’ moment by flooring it on a big expanse of empty asphalt? The Hyundai V8 Tau engine coupled with the 8-speed automatic is an absolute work of wonder that can dial up your preferences at will.
The spec sheet also states that 376 lb-ft. of torque can be had at 5000 RPMs. In real world driving though, it is the strong torque at the lower power bands that gets you going. This powertrain could easily go into a vehicle at twice this car’s price. On the road it loses absolutely no street cred with it’s status-seeking competitors.
Potholes, dips, and various forms of road debris are felt but not overtly intrusive, and the tightness of Hyundai’s recent upgrades to the braking system and powertrain have eliminated the last of the old-school float of the original model.
The Lexus ES300 seemed a bit quieter when it comes to road noise, and the Germans still offer a better feel for the road. But this vehicle isn’t really a direct competitor to either one. It aims straight at the Chrysler 300 and the ghosts of Lincolns and Cadillacs past.
The Hyundai Genesis R-Spec does it in a far more modest fashion than any of these marques.
Overall
Strength and modesty. A Q-ship for those content with an interior laden with nickel satin and a variety of plastics. Nothing unusual in these days of so-called luxury. With this handicap, the Genesis R-Spec is a heavy hitter that seems to be only a right hook away from becoming a true knockout.
Some consumers like the feel and smell of high quality leather and great expanses of hardy wood trim for their ride. The Genesis R-Spec does not offer that…for now. However, if you are in the market for a powertrain that is commensurate with a $70,000 car, and can live with a near-luxury interior that usually sells in the $40,000 range, put the Hyundai Genesis R-Spec right at the top of your list.
I shall let others argue what they may about a new car appearing here.
As for me let a rabid auto enthusiast and historian say, Ghost of Lincolns, Cadillacs, and Imperials past is correct. Some might argue till they’re blue in the face but these are the sorts of cars that America used to build unashamedly and unabashed.
V8, RWD, powerful, silent as a tomb, I’m in love… (too bad for Hyundai I don’t have “new Genesis money.)
I’m still not buying a Hyundai! Let’s see how many of them are around 10 or 12 years from now.
Nice job, though, Steve – and welcome to CC!
The decade-old Hyundai Elantras that I see running around have held up a lot better than the GM competition of the day – the Cavalier/Sunbird twins. And there are plenty of old Elantras around here.
Mission creep?
The coffin trunk lid on this car is the very definition of a Bangle Butt. I’m not sure about those 429 hp. I went straight from test driving the Genesis 5.0 R to the Audi dealer where we wound up leasing an A6 on the obviously greater strength of the 310 hp V6 over the torque-bereft Genesis and the glaring, immeasurable gap in the level of detail quality. The Hyundai 5.0 didn’t even have the kick of the hemi Magnum we drove to the dealership. The interior styling is 20 years behind the curve too, not even on a par with a 1991 Lexus LS400. Open the trunk, and everything you see and touch shouts Excel.
I remember the issue of Car and Driver where they first tested the Genesis 4.6 and the Lincoln MKS. It made me ashamed of Ford for squandering 100 years of experience and having their noses rubbed in their own inferiority by the $4,995 disposable diaper people. After driving the Genesis 5.0R spec, I’m not so sure. I suppose I need to drive a new Lincoln, but I really can’t be bothered.
“Dark interiors enshrouded with Jethro Tull levels of dark intent:”
This has got to be, by far, one of my favorite lines from car review.
Welcome here Steve! I always enjoy your writing.
My parents bought one of these (though with the V6) last Fall. I really like driving it. It just feels like a really solid car.
Nice to see you here, Steven! A welcomed surprise…
No, I don’t think this is mission creep. An occasional new car review now and then could fit, as long as it’s done “with a twist”. Because it’s the twist thing we do here, mostly. Also, it keeps the discussions fresh having occasional oddball contributions, like we have seen with bikes, boats, and trains. Above all, Paul has always maintained a spirit of friendliness, having an inclusive and hollistic view to life. And that friendly atmosphere is what keeps me wanting to stay here and be a part of the bunch. Yay, I say. Live and let live.
