Comparison: Hyundai Genesis vs Lexus GS 350

Many Lexus owners won't cross shop a Toyota let alone a Lexus with a Hyundai. However, with the Genesis launched, things may change. I feel that the Genesis will grab market share from the Avalon, ES, and MAYBE the GS 350 buyers. The Equus is more of a GS/LS type of car in size not necessarily luxury although the Equus looks the part and will probably have some standard features that is comparable and is probably a nice place to be. I've experienced the Genesis Sedan and it's very quiet, comfortable and surprising luxurious. You would've never guessed the price. Very bang for buck value.

But in order for Hyundai to even have a chance with Lexus is if they branch out. Genesis could be a brand name and Equus could be the model name. Food for thought. We can't forget where Lexus came from. They HAD to branch off from Toyota. I don't see why Hyundai wouldn't either. Koreans are capable of making a good brand and car image. Their electronic brands like LG and Samsung are huge. It's just executing it the right way and marketing it right.

— Agent63 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/21/2009 7:54:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Dont think I would drop big doe on a korean anything my LG phone was crap and I have know a few Hyundai owners but who knows their plant in the US is suppose to be high tech.

— vwrules (View Profile)

Posted on 5/21/2009 8:52:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

So pretty much the Lexus was better just not worth $7000 more for what it offered. Hyundai has improved a lot over the last few years i`m impressed.

— zairnaim (View Profile)

Posted on 5/21/2009 8:55:39 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

This comparison is really old. but back then i noted a few problems with their reasoning.

The GS beats the genesis in all categories, performance (acceleration and Schalom), road noise, comfort/amenities but the Genesis still wins because its cheaper? that doesnt work out to much logic

— LexusKindaGuy12 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/21/2009 9:52:36 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

pointless comparision and conclusion...which is a better car? comfort, prformance, fuel economy, noise gadgets resale etc.. GS. which is a cheaper car genesis. so genesis wins?

— nocdra (View Profile)

Posted on 5/21/2009 10:25:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Whoever penned this at Edmunds is full of crap. Its apparent they never even sat in a Genesis if they think the interior is luxurious. When did comparisons not require actually seeing, touching or even being in the same time zone as the cars they're supposedly testing?

Anyone pick up on this? If the GS350 is tested multiple times at 0-60 of 5.7sec, what's so impressive about the Genesis' V8 doing the same time? Oh, that's right, because it has a more modest price.

Hyundai should stick with what made they're known for, crappy copies at a fraction of the price.

Almost can't wait for the Chinese cars to come over so this infatuation with Hyundai ends. I can see it now, Chery COTY because they're capable of doing something everybody else already did, but at an even lower price than Hyundai.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/21/2009 11:17:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

oh boy

genesis is about twice bigger than GS

They are about the same speed and the same price?
Genesis wins

— eddiedko (View Profile)

Posted on 5/21/2009 11:40:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -8   

"interior fit and finish is on par with the Lexus,"

These people have no clue WTH they're talking about. I've sat in the Genesis and plenty of GS. The Hyundai interior is no where near that of the Lexus. The materials are thinner, cheaper, the leather are low grade and rough, not supremely soft comfortable like the Lexus. The genesis leather has the look and feel of those cheap/rough feeling German leather. The lower sections of the dash and transmission tunnels are cheap hard plastics that came off Sonatas. Overall the Genesis has a cheap ambiance about it that pictures don't capture. The genesis door even has a cheap twang only slightly better damped than a camry. The Lexus uses thicker materials and more insulations that translates to a quieter cabin, the Lexus also has superior suspension tuning that results in a more composed ride.

I would rate the Genesis a bit better than Camry/Accord, but never Lexus level. It's like they say, Hyundais always feel like one generation behind, this is very true when it comes to the Genesis and is why Hyundai priced the car the way they did. The original LS400 was way superior to any German at the time but was priced lower, it isn't so for the Genesis. So don't let pictures and the opinions of low class journalists fool you, take it from a badgewhore, Hyundais still has a long ways to go. After this crazy economic crisis, Toyota will take things to a new level to distance itself from all the "new" competitions and quiet all the recent critics.

