Hyundai Compares Themselves To Competitors After Genesis Scores 5 Star Crash Results

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded five-star crash test ratings, the highest government rankings under the agency's New Car Assessment
Program, to the all-new 2009 Hyundai Genesis for both frontal and side-impact crash tests.

    "Genesis was engineered with a lightweight but strong body shell, featuring ultra-high tensile steel, laser welding, and advanced adhesive bonding," said John Krafcik, vice president of Strategic Planning and Product Development, Hyundai Motor America. "Add eight airbags and
electronic active head restraints and you can see the focus we placed on designing Genesis for occupant safety. These five-star results are just one indication of the dedication Hyundai engineers place on safety."

    Maintaining Hyundai's emphasis on delivering leading safety technology, Genesis boasts world-class active and passive safety features that both prevent accidents and maximize the well-being of its occupants in the event of a collision. The Genesis continues the Hyundai tradition of standardizing key life-saving safety technology, with features such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC), eight airbags and electronic active head restraints.

    ESC compares the driver's intended course with the vehicle's actual response. It then brakes individual front or rear wheels and/or reduces engine power as needed in certain driving circumstances to help correct understeer or oversteer.

    Genesis' eight airbags include advanced dual front airbags, front and rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and roof-mounted side curtain airbags for both front and rear outboard seat occupants.

    Hyundai is the first popular brand to offer electronic active front head restraints, a standard feature on the 2009 Genesis, which are an improvement over mechanically-based active head restraint systems. Until now, electronic active head restraints could only be found on select
Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Lexus models. Active front head restraints have been proven by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to help prevent whiplash.

    Genesis is brought to a halt by large four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD). The V6 models feature 12.6-inch front rotors with single-piston floating calipers, while the V8 models feature 13-inch front rotors with four-piston calipers. All models are equipped with 12.4-inch rear rotors.

sholemon - 8/27/2008 5:14:29 PM

+12 Boost

i am more and more impressed with this car.

bigmotov - 8/27/2008 5:40:32 PM

+8 Boost

I was riding my bike along the lake and saw one parked by the dock. I didn't recognize it right away and did a double take when I realized what it was! It is very sharp looking! I stopped and did a walk around...the grill is very nice looking, rear has a lot of room, and the leather dash is awesome! Well done!!!

F1_Driver - 8/27/2008 6:10:20 PM

+8 Boost

Whoa! Hyundai is moving up in this world ... real fast!

conaway - 8/28/2008 12:33:35 AM

+10 Boost

204E60, according to a WALL STREET JOURNAL article on July 22, 2008, the upcoming Chevy Malibu, Volt, Lincoln MKT and Candillac Provoq are all designed by Koreans--raised in Korea, educated at Korean art schools. GM's chief of global design called their rising status "phenomenal".
When GM acquired Daewoo ten years ago, it got a whole bunch of talented young Korean designers. Funny you mention Mercedes--the new Mercedes McClaren is designed by...a Korean. Look up the article on online.wsj.com.
So when you compare Korean cars to Mercedes and others, think again: that hot new car just might have been designed by a Korean.

BMW995 - 8/28/2008 10:40:16 AM

+4 Boost

You may be right 204E60, but look at the price you'll be paying for the Genesis. $17K to $20K less than the similar sized German RWD sedan. Is it worth buying then? We'll know soon enough.

sholemon - 8/27/2008 9:20:57 PM

+12 Boost

Hyundai is doing the same thing lexus did almost 20 years ago. By your own statement lexus seems to have succeeded, why cant hyundai do the same?

Agent63 - 8/27/2008 10:12:57 PM

+8 Boost

Hyundai's already on the right path. As a consumer I'm happy that the Koreans are stepping up and doing what Lexus did back in their re-badged days. Lexus has become very successful. Their after all a Japanese-American company. With some American help the US should see a lot of Hyundai's on the street.

WorldofLuxury - 8/28/2008 12:11:15 AM

+9 Boost

Mike...I'm glad you like Lexus. I was actually really excited to find a Lexus fan on this site 'cause I am one too, but what you said is stupid nevertheless.

It's childish...and as any child would say when someone cusses..."Ooooo!"

