TALKING CARS: 2015 Hyundai Genesis

It’s an all wheel drive car powered by a V/6 engine, 311 horsepower on regular gas via an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and three modes including ECO, snow and sport.

I recently had the all-new 2015 Hyundai Genesis AWD 3.8 V/6. It’s an all wheel drive car powered by a V/6 engine, 311 horsepower on regular gas via an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and three modes including ECO, snow and sport. This seems to be more the normal, and this is where it stops and the affordable, luxury/performance upscale sedan begins.

The 2015 Genesis base price is $40,500 destination $950, with a long list of standard equipment that is optional in most cars. Here is a short list – stability and traction control, ABS, nine air bags, HTRAC all wheel drive, high performance gas shocks, five-link front and rear suspension, 18-inch wheels, auto headlights, daytime running lights, LED accents, heated leather steering wheel, eight-inch screen, Hyundai blue link by Google, seven-speaker audio, plus more. The best warranty in the business, 10 year 100,000 mile power train, five year 60,000 mile new car warrant; this alone shows confidence from the factory to you, the buyer.

Now to a few options. Signature package – power tilt panorama roof with power shade, power tilt and tele steering wheel, HID head lights, auto dimming mirrors, blind spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, power rear shade and rear side manual shades, Tech package, ultra leather seats, seven-inch TFT LCD cluster display, lane departure and lane assist (this actually adds force to the steering wheel to keep you from leaving the lane). Power seat extender, smart cruise control, front and rear parking assist, heads up display, premium DIS navigation with 9.2-inch screen. Lexicon 17-speaker discrete logic audio system, plus more all for $3,500, grand total MSRP $52,450.

Make no mistake, $50,000 for any car seems a lot of money. For all that this car offers, it rivals cars that are double-plus the price, and the competition cannot match the warranty.

Look around the car; it’s hard to believe this is a Hyundai. Even the Hyundai (H) emblem has been reduced in size, and the grille looks like an expensive import. The body lines and tail lights have been all restyled and fit in with all the other expensive imports.

Everyone that looked at and drove the car could not believe this was a Hyundai. My wife drove the car for a day and was also very impressed; she said it reminded her of a more expensive import.

Body panel, body lines and fit/finish were perfect. The interior is spacious and comfortable. A push of the power trunk release button and the electronic trunk opens and there is plenty of space. A push of the electronic truck closer button and the truck quietly closes. EPA 16 city, 25 highway, combined 21 miles per gallon.

Junior Damato writes regularly about cars. You can send questions to him care of the Old Colony Memorial, 182 Standish Ave., Plymouth, MA 02360.

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