Looking for proof of just how complex and inscrutable modern day vehicle electronics are? Here’s some fodder for your grumpy Luddite tendencies: Hyundai has had to recall practically 25,000 Genesis sedans for leaky taillights that can cause the transmission to show the wrong gear on the instrument panel or delay the engagement of reverse or drive.
In a recall announced in February, Hyundai will yank back 24,400 model-year 2015 Genesis sedans built amongst February of 2014 and January of 2015 for the potentially leaky taillights. According to NHTSA, water can leak into the rear mixture lamp assembly.
That errant moisture can apparently throw the Hyundai’s drivetrain into a spiral of confusion. NHTSA says the malfunction can “cause an incorrect gear show on the instrument panel” or even delay gear engagement when shifting out of park. We assume this has some thing to do with the possible malfunction of the reverse lights in the “rear combination lamp assemblies,” but the NHTSA document doesn’t go into certain detail.
It appears like a bit of a head-scratcher, but the danger is true, as NHTSA warns that “if the incorrect gear is being displayed, the automobile could move in an unintended path,” which is never ever very good. Hyundai will rectify the predicament by installing pads to prevent water entry into the rear lights. At the time of writing, Hyundai has not outlined a notification schedule for owners, but if you have a 2015 Genesis and you want to make certain “D” genuinely indicates the car’s in drive, you can contact Hyundai at 1-855-671-3059 and reference Hyundai Recall 128.
Genesis, Hyundai Motor’;s new flagship luxury sedan, has achieved the highest score in the 21-year history of testing in the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), with 36,88 points out of a possible 37 and a maximum 5-star ANCAP safety rating.
A 5-star safety rating is ANCAP’;s ultimate measure of vehicle safety protection for occupants and pedestrians. The demanding assessment includes a 64 km/h frontal offset test and a 50 km/h side impact test, along with a 29 km/h pole test, a whiplash test simulating a 32 km/h rear-end crash, and a 40 km/h pedestrian impact protection test. A minimum number of active safety assist technologies (SATs) are also required.
The Genesis’; tally of 36,88 points includes a frontal offset score of 15,88 out of 16 and a side impact protection score of 16 out of 16. Genesis also scored 2 out of 2 in the pole test and a whiplash protection test rating of “good”.
Earlier this year, the all-new Genesis was the first and only rear-wheel drive vehicle in its class to receive the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’;s (IIHS) highest honor as a 2014 TOP SAFETY PICK+, continuing its segment leadership. Genesis was also the first rear-wheel drive luxury sedan to earn a “Good” rating in the IIHS’;s small overlap crash test.
“The Genesis is Hyundai’;s flagship model and as such offers a high level of physical crashworthiness and excellent safety features as standard,” said ANCAP chairman Mr Lauchlan McIntosh.
“This is one of the first times we have seen the word ‘Standard’; listed against almost every safety feature on our check list. Importantly, automatic emergency braking is one of these standard features – one that has recently been left off many new models hitting our shores.”
Structural integrity and strength has been a key priority of Hyundai Motor Company’;s engineering teams since development of the new “DH” model Genesis sedan began 6 years ago. The vehicle uses advanced high-strength steel throughout its body structure, and has been designed from the outset to pass the world’;s most demanding crash tests.
ANCAP is supported by all Australian and New Zealand motoring clubs, the Australian Government, the New Zealand Government, Australian state and territory governments, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission, NRMA Insurance and the FIA Foundation.
To search crash test results and learn more about safety technologies, visit www.ancap.com.au
Crash test images and video can be downloaded from www.ancap.com.au/media
Genesis, Hyundai Motor’;s new flagship luxury sedan, has achieved the highest score in the 21-year history of testing in the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), with 36,88 points out of a possible 37 and a maximum 5-star ANCAP safety rating.
A 5-star safety rating is ANCAP’;s ultimate measure of vehicle safety protection for occupants and pedestrians. The demanding assessment includes a 64 km/h frontal offset test and a 50 km/h side impact test, along with a 29 km/h pole test, a whiplash test simulating a 32 km/h rear-end crash, and a 40 km/h pedestrian impact protection test. A minimum number of active safety assist technologies (SATs) are also required.
