Genesis Car reviews

Despite manufacturers churning out a variety of luxury SUVs of late, full-size luxury sedans are still the epitome of opulence and lavish luxury. Even now, the luxury sedan market is quite competitive. The new Mercedes S-Class recently came out, Audi has updated their A8, and an all-new BMW 7 Series is on its way. The German trio has been killing it for years, with the occasional Jaguar XJ, Lexus LS, or Cadillac CT6 securing a rather insignificant market share. Now, however, Genesis is the one gunning for the full-size luxury sedan segment, by coming up with an all-new G90. Here’s what we know so far.

The Genesis brand has come a long way in a short while, and the G80 embodies that perfectly. It was the G80 that made the transition to the Genesis brand, as it actually started life as the Hyundai Genesis. In 2020, came the second generation and a year later the first Genesis EV – the G80e. Now that the mid-size luxury sedan has made a full circle, Genesis wants to make the G80 a bit more exciting. The next evolution of the Genesis G80 will be the Sport version, which brings a few exciting features.

Genesis continues churning out awesome new vehicles. The Korean luxury brand skips plug-in hybrids and goes straight for electrification. Another proof of that is the GV70e, which was recently caught testing in Germany, days after Genesis filed trademarks for six new EVs. A while back, we covered the EV version of the Genesis G80, called the G80e. Just Like it, the GV70e is expected to debut around the end of 2021.

Recent footage from the Nurburgring indicates that the 2022 Genesis G70 will also be offered as a shooting brake. Yet another proof of the Korean brand’s continuous expansion is the more practical version of the G70, which is almost ready for debut. We know this because the car has been spotted on numerous occasions, so a debut should be just around the corner. The sedan version of the car is already a formidable competitor. When the G70 Shooting Brake hits the market, it will compete with the VW Arteon Shooting Brake.

Hyundai’s premium brand Genesis was born just a few years ago and is already bringing some very competitive models to the market. Initially focused purely on luxury sedans and, more recently, SUVs, the brand is now officially stepping into the EV market. Now, the company has revealed the all-electric Genesis eG80 at the 2021 Shanghai International Automotive Industry Exhibition (Auto Shanghai 2021), and it is the first Genesis model to be unveiled outside of Korea.

Genesis may have only been around for only five years, but it has already proved it can give “the old dogs” a run for their money. Not only are they not stopping but they are, once again, taunting the German trio in a very bold move. The Korean luxury brand was caught doing cold-weather testing in Sweden with a new Genesis G90 executive sedan. Mercedes recently brought out the new S-Class, while Audi is preparing an updated A8. We also know that BMW is about to give us a new 7-Series very soon, so it will be interesting to see how the all-new Genesis G90 will fare.

Automakers are rushing to show their electric concept models to the public and let them know to expect from the brand in the future. We saw the Lexus LF-Z Electrified just a couple of days back, and now, we have one from Genesis. Called the X Concept, the Genesis product is made its debut in Los Angeles and is said to present “Genesis’ sustainable luxury in the form of an EV-based high-performance GT coupe concept car”. Fancy, eh?

Hyundai’s luxury brand Genesis has built up momentum. This coincides with the increasing demand for EVs, which is why the Korean luxury brand has recently announced the addition of a new EV crossover. The car wears the designation JW and has been spotted testing on the open roads. It is expected to hit the showrooms in the second half of 2021, following in the footsteps of Hyundai Ioniq and Kia CV. Here’s what we can expect from the latest addition to the brand’s EV lineup.

The 2020 Genesis G70 is just a two-year-old car, but you cannot call it an amateur by any means. The company has managed to crack the code to make a sedan that is strong on performance, drives well in the real world, comes with all the bells and whistles, and feels luxurious inside-out. In a horde of other luxury sport sedans that include the Germans and the Japanese, this South Korean is the underdog that has all the potential to beat its rivals.

A top-spec 2020 G70 recently arrived at Top Speed’s headquarters and here are our impressions.