Though I’d say Steven is wrong on the Bangle butt, That ass is most definitely a Bangle butt, and not a good one at that. The definition is having the decklid protrude above and behind the fender and rear. The compromise is about having a large luggage compartment while trying to maintain a good flow of lines. How do you mask a fat ass? Either hide it in plain sight or trying to have it meld into the whole. What Bangle did was not try to hide it at all, but exposing the mass in plain sight. And that is never pretty. And it ain’t pretty when things fall out of shape in the wrong places. The butt analogy is good, but a better metaphore would be that the Bangle butt is the automotive equivalent of a sideboob.
Surprise. surprise. I haven’t found anything that you wrote that I didn’t enjoy reading. It will be a pleasure to read you here as well. I have no intention of buying another new car until my cube exceeds 200kmi. Only has 47K now so thats a spell. I’m sure that I will still enjoy your work so bring it on.
Welcome.
It looks like a Lexus LS460 that was de-badged to star in an insurance company commercial.
I’ll pass.
Nice write up I see a lot of these i45 cars lately so I guess punters like em Hyundai are doing ok in this bit of the planet their diesel offering are particularly popular so I guess their luxury cars cant be too bad either.
I disagree with your high assessment of the Tau V8.
I think it’s a good motor, but I don’t consider it an equal to sub-$70K stuff like the Ford 6.2L, Chrysler 392, AMG M156, GM LS7, and Infiniti VK56VD.
Then again, I don’t prefer modesty in my 400hp V8s.
Well, what a pleasant surprise, welcome Steve!
I hope we get to see more of you around here.
Now if we could just get Sajeev to join us…
Thanks for that review Steve, a good one.
I think if I had the dough and the want for such an automobile, I might go Hyundia. Even after our experiences with our 93′
“the more I thought that this is what Lincoln should have become. Conservative with a sound level of presence.” True, so true.
Interesting read on a model we don’t get down here in New Zealand. We allegedly did/do get the XG-whatever and the Azera, but I’ve only ever seen one of each. We never got the Genesis predecessor, the 1999 Equus.
The Genesis though, could possibly do very well here. The exterior looks great, and it has a V8, a perfect combination! Such a shame the body is writing cheques the interior can’t cash though. The inside looks to posess a rarely-achieved perfect balance of blandness, cheapness, nastiness and soullessness. Even my 1997 Nissan has a better-looking and higher quality interior… But Hyundai got the exterior and mechanicals right, so it must surely be only a matter of time before the Genesis gains the interior is deserves.
I should point out that Richard’s comment below is not responding to mine above! It had me worried at first, until I realised Richard is responding to a deleted comment below. I may think the Genesis interior is below par for where it sits in the market, but the car itself interests me and I welcomed and enjoyed Steven’s article.
Since the late 1980s I have bought Wheels (Australia) and Car & Driver (USA) for my monthly fix of new cars. By the same token I come to CC for my daily fix of older cars. Wheels and C&D often blur the boundaries and look at older vehicles; I’m fine with CC doing the same boundary-blurring and looking at new vehicles.
At the end of the day I love all cars! They’re my passion and my joy – just like so many of us here. 🙂
Okay that was a little harsh. Let’s try and remember a few things, shall we? One, this is not TTAC. Even though many of us consider it a “sister site”, it is not. This is Paul’s baby, and he is welcome to have anything and anyone he likes contribute to it. Two, not all of us are born journalists. This is a place that gives many of us a chance to try and broaden our horizons, so to speak, when it comes to writing about automobiles.
I for one am glad to see Steve join us. So the new car review thing didn’t go perfectly the first time around…so what? At least Paul, Tom and Jim give us all a chance.
So please try and lighten up.
