Almost Forgotten Sports Car
Genesis, Hyundai’s premium brand, is coming to the Netherlands. In the 2010s, Genesis was a sub-brand of Hyundai, offering models like the Hyundai Genesis Coupé. After many years, we’re taking this quite sporty car for a spin again. Is it an alternative to a Nissan 370Z?
Let’s start with the good news: that V6 sounds fantastic! After the first time you accelerate, you’ll have a grin on your face, and the acceleration is also pleasing. This is a lot of power for your money. And thanks to the stiff chassis and direct steering, the Genesis drives as you would expect from a car of this caliber. A small movement of the steering wheel changes its course, and it eagerly cuts through corners. This is likely due to the 19-inch wheels with wide, low-profile tires. That enhances steering precision. Perhaps it’s also because you get in with some skepticism and are pleasantly surprised afterward. Hyundai doesn’t have a reputation for fine-steering cars, even though that has changed in recent years. In any case, the Genesis scores points in that area; it could only be more precise in straight-line stability.
Firmly Sprung
The suspension and damping are firm. Together with the large wheels, this makes for an unsettled ride on poor road surfaces. A Porsche 911 does it better. Okay, that’s many times more expensive, but the brand proves that it’s possible. The seating position may not be optimal for everyone because the steering wheel is not adjustable in depth. The blue-lit info display between the two gauges is a bit cheap. Really outdated, even for 2012. And because Hyundai delivered this car without navigation, the previous owner had a TomTom installed. That doesn’t look great either. Nor do the plastics in the interior; they come from a previous generation of Hyundais. But the fact that you get enormous value for your money is clear. It may lack the pure refinement of a 370Z, but it certainly doesn’t disappoint the true enthusiast of sporty driving.
The supply is not large, but you can find them for prices of up to €15,000. The Genesis Coupé was available as a 3.8 V6 but also as a 2.0 T four-cylinder. With that four-cylinder turbo of 213 hp, it is naturally less of a Nissan 350Z or 370Z alternative.