The Genesis’; tally of 36,88 points includes a frontal offset score of 15,88 out of 16 and a side impact protection score of 16 out of 16. Genesis also scored 2 out of 2 in the pole test and a whiplash protection test rating of “good”.
Earlier this year, the all-new Genesis was the first and only rear-wheel drive vehicle in its class to receive the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’;s (IIHS) highest honor as a 2014 TOP SAFETY PICK+, continuing its segment leadership. Genesis was also the first rear-wheel drive luxury sedan to earn a “Good” rating in the IIHS’;s small overlap crash test.
“The Genesis is Hyundai’;s flagship model and as such offers a high level of physical crashworthiness and excellent safety features as standard,” said ANCAP chairman Mr Lauchlan McIntosh.
“This is one of the first times we have seen the word ‘Standard’; listed against almost every safety feature on our check list. Importantly, automatic emergency braking is one of these standard features – one that has recently been left off many new models hitting our shores.”
Structural integrity and strength has been a key priority of Hyundai Motor Company’;s engineering teams since development of the new “DH” model Genesis sedan began 6 years ago. The vehicle uses advanced high-strength steel throughout its body structure, and has been designed from the outset to pass the world’;s most demanding crash tests.
ANCAP is supported by all Australian and New Zealand motoring clubs, the Australian Government, the New Zealand Government, Australian state and territory governments, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission, NRMA Insurance and the FIA Foundation.
To search crash test results and learn more about safety technologies, visit www.ancap.com.au
Crash test images and video can be downloaded from www.ancap.com.au/media
Genesis, Hyundai Motor’;s new flagship luxury sedan, has achieved the highest score in the 21-year history of testing in the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), with 36,88 points out of a possible 37 and a maximum 5-star ANCAP safety rating.
A 5-star safety rating is ANCAP’;s ultimate measure of vehicle safety protection for occupants and pedestrians. The demanding assessment includes a 64 km/h frontal offset test and a 50 km/h side impact test, along with a 29 km/h pole test, a whiplash test simulating a 32 km/h rear-end crash, and a 40 km/h pedestrian impact protection test. A minimum number of active safety assist technologies (SATs) are also required.
The Genesis’; tally of 36,88 points includes a frontal offset score of 15,88 out of 16 and a side impact protection score of 16 out of 16. Genesis also scored 2 out of 2 in the pole test and a whiplash protection test rating of “good”.
Earlier this year, the all-new Genesis was the first and only rear-wheel drive vehicle in its class to receive the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’;s (IIHS) highest honor as a 2014 TOP SAFETY PICK+, continuing its segment leadership. Genesis was also the first rear-wheel drive luxury sedan to earn a “Good” rating in the IIHS’;s small overlap crash test.
“The Genesis is Hyundai’;s flagship model and as such offers a high level of physical crashworthiness and excellent safety features as standard,” said ANCAP chairman Mr Lauchlan McIntosh.
“This is one of the first times we have seen the word ‘Standard’; listed against almost every safety feature on our check list. Importantly, automatic emergency braking is one of these standard features – one that has recently been left off many new models hitting our shores.”
Structural integrity and strength has been a key priority of Hyundai Motor Company’;s engineering teams since development of the new “DH” model Genesis sedan began 6 years ago. The vehicle uses advanced high-strength steel throughout its body structure, and has been designed from the outset to pass the world’;s most demanding crash tests.
ANCAP is supported by all Australian and New Zealand motoring clubs, the Australian Government, the New Zealand Government, Australian state and territory governments, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission, NRMA Insurance and the FIA Foundation.
To search crash test results and learn more about safety technologies, visit www.ancap.com.au
Crash test images and video can be downloaded from www.ancap.com.au/media
In the early 1980s, the band Genesis pulled off one of the most difficult feats in show business: turning a critically revered nerd-rock outfit with lukewarm U.S. sales into a multi-platinum-selling household name. By the end of the decade, the band’s place in pop culture was secured. In the automotive realm, Hyundai built its domestic following on the back of economical transportation devices—minus the critical acclaim—and is now hoping its excellent new Genesis sedan will find a ubiquitous place in the consciousness of luxury-sedan buyers.