And that’s why I like cars!
+1
Yeah, the styling isn’t Bangled on this Hyundai.This is not an E60 5 series (but it’s probably way more reliable!)
Nice Marc Bolan/T-Rex reference Steven!
I bought a used Hyundai Genesis Sedan (base model) … one year old… costs less than a used Avalon or Camry or Accord but is much, much MORE car. In the real world, where people plunk down money for what they drive, the Genesis is a winner. You get Rear wheel drive in a large car and the quality is excellent. BMW/Mercedes/Lexus/Infiniti have to be sweating this one. Remember, it is Hyundai’s FIRST rear-wheel drive near luxury car. Selling very well, I might add! All the criticism reminds me of the initial reaction to Lexus/Acura. Who’s laughing 20 years on?
Sorry not interested. I stopped reading the execrable TTAC long ago because of the cheesy reviews, non-stop sarcasm and oh-so-clever, self-satisfied commentary. It would be a shame if this site, a welcome oasis from the fan-boy, macho douchebag world of car blogs, became a dumping ground for TTAC dreck.
Paul is the only good thing I ever saw on TTAC, and he had the good sense to escape and start Curbside Classic. Don’t fsck it up now.
I still check TTAC due to Baruth; other than him there’s little I read there anymore. I entirely agree with your third sentence.
EDIT: I should clarify: I don’t think of Steven Lang as dreck, but new car reviews here seem like anathema to what this site means to me.
I only go to TTAC for Murilee’s Junkyard finds.
The primary reason I frequented TTAC was for Paul’s Curbsides, I always disliked the snide, rude and all too often off topic commentary at TTAC and stopped going there as a result, but I do like reading about the latest and greatest in cars and thoughtful opinions. Hovever, I like reading about old cars even better and found this site within days of it being launched, what a treat!
I disagree that the occasional new car write up would ruin the experience here, but TTAC style commentary (I’m looking at you CarCounter) could.
So, if new car reviews = vile commentary, then maybe its not such a good idea. I say try again, one example does not equate to a pattern.
What’s worse is, this could be the beginning of a trend here at CC. This review looks like its been transplanted from TTAC with a thin veneer of history on top. Definitely not my cup of tea. I sincerely hope this is not the future of CC. This is neither a Classic, nor is it Curbside. This is a freeloading press fleet car given to a pro journalist (with marketing aids?) for review in an auto blog, and it has unfortunately wound up here.
Mr. Lang: I admire some of your writing at TTAC, but such blatant (and factually wrong, in places) `reviews’ are what I don’t appreciate, and I would request you to please take the time to browse CC and create articles of higher quality with less product push. This is not TTAC. Why don’t you review your own daily driver car? I’m sure a person with as broad an experience as yours must have loads of interesting car tales. Why not tell them? Even if you review a press car, must you always use the ridiculous catchphrases like `fluidic’ with a straight face, so to speak? And please, please change your writing style so it doesn’t read like Motor Trend. A little less drama over banal details would do a lot of good.
I understand you’re free to write as you please, and I always can just GTFO, but it would be really nice of you.
Mr Niedermeyer: This is your site and you can do as you please, but this left a bad taste in my mouth, so, being a person to say what I feel, I put it into words. A little more editorial supervision here is welcome.
Everyone: I’ll refrain from further comment on this article. Let everyone do and say as they see fit.
This is a test (drive), and only a test. How else to test the waters? But let’s not get too testy over it.
“too testy”? Nuts to that!
I don’t really have (or deserve) a dog in this fight since I’m a newbie but I feel similarly to the last three comments prior to Mr. Niedermeyer’s. I recently discovered this site & have only just begun checking out the autobiographies: this place amazes me.