When we first saw the Genesis G90 at its debut, we know that Hyundai’s luxury arm was onto something, but the G90 suffered from the same thing most new models fall victim to – there was definitely some room for improvement. For the 2020 model year, Genesis revamped the G90 rather extensively, and we finally got a chance to check it out in person. Does the G90 finally live up to the Halo it’s meant to wear in Genesis’ lineup? And can the Genesis G90 wholeheartedly compete with cars like the Lexus LS and Audi A8? It’s time we find out!

Crucial to every luxury brand is identity. Once we step up to the premium price range, a car is no longer a simple means of transportation. Part of that identity comes with the design language. And it seems the young Korean brand has finally found its definitive look. The G70 returns for round two, after adopting the brand’s Athletic Elegance design philosophy which we first saw on the G80. The premium sports sedan has no doubt appeared on the radar of many who are looking at the German trio, but can it continue to offer a nice blend of performance and luxury at a fair price?

For 2020, Genesis has performed a styling update that makes the 2020 Genesis G90 look a decade newer than last year’s model. The new design, along with some other updates, make the G90 more worthy of its flagship status. Still, this is a Korean car with a base price of $72,200 — a combination that’s going to be a tough sell regardless of the vehicle’s merits, and despite the fact that its closest competitors are even more expensive. What does Genesis do to earn these big bucks? We spent a week in a top-of-the-line G90 5.0 Ultimate to find out.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 is a midsize SUV from Hyundai’s premium vehicle division. The company’s first crossover, it joins a lineup made of three sedans, so it’s also the company’s largest vehicle yet. Unveiled in South Korea, Genesis’ home market, in January 2020, the GV80 will come to the U.S. later in 2020. Although U.S. engine specs are still a mystery, the SUV will probably travel across the pond with two gasoline units. The GV80 is fitted with an impressive technology package and features the largest infotainment display in its class. More on that in the comprehensive review below.

Anytime a start-up luxury brand offers a new model in a segment that’s already teeming with quality rivals, the expectations for that model are sky-high. In many ways, Genesis created that expectation — and the pressure of meeting or exceeding it — on itself. It’s one thing to offer a model with an existing fan base and have it compete against segment stalwarts like the BMW X3, Audi Q5, and Mercedes Benz GLC Class. It’s another thing to come to the fight with literally an all-new model. But Genesis did it with the G70.; it entered its all-new compact luxury crossover in what is, without question, one of the car market’s hottest segments. It’ll take a few years if Genesis’ gamble on the GV70 pays off, but initial results are promising. The GV70 isn’t just a boldly styled premium compact crossover that looks and feels more luxurious than we thought; more importantly, it’s Genesis throwing a chicken’s foot in the direction of the BMWs, Audis, and Mercedes-Benzs of the world. Genesis isn’t entering the luxury compact crossover market with a “happy-to-be-there” GV70; it’s entering that market to compete with the best. And from what we’ve seen, the GV70 has all the tools to be a bonafide challenger to the establishment.

Genesis has put the G90 luxury sedan through a rather extensive mid-cycle facelift that borders on the equivalence of what we’d expect from a new generation and has put facelifts from competitors like Infiniti, Audi, Lexus, and BMW to shame. Part of this mid-cycle update includes a complete exterior rework (save for the roof and doors) and a bunch of updated technology and materials that push the G90 even deeper into the luxury segment. There are no powertrain updates to report, but that’s okay, and you’ll see why in our full review below.

We know and you know that if you want a compact luxury sedan without thinking twice you’ll check in at your local Audi, BMW or Mercedes-Benz dealer and ask for an offer on one of the Famous Three. But we reckon there are better options out there, cars that’ll cost you less and offer more than you could ask for at that price point while also not disappoint you in terms of performance, comfort, quality, and maintenance. Such a car is the Genesis G70, the 2019 North American Car Of The Year. We drove one powered by the 3.3-liter turbocharged engine and we think you shouldn’t jump straight to a Merc C43 or BMW M340i before taking a good close look at the G70.

