The article was originally produced on April 9, 2012, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

Hyundai Genesis

You want a sporty and fun coupe with rear-wheel drive but don't want to mortgage your villa - then maybe the Hyundai Genesis is something for you to take a closer look at.

You want a sporty and fun coupe with rear-wheel drive but don't want to mortgage your villa - then maybe the Hyundai Genesis is something for you to take a closer look at.

The Korean brand Hyundai is not new to the market, in 1968 it started manufacturing cars with the help of licenses from Ford. The first fully self-produced model, the Hyundai Pony, was launched in 1975, and something that the brand has had to deal with since the beginning is a lack of material sensitivity in its cars. Comparing a Hyundai with a German premium car would be a joke because of course we are talking about completely different price categories. The overall impression of a well-built, emotionally charged car has not been Hyundai's selling point.

The first Genesis was launched in the mid-90s and the model is now in its third generation and soon a new facelifted version of the latest generation will arrive. With mixed opinions from those who drove and wrote about the early generations, the model has done nothing but grow over time. Since its introduction in the mid-90s, the wagon has really come into its own and with the latest, the Korean brand can boast that it has a real sports coupe in its model range. 

Hyundai has succeeded really well with the shape of the Genesis. On the outside, we find all the characteristic features of a sporty Gran Turismo wagon, a long bonnet, extended wheelbase, high waistline and a steeply sloping roofline. At the back we find a wing plus two large exhaust pipes, but if you open the door and step in, you don't get quite as excited. The seats are certainly both stylish and comfortable with good lateral support during active driving. Although the choice of materials cannot be complained about, the rest of the interior feels rather identityless. 

What impresses with this brand, and the others from the same country, is the joy of "full-smearing" their models from the start, Genesis is no exception and the standard is keyless go, keyless start. A button to the right of the steering wheel with the text "Start" in blue brings the engine to life. The model Cars Collection tested had the turbocharged 2-liter engine at 213 horses. The Genesis is also available with a 303 horsepower V6 engine. This engine growls nicely but has more weight to take care of than the turbo four which feels lively and springy. 0-100 is completed in 8 seconds, the top speed is just over 220 km/h. No mind-blowing numbers but shouldn't make anyone yawn.

The power transmission to the rear wheels is managed via a 6-speed manual box, a box that feels really good with short, tight steps between gears. An automatic gearbox with paddle shifters behind the steering wheel is also available in the V6 version. The steering in the Genesis feels very nice and when the road starts to curve and the driving style changes, the car is on the hook at every turn. To handle the power distribution between the rear wheels, a torsen diff sits in the rear axle, this ensures that the wheel with the best grip gets the most power. Something that makes the car fun to drive and with the anti-skid system switched off, the rear end is happy to fold out in the curves with a little extra throttle. With the system engaged, the Genesis allows very little playfulness and intervenes at the slightest hint of imbalance in the rear suspension. Something in between would have been nice for active driving.

Thanks to 19-inch rims and a fairly stiff chassis, the Genesis feels a little uncomfortable on longer drives. It swallows a lot, but a lot of road noise and speed noise enter the cabin. Something you have to get used to in a car with such large rims and tires. What is the most interesting and pleasant thing about a Hyundai Genesis Coupé is the price, for just over 300,000 kroner you get a sporty GT wagon with almost everything, key-less go system, electrically operated driver's seat, steering wheel buttons, reversing warning, 19-inch rims and spoiler on the rear window. If you want all this, but from a German brand, you have to add at least SEK 150,000. So the question you have to ask yourself is, is it a sum worth paying for a brand in the front from an "unknown" country. Before you decide, a test drive in a Genesis Coupé is highly recommended.

+ Fun and tough sports coupe for reasonable money, really good manual transmission.

- Somewhat dull interior in relation to the exterior.