You should be ashamed of yourself. You're making other people think most Lexus fans are bitchy like you. YOU'RE the one that makes many people hate Lexus (you should know how the human mind works). It's not gonna make anyone happy, so YOU should ST*U.

I'm a proud Lexus fan (not a racer-type, but moreover a guy who likes luxury - some people call me old, but that's just jealousy) ...and I, along with many other people, do NOT approve of your biased nonsense.

abcd - 8/28/2008 8:06:56 AM

-4 Boost

"Hyundai's already on the right path."

What`s good on the path of copying . Yes , they on the same path as Lexus , and most chinese brands , and becouse of that they will not have any respect ( exclude hybrid lexuses becouse this is lexus own idea , not copied ) . From japanese premium brands I have much larger respect for Acura and Infinity than Lexus , Acura and infinity at least from begining do cars their own way and do their own designs , technologies , example sh-awd , acura`s navigation systems , around view monitor ... . Althrough Lexus recently stopped copying mercedes and started do own designs and technologies , it will be always remembered what were their true intentions - making money by stealing intelectual property , and now hyundai the same as lexus .

ceric - 8/27/2008 7:50:28 PM

-6 Boost

Give me a break.
Today, which near-luxury vehicle does not get 5-star, which does not employ high-tensile steel, which does not have 6 or 8 air bags. What is the point here? My 1998 BMW 540iA had 8 airbags. That is a 10-year old vehicle.

F1_Driver - 8/27/2008 8:06:03 PM

+7 Boost

Apparently the 2008 5 series did not get five stars for the driver:

http://www.safercar.gov/portal/site/safercar/menuitem.94b0130be143aeb342252f0835a67789/?vgnextoid=68adf2905bf54110VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRD

Congratulations Hyundai! You've come a long way since the Pony and Stellar days!!!

raikkonen - 8/28/2008 9:51:58 AM

+6 Boost

Oh snap!!! Ceric just got pwned big time...like he just got a big sausage put in his mouth.

LOL

Matthew1 - 8/27/2008 8:10:35 PM

-6 Boost

Competent, if unremarkable, car.

Cheap-looking grille tarnishes the clean, if terribly derivative styling.

2001W210 - 8/27/2008 10:51:29 PM

+1 Boost

They really are on right track, but if they really want to shake Japanese nerve they should think about creating a new brand. Then add couple of new SUVs and a convertable, and bring that big seden they been cooking up and put AWD in. Then Lexus part 2 will be complete.

raikkonen - 8/28/2008 10:06:29 AM

+8 Boost

Hyundai Genesis got 5-stars across the board: Frontal Driver, Frontal Passenger, Side Driver, Side Passenger, Rollover.

Lexus ES350 got 4-stars on Side Passenger and Rollover.

So I guess that makes a 90's Grand Marquis better than a new Lexus...LOL. That sound you hear, is a big sausage slapping Huu's face.

E36er - 8/28/2008 1:20:28 AM

-7 Boost

Can we move on...is this all there is to talk about? Why so many post for Hyundai vs. Lexus?

E36er - 8/28/2008 2:05:05 AM

-7 Boost

http://mercedesdealership.blogspot.com/2008/06/mercedes-f-700.html

The f-700 Concept Mercedes is one of the ugliest Mercedes ever. If this is the handy work of one of these "talented Korean designers" Mercedes is done for. This design is just plain ugly. It looks like a Hyundai.

B7FAN - 8/28/2008 8:00:34 AM

+2 Boost

Hyundai is not luxury plain and simple they have the look of luxury but they arent there yet when they could get there own design and maybe under a different nameplate then maybe

Agent009 - 8/28/2008 8:52:16 AM

+3 Boost

Well the exact same thing could have been said about Lexus 15 years ago. But you know, as they move forward they will mature. Just as Lexus has. After all they are following one of the best playbooks in the industry.

F1_Driver - 8/28/2008 3:06:51 PM

+1 Boost

Newsflash: Despite Toyota creating a separate Luxury division, many people still perceive Lexus as rebadged Toyotas.

At least Hyundai is doing the right thing by not creating a separate division in order to change their image.

NSXR - 8/28/2008 5:59:44 PM

0 Boost

F1,

The only time I ever hear people mixing the Toyota & Lexus name together in the same sentence, is when they are talking about the Camry and ES.

