Up Close: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Hyundai says the two Genesis coupes on display at the auto show were early, preproduction models shipped here from Korea, so things like badge placement — neither one said “Genesis” on it, for instance — would change considerably by the time the cars hit dealerships. Other things, like padding in the trunk, would upgrade some of the barer bones seen on the cars here.
All the same, I’m not sure why this car carries the Genesis name:
Though it shares its rear-wheel-drive chassis with the Genesis sedan — and it represents an upgrade over the somewhat unrefined, front-wheel-drive Tiburon — this coupe has little in common with Hyundai’s Lexus-fighting four-door. The Genesis sedan feels refined and polish; the coupe feels like a compelling alternative to a Mitsubishi Eclipse or Nissan 350Z. Perhaps that’s what Hyundai wanted, but then why not call it the next Tiburon?
Whatever; Genesis it is. The car’s styling has lot of contemporary elements, from the multi-bezel headlights to the 19-inch, twin-spoke wheels. (Seriously, those could fit on cars that cost twice as much.) Still, I wish Hyundai had garnished the grille or lower air dam with a material colored something other than black — even in its highest trim levels, these give the Genesis coupe a down-market look. Inside, dashboard fit and finish is quite impressive. The steering wheel and glove compartment cover fit perfectly; those are areas where many non-luxury cars leave prominent gaps. Stereo buttons on the steering wheel and switches for the power windows click down with well-damped precision.
Alas, there are several letdowns when it comes to the car’s overall quality. The seats are clad in so-so leather, and the backrests feel a bit too stiff, even with the lumbar dialed all the way down. The center controls have gone overboard with silver plastic, and the turn signal stalk feels cheap and is way too shiny — strange, given that Hyundai seems to be on a winning streak with these things. More concerns: The steering wheel doesn’t telescope tilt, and the sun visors don’t extend to cover the full width of the side window. Hyundai might fix some of these things as it grooms the car for production status. Either way, let’s not kid ourselves: If this thing accelerates and handles like its specs suggest it could, none of those quibbles will really matter. More photos from New York are below.
Related:
2009 New York Auto Show: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
