Paul Kinsley puts Hyundai’s flagship high-technology Genesis luxury saloon through its paces.
Having worked with prestige manufacturers for many years, my experience of high-end vehicles is extensive. When Hyundai offered Luxurious Magazine their new Genesis model, I felt it was a great opportunity to see how they were progressing in the luxury sector of the market. Needless to say, while I had heard super reports of the Genesis, I was a little apprehensive of its true capabilities.
The huge seat base and back are stitched in high quality perforated leather, finished with a colour-coded piping. The memory function caters for almost all shapes and sizes, whilst the easy-to-reach and manage buttons will glide you to your preferred position. The cooled ventilated and heated seats provide great comfort and a luxurious feel. In the rear, you also have the benefit of electric, heated and cooled seats with ample legroom.
Keyless entry and start appear to wake the car on approach. Place your foot on the brake and push the start button, and the 3.8-litre V6 GDI engine momentarily revs. And then nothing. You really can’t hear the engine note, and you feel you have to touch the throttle to make sure that it’s still running. While I waited for the engine to warm, I programmed an address into the satellite navigation. Initially this appeared to be complicated, but there is a facility to tailor the media system to your preferred settings and voice control.
Driving is effortless, and there is a feeling that in the event of a potential incident, the car will be on-hand to assist you. The vehicle absorbs the road surface through the advanced suspension, and there really is a genuine sense of reduced speed.
As well as the on-road experience, I became aware of the beautiful sounds emanating from the built-audio technology. The well-balanced sound system allows control over the normal bass, treble, left and right, and front and rear, but really very little needs to be touched as the sound appears to be literally placed in your inner ear. It really doesn’t appear to differ on your particular genre of music – the system will produce perfect acoustics for all.
Having enjoyed all the Genesis had to offer during the drive, this car should be a serious consideration for anyone looking for a luxurious saloon.
The All-New Hyundai Genesis goes on sale on 02 April, priced at £47,995 OTR.
For more information, visit www.hyundai.co.uk/coming-soon/genesis.