F1_Driver - 8/28/2008 8:28:40 PM

+2 Boost

NSXR,

What about the Toyota Harrier and Lexus RX? What about the Toyota Landcruiser and Lexus LX? What about the Toyota Soarer and Lexus SC? And the list goes on ...

Whelan - 8/28/2008 9:28:20 AM

+2 Boost

Hyundai has it a little easier than Lexus did. Take an economy driven everyday car lineup like Toyota, throw some glitz and glimmer on it, a new badge, and call it a Lexus. It worked for them, and anyone who says Lexus is not a success today from where it started, is just dumb to the facts. Not to take anything away from the Germans, but this topic is about the Genesis from Hyundai and its comparison to a company such as Lexus.

The blueprints were made years ago by Toyexus so all Hyundai had to do was copy what they had become. Instead of simple rebadgin, why not create the cars that already can be competitive in certain classes. They still have a little bit to go, but why not start with a big, powerful, well-appointed vehicle that stands out and says "Look what we are capable of creating." AND you still get the warranty of a Hyundai.

Of course they will soon have to branch off and create their own division, but they need to get a few more models up and coming before that happens. I expect to see new updates on cars that really drive the competition hard. The new Elantra for example looks awfully close to the Corolla and is better proportioned. This is my take on the other models:

Accent = Honda Fit, Nissan Versa category with more options at a better price point. The remake will be much closer to their competitors I am sure.

Elantra = Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla segment, the refresh or new update will come right after Honda's new Civic is introduced which will give them a good point to come at the market with.

Sonata = Already eating at Camry, Accord sales and with the recent update it is sure to get more attention. Very good car for the money and again, you can get a loaded V6 for the price of a mid-range 4cyl. Accord.

Tiburon = Taking the part of the market that was left behind by Toyota's Celica and Honda's Prelude. I fully expect the 2 door coupe only car to just get more HP, better looks and really become the dominant. Why the other two decided people didn't want 2 door coupes anymore is beyond me. But kids dont want boring oversized Solara's or bulged out Altima Coupes that cost well over their low $20k budget.

F1_Driver - 8/28/2008 3:13:25 PM

+2 Boost

The 2009 Lexus ES350 did not get 5 stars for rear passenger side impact and rollover testings whereas the Genesis sedan did get 5 stars. So that begs the question, where did Hyundai get their "blueprints" from for safety? Certainly not from Lexus.

http://www.safercar.gov/portal/site/safercar/menuitem.db847bd57e3dc1f885dfc38c35a67789/?vgnextoid=c95df2905bf54110VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRD

F1_Driver - 8/28/2008 3:17:01 PM

+1 Boost

So by your logic the 5 series and E class are below normal?

http://www.safercar.gov/portal/site/safercar/menuitem.94b0130be143aeb342252f0835a67789/?vgnextoid=68adf2905bf54110VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRD

http://www.safercar.gov/portal/site/safercar/menuitem.94b0130be143aeb342252f0835a67789/?vgnextoid=68adf2905bf54110VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRD

drake0707 - 8/28/2008 10:34:54 AM

+5 Boost

If 5 stars is as good as it gets. I'd say thats pretty exceptional. That means I'd put my son in the back seat with confidence. That means if I get hit from any direction, I'm safer. I apologize, you probably think the Ford 500 is exceptional. Dolt.

Caraficionado - 8/28/2008 1:14:59 PM

+4 Boost

I just returned an Azzera, which I rented for almost a week. Very decent gas consump., ride and interior space.

Whelan - 8/28/2008 2:54:11 PM

+2 Boost

I got de-boosted for a well put together thought out post that flamed no one. There must be a 10 year old lurker.

F1_Driver - 8/28/2008 11:56:22 PM

+2 Boost

Hey bud, according to your link the 08 Camry received only 4 out of 5 stars for rollover testing. I wouldn't call that a "perfect 5".

F1_Driver - 9/1/2008 5:52:43 PM

+1 Boost

But the Hyundai Genesis sedan got 5 stars across the board, including the rollover test and it's not a police cruiser. Let me ask you this: has any single Toyota model received 5 stars across the board? Enough said ... how about you give credit where credit due instead of being a badge whore?