2015 Hyundai Genesis test driven

Hyundai’s efforts to establish itself as a serious contender in the premium car market got the first significant push back in 2008 when it launched the Genesis saloon. With that car, the Korean carmaker took the world by surprise and pipped veteran saloons to win scores of accolades, including the North American Car of the Year award in 2009.

The first-generation Genesis was pretty flat in terms of styling, with none of the swoops and creases that characterised the rest of Hyundai’s line-up. The 2015 model, which debuts Hyundai’s ‘Fluidic Sculpture 2.0’ styling concept, is also quite restrained in design but manages to look sharper, with many more distinctive lines than the previous model.

Meanwhile, the cabin too gets a thorough revamp, with good-quality real wood and aluminium trim and perforated leather seats lending it a luxurious ambience overall. However, the quality of switchgear and the sensible but not-so-attractive layout take some sheen off the otherwise fine interior. But this is adequately compensated by the class-leading head- and legroom and the plush and supportive seats that are on a par with those in leading premium brands that carry much larger price tags.

It’s also impressively quiet, with barely any tyre roll or wind noise creeping in. The only sound that sneaks past the cabin insulation is the rumble from the 5.0-litre V8 under the bonnet, which is the same that impressed us in the larger Centennial. Pushing out 420bhp and 520Nm of torque in the top-spec Genesis, the eight-cylinder powerhouse hauls the bulky limo with the greatest of ease.

Acceleration is smooth and steady, and the self-assured manner in which it gathers pace befits the car’s stately bearing. It feels more agile and planted than the previous model, with the chassis and suspension offering an ideal mix of litheness and luxury. The brakes, however, feel a bit grabby for a luxury car.

There’s no missing the fact that Hyundai has come a long way with its steering technology. The variable-ratio, electric-assisted steering is better weighted and more responsive than before, and I can safely say that this is by far the most confidence-inspiring Hyundai I’ve ever driven — the Genesis coupé included.

If the first Genesis saloon improved Hyundai’s stature in the industry, the new one has effectively propelled it into a different league. This is the closest a Hyundai has ever come to matching a BMW or Mercedes in terms of refinement, power, performance and features.