I am so thrilled to find a site where someone takes the time to write up concise, factual, interesting articles with just the right touch of subjectivity & humor on such vehicles as….. the ’69 & ’70 Thunderbird, Boat-tailed Rivieras, AMC Matadors, ’73 Delta 88s, Cimarrons, etc. It’s such a nice balance of humor without excessive bias…. It’s a JOY to read something written by a true car guy when he’s writing to share his passion with others…NOT because he’s trying to be glib or get a quadzillion page hits.
This seems like a great place to learn a lot about “real cars” (good and bad!) from a few seasoned car people who just happen to be great writers. It’s hard to say this without stepping on some toes but there are so many sites out there already that opine about these new appliances… those sites are why I am here right now (not like that means anything to anyone besides myself!)
I added a cheap shot/snotty comment to one of my previous posts and one of the moderators quietly removed just that part of my post so nobody had to see it. How rare is that? I got the message clearly that this is not the type of place for pissing matches/ego trips — sort of a gentle wrist-slapping so to speak.
So I’ve been giddy to see what weird contraption is going to show up each day. Okay we had a boat..a Chris Craft. I’m not a boat type of guy but shoot, the dash & steering wheel on that thing are just beautiful — intriguing. I will read that once I catch up on all the Buick/Olds/Pontiac stuff. The Lexus SUV — I was “acck” at first but after digesting the entry & the resulting comments, I see why it’s here and I honestly appreciate that.
So you’ve read five disjointed paragraphs…sorry…I guess what I’m trying to convey is that paragraphs 2-5 are the reason why I, Mr. Unknown Newbie LIKE this place…and darn it if I don’t want it to start changing. It’s easy enough to Google “Bubblecar X” if I’m in the market for one so I was startled when I saw one of these on what appears to be Hallowed e-ground. I am in no means slamming the author nor will I offer any opinion about the subject vehicle…it just seems like the entry landed in the wrong spot.
Joel
Welcome, and thank you for your thoughtful comment. It’s been helpful in more ways than one.
Whew. A little hypertensive in here!
I’m trying to see it as a positive that this site provokes such strong feelings. As an occassional contributor, I am truly grateful for being able to reach such a thoughtful, experienced, passionate, considerate audience. As an everyday reader, I like the respectful tone of both articles and comments, which is a relief from so much of what we hear in life and read on the interwebs.
Old baseball lifers call the time after the World Series “hot stove season.” As in, summer’s over and so are the battles, let’s just talk baseball and daydream about what might have been and what could happen next year.
I think of Curbside Classic as a hot stove car blog: a place where we reminisce about successes and failures past, somewhere to let down your guard and let the stories flow.
So while I’m not sure I love Steven’s story, I also want to ask Car Counter (whose comments are mostly very enjoyable) to take a deep breath. Step out for a smoke, then grab a warm seat and a cold drink, buddy! 🙂
Pretty much ^^^ this. The Curbside Commentariat is an essential part of the CC experience, and I’ve seen about enough BS in new car review threads to last several lifetimes. But perhaps a little cross-pollination between CC and TTAC can be a good thing.
I come to CC mainly to read about fascinating, often forgotten cars from the past. I especially like the entries on the cars of my youth in Reagan-era America.
That said, if I can get new car reviews with an eye to the car’s history, I’m for it. I thought this was a nice overview of Hyundai’s luxury pretensions.
I like it (the new car review). I read it as an internal dialogue about Hyundai’s merits versus pretensions…exactly the kind of easy-going-car-guy-tire-kicking style that makes this site great. It would be easy to spend the whole review belittling the interior plastics or obsessing over the engine’s specs (I have read both versions in Genesis reviews elsewhere). This struck a nice balance, I thought.
CC is (for me) a place where it is OK to like/love/hate/ignore nearly any part of the automotive spectrum. Some articles here have me nodding in agreement as I read along, and others make me roll my eyes. Unlike most car sites, CC maintains a healthy ecosystem that can support everything from submarines to 2CVs without degenerating into cliques and flamewars. I see no reason why including the occasional new car review should change that dynamic.