The compact luxury sedan market is packed at the moment, as it always has been. The German stranglehold on the segment may seem like an unbreakable status quo and it’s not for lack of trying from the likes of Infiniti, Acura or Lexus. More recently, the Koreans also want a piece of the action and there’s some promise in what they offer: Kia’s coming forth with the Stinger that has impressed us in its top-of-the-line specification while Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury brand, launched the G70 in 2017 as its third model and a direct rival to the 3 Series, C Class, and A4. It was penned by the same guy who came up with the Stinger’s aggressive lines but the G70 is a much more traditional-looking sedan. Still, it’s not a car you would be blamed for turning around to get another look at and it’s got more tricks up its sleeve under the skin. Overall, it may not be a complete match for the offering from Stuttgart, Munich, and Ingolstadt but we think this is a car that’s perfect for the conscious buyer who’s stepping up to a luxury compact sedan.

We all know Nissan’s Infiniti or Toyota’s Lexus, but we’re just getting to grips with Korean automaker’s Hyundai luxury brand, Genesis. It’s only four years old and, now, we got a taste of its latest offering, the G70, a compact luxury sedan that slots below the brand’s current offerings, the G80 and the G90. Genesis hopes to shake up the German constabulary in the segment, but this won’t be easy in a world where people sometimes look for a certain badge above all else when getting ready to take out their wallets.

In general, luxury car manufacturers are gathering a clientele by assuring its devotees that the car they’re getting is more than just a means of transportation, that’s a way for them to show to the world who they are and what they are. That’s why the brand image is vital in the luxury segment. That’s why companies that have been around the block for a while and have been able to build this image and project it onto the world (making it possible for its customers to project it back onto others) are successful while newer brands sometimes struggle to get off the ground. Genesis, which should never be confused with the Hyundai Genesis, tries to convince people that they should stray away from their Audis and Mercs and even their Lexuses and, instead, try the Korean recipe.

Considering how far Hyundai but also Kia have gone in the past decade and a half, is it safe to assume that Genesis can put its money where its mouth is? Well, that’s why we were more than happy to have a closer look at a G70, a car that’s supposed to fend off the BMW 3 Series, which has just climbed up to a new generation, the Mercedes-Benz C Class, and the Audi A4 - if we are to mention just the ICE-powered Germans. In fact, the compact luxury sedan segment is so large, Genesis will have a hard time making any sort of headlines but, as we’ve seen, it’s been able to do just that so this car is one that’s certainly strong on its feet although it has no history to rely on (and that may be a good thing).

The Genesis Mint is a concept car that the luxury firm unveiled at the 2019 New York Auto Show. The first city car from Hyundai’s premium brand, the Mint concept was designed as "an accessory for the modern, urban lifestyle." There are no plans to put this design into production.

The Mint concept comes as a surprise from a company that aims at the larger car and SUV segments. The company’s vehicle that’s smaller than a compact, the Mint embraces the runabout body style that was popular in the early 1900s. A light, short vehicle with only two doors and seating for two, the Mint concept is a futuristic take on the Kei car, a highly popular segment in Japan. On top of the sleek, futuristic design, the Mint concept also features an all-electric drivetrain.

Hyundai has finally announced all the details about the G80 and boy has it turned out to be winning combination of power, luxury, and safety. Available with a V-6 or V-8 powertrain and an eight-speed automatic transmission, the car is offered with 311 or 420 horsepower and a long list of safety features that tops anything offered as standard equipment on entry-level competitor models – it even beats out the Volvo S90 for standard safety equipment.

Unfortunately, the G80 isn’t anywhere near as stylish or aggressive as the Genesis New York concept that we saw back in March, but it’s still an appealing car with all the right technology and safety features to go with a sporty exterior design. To put it mildly, things have changed a lot since Hyundai first entered the U.S. market, and the Genesis premium brand just goes to show what is possible when you pay attention to your customer base and give them exactly what they want.

With that said, let’s take a good look at the new G80 and what it brings to the table. It’s definitely something you’ll want to consider next time you’re looking to grab yourself a premium sedan.

Update 12/6/2018: We’ve updated this review with a new gallery of images taken at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show.