Calibration Is Key
Introduced for the 2009 model year, the first-gen Genesis earned its share of fans, but its chassis lacked the chops to play with the best in the segment. And so, for the Genesis’s 2015 redesign, Hyundai brought in Lotus to put an invisible touch on a laundry list of bits that includes the anti-roll bars, dampers, springs, engine mounts, subframe bushings, and even the calibration of the electric power steering, which now utilizes a rack-mounted motor.
The results are tangible: Broken and pitted pavement that caused the previous car to go weak in the knees is handled adroitly, the independent front and rear suspension soaking up bumps and keeping even harsh impacts well isolated. The steering is nicely matched to this sedan’s luxury mission. Weighty, direct at 2.5 turns lock-to-lock, and devoid of twitchiness, it offers linear response and decent on-center feel. It does, however, lack the feedback we’d prefer in spirited maneuvering.
Fitted with 18-inch Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 245/45 all-season tires, our rear-wheel-drive test vehicle managed to pull 0.87 g on the skidpad, the same number achieved by the 2012 Genesis sedan R-Spec. Perhaps more telling are the comments of the test driver, who described the car’s behavior as “surprisingly neutral and composed.”
A large portion of Hyundai’s U.S.-market aspirations for the Genesis rest on the shoulders of the V-6 model. You can of course order the V-6 Genesis with all-wheel drive—and that’s what many Snow Belters will do—but the rear-drive car tested here is expected to deliver 55 to 60 percent of 6-cylinder sales. Carried over from the 2014 Genesis, the V-6 loses 22 horsepower (now 311) and gains 2 lb-ft of torque (now 293 lb-ft) from last year, with Hyundai citing a greater focus on flat torque curves, improved low-end response, and overall drivability rather than spec-sheet racing. The company also is quick to point out that the car delivers its output with regular 87-octane fuel and that premium is not required.
We love the smooth, solid feel of the bottom-hinged accelerator; it’s hefty enough that you can tap out a tune on it while cruising without affecting vehicle speed, but the pedal is completely linear in operation when you apply real pressure. Speaking of matting it, our Genesis sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds and covered the quarter-mile in 14.4 at 100 mph—not too shabby for a 4230-pound sedan. (Those who need even more urgency can check out the rear-drive-only, 420-hp Genesis V-8.) The V-6 is a smooth operator and combines with the slick-shifting 8-speed automatic and quiet interior to make this Hyundai a great long-haul companion. EPA-rated at 18 mpg in the city and 29 on the highway, our combined mileage came in at 19 mpg, which isn’t surprising considering the amount of in-town action the Genesis saw while in our care.
Content Is King
Unusual for press vehicles, our Genesis V-6 arrived with no added-cost options, perhaps reflecting Hyundai’s confidence in its value proposition. The only line item on our $ 38,000 invoice was the $ 950 destination charge, so the as-tested MSRP was $ 38,950. But make no mistake, the Genesis isn’t a penalty box, as it includes a navigation system with an 8-inch screen, a backup camera, leather-trimmed seats (12-way power adjustable and heated in front), a leather-wrapped tilting and telescoping steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, proximity entry and start, auto headlamps, power outside mirrors with puddle lamps, Bluetooth connectivity, dual automatic climate control, and more.
The Genesis’s direct competition, such as it is, starts many thousands of dollars higher—before being fitted with much of the above equipment at extra cost. While value alone may not be enough to entice brand loyalists away from established cars like the BMW 5-series and the Mercedes-Benz E-class, Hyundai tellingly reports that the most in-demand model is the fully loaded V-6 Ultimate, which runs $ 49,950 and includes basically any luxury tchotchke you can think of. With the latest Genesis, mixing a tried-and-true value proposition with satisfying driving dynamics has paid off—no matter how you spec it.