— Badgewhore (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2009 12:44:20 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

After this Crisis is over Gas will be $5 a gallon and Hyundai/KIA will nuke Lexus/Toyota. Hyundai/KIA has a higher CAFE than Toyota in Europe, and they can just bring those engines over here if they really had to.

Camry and Accord Avalon is not a little better than the Genesis. For they they offer coming in the Sonata is actually the superior value proposition. The Genesis, is far more superior Badge, trust me.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2009 1:39:42 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

what'

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2009 1:40:14 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

The large number of negative comments against Hyundai, in particular the Genesis, shows the continuing ignorance of the "Hyundai Haters" who post on here. Rather than facts, I'm reading nothing but hater talk against the Hyundai brand.

Lets see, last time I checked, in this crappy economy, I have seen sales slip for Toyota by double digits and they have laid people off here in the U.S. and just had a major shakeup at their corporate. So, if Hyundais are CRAP like ya all are braying about, then I suppose Toyota/Lexus have nothing to worry about because the Genesis isn't selling. Right?

Except...except you're wrong because Genesis is selling and there are people trading Acuras, Lexus', Mercedes, BMWs and Infinitis for that not-as-good as, Lexus badge. Whatever. I look at sales numbers for Genesis and they sold over 5k last month. I look at Lexus and see that they're numbers are tanking. So keep braying about how much better your Lexus is than a Hyundai, LOL.

— acronis (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2009 3:44:31 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -9   

There is only one category in which Hyundai is catching up to Lexus. Hyundai is slowly replacing Toyota/Lexus as the most-annoying automotive brand in the world, thanks to the commenters on this site.

People aren't buying cars in general, period. The Genesis is the first Hyundai of its kind, so of course Hyundai is going to see a rise in sales; they added a new model to their line-up. Mercedes, Lexus, BMW etc are "tanking" in relation because they have been selling complete line-ups for much longer than Hyundai.

This isn't hard to understand, and what people are noting about the Genesis happens to be true, regardless of the pure hype of the easily-infatuated press.

The Genesis is a nice car on the surface, but its fit and finish is not on par with Lexus, and that is part of the reason why these two cars do not cost the same.

Also, to be frank, the Genesis is a Hyundai, the GS is a Lexus. Hyundai isn't there yet, Lexus is. Yes, Hyundai has to start somewhere, and they did, but they are not finished. Lexus is where it is because they paid ocd levels of attention to detail, which involves not skimping on the use of quality materials.

I am so tired of hearing Hyundai propaganda, it's really sickening. The notion that a Hyundai even compares to a Lexus is simply out of hate for Lexus, and it's so transparent it's laughable. I don't want a Lexus, but I would most-certainly take one over a Hyundai. Anyone who feels otherwise is insane.

— John_Stossel (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2009 4:14:13 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Hyundai. i don't care what they build, i'd never buy it. the hyundai badge reeks, and i would be embarrassed to drive around in a car with it. Maybe it's an age thing. Younger people seem not to care. I remember those stupid Excels from the 80's. For me, driving a hyundai is unacceptable. They are for people who don't have any style, or who just don't care.

— pushrod27 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2009 11:27:24 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

acorn,
The Genesis sells about as well as the non-hyped up Toyota Avalon (fact). That's utterly amazing, sort of like how the X6 barely sells more than a never talked about GX (another rarely mentioned fact).

Did you know Hyundai's sales dropped 15% last month even with their industry leading giveaways? Could it be that people just aren't buying cars right now, or is mentioning sales drops only applicable to Toyota? (while every time Hyundai comes out with a copy of somebody else's last generation car people feel they deserve an award)

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2009 9:11:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

eddie,
You don't seem to be bothered that Hyundai's latest generation V8 can't outrun Toyota's V6 (and it beats Hyundai's latest V6 in mileage).

