Test Drive : 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 GT

By Kevin Harrison

As a kid, I remember the first time my father brought home a desktop computer. It was massive, bulky, unsophisticated and ugly. Today, those words could hardly be used to describe computers, let alone Apple computers. But that’s exactly what it was, an Apple. Yes, while all my friends’ families invested in IBM computers, my dad went the route of a Mac and people thought we were crazy.

As such, whenever I went to a friend’s house and went to use their computer I had no clue how to use it. It was like sitting in the cockpit of a NASA aircraft and then being told “okay, go”.

Obviously things are much different today. Now you are mocked if you don’t have an Apple product of some sort. How things have drastically changed in just 20 years.

Hyundai knows all about this sort of thing. 20 years ago Hyundai was nothing but the epitome of mockery and the butt of automotive related jokes. How things have changed 20 years later. Never did anyone dream that Hyundai would be the brand that change the game in terms of style, performance and value. No one thought that they could be capable of producing a sports coupe that could actually finish a lap time without falling apart all while taking a few names in the process.

Now, that sports coupe is into its second generation. Will it be the iPad of the automotive world or will it turn out to be a PC Tablet?

The first Genesis coupe, while a fairly agreeable design, wasn’t immensely eye catching and part of the experience of having a coupe is to stick out a bit. In order to address this the second time around, Hyundai put some emphasis in this area by adding LED daytime running lights, reworked LED tail lights, redesigned 19 inch wheels and one of the better stock exhaust notes around. I think they may have tried a bit too hard however. That front fascia is a bit too busy to my eyes and while I understand what they were trying to do, which was to incorporate the new corporate Hyundai face, it just doesn’t work as nicely on the Genesis coupes as it does their sedans. The first generation had a more rounded nose which looked nicer than the flattened version and I’m sorry but fake hood vents are pretty much the automotive equivalent of snap-on neck ties. While the look is certainly more aggressive, I prefer the subtlety of the original. Regardless, it sure generated stares from pedestrians as I drove by.

It’s better news inside with good quality materials everywhere. Overall it’s a pleasant place to be as most of the buttons and dials are logically laid out. The seats are fairly supportive although they could use a bit more side bolstering, not to mention that the headrest isn’t all that comfortable. The rear seats are best used for storing things rather than human beings, but they work in a pinch. The trunk size is fairly decent although the opening is quite narrow so getting large objects in will be difficult. The three big round gauges in the centre stack are pretty neat, if a bit gimmicky. One is a torque display, the other an oil temperature display and the last a fuel efficiency gauge. Hyundai has succeeded in producing a performance feel with these, but in the real world they are fairly useless to the driver due in part to their location (the driver needs to take his/her eyes way off the road to look at them). The fuel gauge especially makes little sense since it only goes up to 16 L/100 kms on the dial. Considering this has 348 horsepower, more often than not the gauge spends most of its time in the 16 L/100 kms mark.

Yes, in case that last part didn’t set in, the Genesis coupe GT makes 348 horses. That 3.8 litre V6 also produces 295 pound feet of torque which results in a 0-100 time of around 5.3 seconds. As mentioned, this also results in a nice addictive throaty exhaust note. The Genesis coupe is definitely powerful and peak horsepower and torque come in at high RPM range which makes it a bit of a screamer. Getting these power numbers from a V6 is quite impressive. Combine it with rear wheel drive and a six-speed manual and you’ve definitely got the right recipe for a track star. On top of that the brakes are quite good and there is little fade which is largely due to the fact that they are Brembo brakes. However as I noticed in the previous generation Genesis coupe 2.0T, the manual gearbox is still clunky and unrefined, which can make aggressive driving a bit of a challenge. Happily, it becomes easy to get used to and eventually you get the hang of how to get the most out of this beast.

But easily the best thing about the Genesis coupe is its handling abilities. It feels quite stable and sure-footed, but perhaps most importantly it felt quite tossable which is good considering the Genesis coupe’s size. The rear end is quite tail happy however it is taken care of in short order by the traction and stability control, which actually has three settings. In regular mode, it all but neuters the Genesis’ personality. With everything off, you’d better be awake – this setting really should never been turned used on public roads, while the middle setting let’s you have a decent amount of fun but still is there to keep things in check should a driver error occur. However there is notable under steer regardless of which mode you choose. This is a bit uncharacteristic of a rear wheel drive vehicle. The 2.0T is lighter in the front end, so if you are the type that cannot deal with under steer in the slightest, then perhaps the 2.0T is your better bet. With all that said, under steer is not major and is manageable once you get the right rhythm.

This is Hyundai’s best performance offering to date by far and it really is the epitome of how far the brand has come in such a short period of time. While there are a few faults here and there, it is a prime example of sticking to your guns and making innovative product. That’s what Apple did back in the day when they had few loyal fans such as my father. Look where they are now.  Now it’s quite difficult to mock Apple and the same is now true for Hyundai. Who would have thought that Hyundai could offer up a credible contender to the 370Z, Mustang and Camaro? One thing is clear, the owners of those vehicles just might now be seeing the Genesis coupe’s  tail lights on the track.

Base Price: $36,499

Pros:

  • Powerful engine
  • Good handling abilities
  • Improved interior
  • Excellent value

Cons:

  • Exterior design a bit polarizing
  • Clunky shifter
  • Understeer tendencies

Overall: 8.5/10

Related Posts

2 Responses to "Test Drive : 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 GT"

  1. Hyundai Genesis Coupe looks awesome! I love the looks if it. Considering the major improvements made to the model, I think that the price hike can be justified to an extent. I did a quick study at http://www.unocardealers.com/find-cars-by-dealers.jsp on various Hyundai car market prices and came to this conclusion.

  2. I think this is a beautiful car! It’s so sexy with the curves and angles. It may be too long in my opinion, but it kinda of completes the look. I think the price is good for what you get.

Leave a comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.