Surprising. That was the first word I thought of when I first saw the new Hyundai Genesis Coupe. The crisp line over the rear shoulder that curves more than is apparent in photos. The intricate details of the taillights are especially eye catching. The bow in the rear quarter windows reminds one of a santoku knife ready to carve. The color, called Karussell White after the famous corner of the Nurburgring, really pops on the sheet metal, making all of the curves, creases, and contours evident.
Surprising. That was the first word that flashed through my mind when I sat in the interior. The two tone color scheme looked surprisingly elegant. This being the Grand Touring model, it exuded the more upscale aura that would be expected in a much more expensive vehicle. The dark brown leather seats with matching leather inserts on the door panels contrasted nicely against the black of the dash. The center console, while not made of fine grain wood or polished aluminum looked attractive. The buttons and switches were legible and felt good in hand. The ergonomics were respectable; the dash layout was fairly intuitive if not lending itself to immediate familiarity. The instruments were very legible and looked sporty with their blue halo. The cluster consisted of a tachometer on the right with an inset fuel gauge while the speedo resides on the left containing the temperature gauge. The rim of the steering wheel was comfortable and the hands rested nicely on the spokes at the three and nine position. The texture of the wheel however, was a bit perplexing. It was not an unpleasant sensation, but the raised dimples caused suspicion. It was difficult to tell if it was genuine leather. The shift lever has an attractive look, but the slight forward cant of the top seemed a bit unusual at first. All in all, a surprisingly elegant, but sufficiently sporty setup.
Surprising. That was the word that pranced through my head as I depressed the starter button and listened as the engine fired. As I eased out of the parking lot in the Genesis Coupe the clutch had a very nicely weighed feel to it. It was not needlessly stiff, but not so light as to make you ponder Hyundai’s claim at 306 horsepower from the 3.8 liter V-6. Take up was also agreeably short. Engagement was only slightly jerky, likely a result of unfamiliarity. As the drive wore on the gear changes were smoothed considerably. The engine proved to be surprisingly smooth. Throttle tip in was responsive and triggered an immediate and forceful response from the engine. The shifter had a direct feel. The throws short and gears felt like they engaged positively. The odd angle on the top of the shift lever that felt unusual at first started to make a little more sense as the lever was used more. When cupped under the palm it had a reassuring feel. Cruising on the freeway was relaxing provided by the good straight line stability and surprisingly compliant suspension. The Genesis Coupe felt a little larger than expected when passing between traffic, but power was sufficient to squirt through even in top gear. The steering was direct. There was a surprisingly urgent response to even small inputs. When entering a corner, a slight adjustment was necessary as the front end turned in unexpectedly quickly. Once set in a corner the Coupe felt solid. The chassis never felt unsettled and bumps were merely acknowledged. There was just a little bit of sensation in the chassis that I was unable to classify definitively as the front end scrubbing or just body movement. Given the quick turn in, as power was applied coming out of the corner the sensation just felt a little vague through the steering wheel. It felt like the car responded less enthusiastically to mid corner corrections. It would require more time behind the wheel to feel truly comfortable pushing the limits. That’s not to say the Coupe is incapable. The speeds carried through the corners were sufficiently quick; the chassis was speaking a language I was not yet familiar with. I simply was unable to discern what exactly it was saying.
The concept of the new Hyundai Genesis Coupe sounds like an intriguing idea. Use the architecture of Hyundai’s acclaimed Genesis sedan. Add a powerful V-6 engine. Wrap it in a striking, catchy design. Endow it with sharp handling. And most importantly of all, offer it at a bargain price. It would appear Hyundai has created an impressive performance machine, providing a very real and desirable alternative to the likes of the 370Z, Mustang, or even the Camaro. Surprising!
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