The Hyundai Genesis outscored four competitors to earn Consumer Reports’ nod as the top-rated “upscale sedan.”
The Genesis, which achieved an “excellent” overall road test score, now outranks 12 vehicles from Lexus, Acura, Lincoln and others, including the runner-up Lexus ES 350.
Consumer Reports has seemingly been impressed with Hyundai this year, previously naming the automaker’s Elantra and Santa Fe as its “top pick” vehicles in the small sedan and midsize SUV categories, respectively.
“The Hyundai Genesis rivals high-end luxury sedans but costs considerably less,” said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center in East Haddam, Conn. “Its luxurious and spacious interior and quietness far transcend its relatively modest price.”
The Genesis was tested against four other new or redesigned upscale sedans – the Acura TL, Nissan Maxima, Pontiac G8 and Lincoln MKS – for the February issue of Consumer Reports. Prices ranged from $33,660 for the Pontiac to $40,880 for the Lincoln.
Two other vehicles in the test group also earned “excellent” overall road test scores, the TL and Maxima. The G8 and MKS achieved “very good” overall scores.
The eight other vehicles in the upscale sedans category including the ES 350, Toyota Avalon, Buick Lucerne and Saab 9-5, were all tested previously.
In addition to the five upscale sedans tested, CR also purchased and tested the Jaguar XF luxury sedan. Though it obtained a “very good” overall score, it still ranked near the bottom of the group of 12 luxury sedans.
However, the Acura TL was the only car from the group to actually earn the recommendation of Consumer Reports. The magazine does not yet have reliability data, as measured by its annual Car Reliability Survey, on the Genesis, MKS, Maxima, G8 and XF, and holds off on recommendations until having that information along results from road tests and crash and rollover tests.
Full tests and ratings of all six sedans appear in the February issue of Consumer Reports
To bad it competed against entry level luxury sedans and not the 7-series or S-class which it is advertised against.
I agree the TL and Maxima are nice cars. Maxima has always been a very good sedan, but this car is supposed to be a ‘premier’ luxury sedan, why are they comparing it to entry level cars? The Lexus wasn’t even a GS.
“Riding in the lap of luxury” takes on a whole new meaning for luxury cars in 2009. The editors at NADAguides.com, a leading vehicle pricing and information website, today announced their top 5 luxury cars for 2009 based on a variety of factors, including styling, luxury amenities and overall handling.
“Time will tell how negatively the luxury car segment will be impacted after the economic shakeout,” said Jeff Glucker, road test editor at NADAguides.com. “From our vantage point, however, what hasn’t been negatively impacted is the quality and selection of 2009 luxury cars available to buyers today.”
Glucker points out that the recent economic crisis has actually created opportunities for carmakers such as Hyundai - whose 2009 Genesis made the NADAguides.com top 2009 luxury car list - to create inroads with car buyers in market segments where Hyundai isn’t typically known.
Following are the NADAguides.com top 5 luxury cars for 2009.
2009 Audi A8 L, starting at $74,050.
The 2009 Audi A8 L made the NADAguides.com luxury car list due to its ultra-luxurious cabin, complete with leather and wood inlays, and plenty of extra legroom for rear passengers, thanks to its extended wheelbase. The A8 L comes equipped with a 450-hp 6.0-liter W12 engine and Audi Quattro AWD, making it extremely responsive on the road. The A8 L features a 14-speaker Bose surround sound system with Audiopilot noise compensation, with which a microphone measures background noise and adjusts the radio volume accordingly, resulting in a more balanced sound. According to the NADAguides.com editors, “this sedan is a must-have for car buyers who want passion, prestige and power in one perfectly-appointed package.”
2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged, starting at $64,475.
Jaguar has delivered one of the “smoothest cars on the planet,” according to NADAguides.com. The 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged boasts the Jaguar Sequential Shift transmission, with steering wheel-mounted paddles perfectly mated to its supercharged V8, which generates 420-hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. The XF features ventilated front seats with fan-assisted whole-seat heating and cooling, in addition to single-cushion heating and cooling. Because the XF separates seat and cabin temperature controls, occupants have the option of a warm cabin with a cool seat or vice versa. According to NADAguides.com, “The term luxury and the nameplate Jaguar go hand in hand and the XF showcases this pairing perfectly.”
