An inaugural era is ushered in for Hyundai as the Korean automaker takes home the 2009 North American Car of the Year.

The 2009 Genesis won Car of the Year, an award determined by 50 independent automotive journalists from the United States and Canada. The jury’s judging criteria included design, safety, handling, dollar value and innovation.

The all-new Genesis five-passenger midsize sedan is first in these categories. This Car of the Year designation is the first time Hyundai has taken home this prestigious award. Hyundai will follow up this summer with a coupe version of the Genesis.

Hyundai has come a long way with its struggling reputation as a viable carmaker. Poor quality nearly derailed its viability in the American marketplace early on. But Hyundai fixed its problems and to prove it, backed its vehicles up with a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty program. Buyers started paying attention – and haven’t looked backed.

From these tiny seeds of cultivating new beginnings for the company with top-quality small cars, Hyundai has achieved a remarkable lesson we all can learn from: keep digging.

The Genesis is a complete departure from how Hyundai started out in the American market. When developing the rear-wheel-drive Genesis, Hyundai envisioned this all-new sedan going up against the world’s top-tier midsize sedans: Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series, Lexus GS and the Infiniti M. It’s good to aim high. I’ll never be a world class tennis player, but I like to study the strokes of tennis champion Roger Federer.

If I were seriously in the market for a BMW, the Hyundai Genesis is not something I’d shop. However, I would put the Genesis up against the Toyota Avalon, Buick LaCrosse – and even the Acura TSX. The picture I’m describing for you is that the Hyundai Genesis is a premium sedan with high-quality materials and craftsmanship throughout, including engine and handling performance that don’t disappoint the driver and ride standards that keep passengers comfortable.

When Hyundai announced prices for the 2009 Genesis last summer, the automaker set the base price at $33,000. But things being what they are with credit and the economy, by the time I drove the Genesis in January, the as-tested price was $32,250.

The Genesis is offered with two engine options: the 3.8-liter V-6 and the 4.6-liter V-8. I drove the V-6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that delivered 290 horsepower and 264 lb.-ft. of torque. This RWD sedan goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds.

The 32-valve V-8 engine is track-rated to go 0 to 60 in 5.7 seconds and has a horsepower rating of 375 and substantial torque of 324 lb.-ft.

The EPA ratings on the Genesis V-6 are 18 mpg city, 27 mpg highway. The V-8 is rated at 17/25 mpg.

The ride is comfortable and does not feel sport-oriented. The independent suspension is a sophisticated five-link, front and rear, that offers not only a supportive ride, but also good responsiveness through the steering system.

The inside is a show of luxury. Sitting behind the wheel is satisfying to the driver, knowing – and seeing – the quality of the materials used along the door-trim panels, dashboard and console controls. Eight airbags are standard (front and rear seat side-impact airbags), as well as electronic stability control and active head restraints.

Hyundai has dug deep. We tip our hats to the Car of the Year.

Connie Keane
MOTOR MATTERS
http://www.washingtontimes.com