Here's some things the GS350 has that Hyundai had to cut on the Genesis V8.

*10way power seats (driver and passenger vs 8 and 4-way, probably doesn't have vertical adjustment).
*Front Knee airbags vs none.
*Hill start-assist vs none.
*Auto up/down on all windows vs only the fronts.
*Memory passenger seat vs none.
*Standard 10spkr audio vs 7.
*UV tinted glass vs ? (even RAV4s come with this)
*Tire pressure monitor vs none.
*Wood trim vs not available (personally, I think wood trim is stupid)

The only things I could find the Genesis had are rear side airbags and rain sensing wipers which are optional on the Lexus V6, standard on the V8. All the other usual goodies are options on both cars.

As for the Genesis having more interior volume. Yes, 7cm higher and 7cm wider logically equals 7cm more headroom and shoulder room. Amazing how that works.

If you look at Toyota's website, the Avalon basically has the same options/features as the Genesis which shows the Genesis is targeted at the Avalon and journalists just hyped it up more than even Hyundai had dreamed.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2009 9:59:06 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

You guys are too silly to even debate. Your hatred clouds any fair judgements.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2009 11:03:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Okay Hyundaismoke,
Except for my last point there, everything else is fact. The Genesis either has front knee airbags or it doesn't, not very much grey area there.

You're just upset I've pointed out accurately that the Genesis is nothing more than a Hyundai that was overhyped because praising Hyundai for anything is the latest industry trend. Sales reinforce the idea that people will choose Toyota over Hyuundai if the prices and options are the same. Avalon beats Genesis.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/23/2009 12:39:36 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Problem I have is Lexus is a fancy Toyota and I just cant get over that, my boss has one and they are real good cars but id probably just buy a decked out Camary.Got to admit kinda like Genesis, but just dont think I could get the long term reliability out of it.

— vwrules (View Profile)

Posted on 5/23/2009 9:03:34 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

VW we will see about the reliablity dawg. Hyundai did test the Genesis starting in Jan of 2005 to make sure there were no kinks, almost 4 years before production. They do that with all of their cars now, in their "Defects to Zero" program. They are striving for better than Toyota quality.

huu, you must have never driven a Genesis. Trust me, its better by a lot than the Avalon.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/23/2009 5:39:01 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I have driven Toyotas and Lexuses, and I agree the quality can be made even better. Lets see if Hyundai/KIA can do it!!! I think we will!!!

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/23/2009 5:40:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Hyundaismoke, this one's for you.
Saw my 3rd Ontario Genesis today at the gas station (only seen 4 in total, the 4th was from NJ).

Something new I noticed, the hood does have an emblem, but its the Bentley ripoff emblem and the back does not have an 'H' but another Bentley knockoff (with Genesis written in the centre).
Something else is that the front grill is not one piece, the top line/side is separate from the bottom lines so the grill is actually cut and has a big gap in between (most other cars make the whole grill part of the hood or make the hood overlap the grill.
It looks sloppy but my point is unlike most cars, the edge of the hood does not slope down but straight out. This leaves a huge potential for rust to form since stones/wear and tear/wind sheer will eat away the finish a lot quicker and expose the nose to salt.

But yeah, Hyundai Canada really doesn't want anyone to know its a Hyundai.

Oh, and you can't be better than Toyota if all you do is copy them.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2009 11:19:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Hyundaismoke,
Here's a recall on chrome door handles for the 2002-2003 Sonata. The doorhandles don't see too much, so the Genesis' hood/chrome grille may not get a recall, but could is probably susceptible to faster wear because of its odd design.
http://www.wheels.ca/reviews/article/611279

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2009 10:41:02 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

What the heck was I on when I wrote that last comment. Holy bad grammar/spelling Batman!

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/28/2009 7:01:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1