2009 Mercedes-Benz S Class 550, starting at $90,225.
With its exhilarating 382-hp 5.5-liter V8 and its long list of luxury amenities, the 2009 Mercedes S550 represents the latest in automotive technology, according to NADAguides.com. “Equipment you expect to be available in the next five years is probably already installed on the S550,” said the editors at NADAguides.com. For 2009, Mercedes upgrades its adaptive cruise control, now called Distronic Plus, which uses two onboard radar systems to distance you from moving vehicles ahead. It offers true stop-and-go functionality by braking the vehicle to a complete stop or automatically adjusting the throttle. The Distronic Plus system also features Blind Spot Assist that provides visual and audio warnings if a vehicle is in your blind spot, as well as Parking Guidance which uses sensors to help you identify parking spaces that can accommodate your car and steering instruction displays to help you park. “Mercedes’ flagship sedan is an instant classic. No wonder it dominates luxury car lists year after year,” said the editors at NADAguides.com.
2009 Hyundai Genesis, starting at $32,250.
Hyundai is all grown up now, and the 2009 Genesis is here to prove it. With its Lexicon-designed sound system - built by the same company that designs Rolls-Royce systems - its well-appointed interior, a long list of standard equipment and a powerful 4.6-liter V8, Hyundai has “hit a homerun with the 2009 Genesis,” according to NADAguides.com. The Genesis went head to head against the Porsche Boxster and the BMW 750i in a zero-to-60 sprint…and beat them both.
2009 Bentley Arnage, starting at $224,900.
“When it comes to luxury cars, Bentley coined the phrase,” says NADAguides.com. Unfortunately, the creme de la creme company of the ultra-luxury car world sings a swan song for its Arnage this year. To commemorate, the folks at Crewe have created the Bentley Arnage Final Series model, which will be produced in extremely limited quantities. What won’t be limited, however, is the abundant power and prestige of the Arnage Final Series. Every Arnage is hand built to order, so the possibilities for personalization are virtually limitless. Up to 6.2 meters of veneer is used in every Arnage, with each wood set taking approximately 60 hours to complete. “The 2009 Bentley Arnage makes you feel like a king with its gorgeous hand-stitched leather and its wickedly powerful 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V8,” said the editors at NADAguides.com.
Ur right people arent… but people in the market for a great family car under 35K… are going to buy the genesis… and people are going to start figuring out hyundai is a good car company now… wait till the genesis coupe comes out… SRT-4 owners may stop being so cocky
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. Dec. 8, 2008 – Hyundai’s all-new 4.6-liter Tau V8 engine, which debuted in the premium Genesis sedan this year, has been named one of the “Ward’s 10 Best Engines” for 2008 by Ward’s Auto World. This marks the first time a Hyundai engine has appeared on the prestigious “Ward’s 10 Best Engines” list.
Ward’s Auto World editors tested the Tau V8 engine in Hyundai’s all-new Genesis sedan this fall and concluded, “The engine’s velvety power delivery, competitive performance and attainable price epitomize the Korean auto maker’s drive for world-class engineering.”
The 2009 Hyundai Genesis is available with the Tau V8 combined with a ZF 6-speed automatic transmission, delivering the rewarding driving performance that premium sports sedan buyers demand.
“The critically acclaimed Hyundai Genesis and the Tau V8 engine were designed to rival the best premium sport sedans and V8 engines the world has to offer,” said Scott Margason, national manager, Product Development, Hyundai Motor America. “Hyundai is particularly proud of Genesis and the Tau V8 engine as they embody the brand’s commitment to performance and efficiency and are delivered to the customer with exceptional value.”
The 375-horsepower 4.6-liter Tau V8 engine leads Genesis competitors with the highest specific output – 82-horsepower per liter. The 2009 Hyundai Genesis equipped with a Tau V8 engine achieves up to 25 miles per gallon on the highway, surpassing many prestigious key competitors’ V6 models in fuel economy as well as power.
Additionally, Genesis and the Tau V8 engine, like all Hyundai products are backed by the Hyundai Advantage, America’s Best Warranty. Coverage includes five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper protection, 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, and seven-year/unlimited mileage anti-perforation coverage.
The Tau V8 engine and the Hyundai Genesis are built at Hyundai’s Ulsan Plant in Ulsan City, Korea.
The people in the market for a family car will probably go with the Sonata.
Hyundai’s last few luxury cars have tanked. XG, Azera, etc.
Ive got a Hyundai and so does my mom. We bought them for the price and how well they were equipped for that price, as well as the warranty (which turned out to be a joke). If we had more money we might have gone with some thing else.
yea… the warranty department… lmao… dont even need to go there… BUT… the genesis is doing well on the other side of the world… i guess well see how reseptive the american market is to a better car for a lesser price… ignorant americans will, like you said, still just focus on the name of the cars brand…
and… the Genesis also ranked 4th OVERALL for ANY new luxury sedan…let me find that write up…
beating a 224,000 dollar Bentley!!!