2008 HYUNDAI Genesis 3.8L V6 8AT RWD (333 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Hyundai aimed higher with the Genesis lineup introduced in 2007 at the New York Auto Show, a car that marked the entrance into the premium segment for the Korean automaker.

Hyundai understood that a premium brand gets a better margin than a mass-market product, so it followed the same recipe used by Honda, Nissan, and Toyota when these Japanese brands launched Acura, Infiniti, and Lexus, respectively. Unlike these carmakers, Hyundai started from a blank sheet of paper and developed a completely new vehicle, starting from the platform and ending with the interior.

It was easy to see that the automaker’s designers penned the Genesis with a clear inspiration from the German premium carmakers. The Mercedes-Benz-inspired headlights and the BMW 5 Series proportions of the bodywork led the Korean brand into a new, more conservative territory. At the front, the shield-like grille with rare horizontal slats and a vertical middle pillar looked intriguing.

While the design was not the strongest selling point of the Genesis, the interior was garnished with all the bells and whistles someone could ask from an upmarket automaker. From the power-everything (seats, windows, locks) to the standard USB port and iPod integration, the Genesis had them all. Thanks to the rear-wheel drive platform that led to a long wheelbase, the rear occupants had enough legroom while the headroom was not bad either.

For the drivetrain, the Hyundai opted for three options: either two V6s or a newly developed 4.6-liter V8, which sounded very appealing thanks to its uprated, four-pistons front brakes and larger rotors. Moreover, for selected markets, the Genesis also received a 5.0-liter V8. Unfortunately, the carmaker was not so experienced in building sports sedans, so the steering was not as sharp as the ones installed by its competitors.