My primary interest is in the older vehicles shown on this site, but I also thoroughly enjoy all of the other subsidiary articles posted on buses, subs, and the occasional boat. I read and enjoyed Lang’s article on the Genesis, and basically think that it’s all good stuff and well written, so one more vote for the addition of a new vehicle balanced review. Baruth’s review of a ’76 Fleetwood Brougham also remains a favourite (on TTAC), and could have easily have found a home here, so the more the merrier.
While I believe the main focus of this site should remain street parked daily driven old cars, I enjoy Mr. Lang’s articles and welcome him and the occasional new car review here.
A little overlap and mission creep is fine by me. As noted by others, there are some articles at TTAC that would fit in well here – for example, I just read about an extremely cool old motorhome that would fit right in around here: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/05/car-collectors-corner-myrtle-the-turtle-a-1964-dodge-travco-motor-home/#comment-1885829, so there’s no reason not to have a few new car pieces over here as well. New cars, old boats, it’s all good.
The main thing I would like to see remain at this site is the respectful, tolerant attitude of the articles and comments. Paul has done a great job setting the tone here, and that is something that drags other sites down.
As for the subject car itself, comparisons with the Germans aren’t really appropriate – I see the Chrysler 300C as the direct competitor to the Genesis. Badge prestige matters in this segment, and nobody is going to seriously cross shop a Hyundai with a premium German marque at this point, regardless of the merits of the vehicle itself. Chrysler hasn’t built a credible premium car for 40 years (73ImpCapn’s Imperial is probably one of the last..), and Hyundai never has, so neither has any real prestige, but both offer nice, RWD, entry premium with good “bang for the buck”…
I enjoyed reading this mostly because I have become fascinated by Hyundai’s progress the past few years. They are almost the opposite of GM and the Deadly Sins. They have been making Smart Decisions and I must admit that when I see one parked somewhere I take a stroll around it. Curbside Classic? Probably not. Curbside Interesting? I’d say, yeah…..most definitely.
I love older cars. I love taking photos on the street and posting them to the Cohort. I’ve even had a couple shots plucked and posted here on the site. I love that about CC. It’s a real community of friendly people who share a love of car history. Maybe it’s my history background, but the old iron has a draw for me that I don’t get from new cars. Or maybe I’m just old.
The fact that Paul and the other contributors are excellent story tellers makes this a one of a kind place that I visit every single day.
I don’t care about Hyundais much. I drive a Korean generic-mobile in real life. Boring.
The comments on CC are always informative, courteous and humorous. I’ve never been insulted or sneered at here. Can’t say the same about the “Best and Brightest if they do say so themselves” at “Deathwatch Ad Nauseum”. TTAC is no sister site to CC.
As my practice recently, I’m late to the party. I’ve got no problem with the way Steve wrote the article, and I welcome a new car review on this site as an occasional distraction. The new and old, they all exist in the same sphere. I really believed that it was an appropriate follow up to the Hyundai Excel article that preceded it.
Paul has done an excellent job with his direction of the site, and Tom has proven to be an excellent writer and is keeping the standards equally high here. I’m sorry that my activities have taken my leisure time that I used to spend here, but these are the choices we make.
FWIW, Steve is one of the better writers (along with MIchael Karesh) on TTAC, you can usually count on an informed viewpoint when reading one of his pieces. Very rarely I see any bias he cannot corroborate with vast personal experience, so I give him a lot of credit.
I’m kind of surprised there was this much controversy over this review, frankly. I’d agree that the ‘best and brightest’ is more of a title than an actual characteristic, but so far, there’s been little animosity between posters here. This IS a refuge from the other sites, and we should work to keep it that way. Personally, I’ve taken the stance that if someone else has said effectively what I would say, I would not add to the posts; and if I thought that something was completely wrong, I would address as best I could in a factual manner.
YMMV.
As a review, not bad. As a Hyundai mini-history, not bad either.