Hyundai Genesis VS. Lexus GS - Which Is The Better Cheap Seat Into The Premium Segment?

Lexus has the name (and legendary reliability), but dare I say it, I prefer the Hyundai's styling in the picture above.

its because its an Audi clone.

The Genesis actually makes the Lexus look like exactly what it is cut from...a Toyota

Considering Lexus has won the top reliability ratings once again this year, then being 'cut from' a Toyota is a good thing...not so true for the Hyundai.

LOL when I buy my next luxury car solely based on reliability, I'll stop by a Lexus dealer...

Until then, performance, design, and a car that actually looks worth $50k, unlike the GS above, is whats on my short list.

LOL if all you want is reliability save yourself $10-$30k and get yourself a Toyota or Honda equipped with leather/wood and a V-6, your good to go

This is what I find funny, I had a 2009 LS460, I put 148K miles on it. I purchased it new at LEXUS of Jacksonville, sister dealer to where I purchased the car before that, a 2005 MB C230 Sport Sedan.
My experience with both cars is that I had the same number of "reliability issues", same number of trips to the shop. I personally think LEXUS has played the "reliability" card extremely well. Did I get the lemon? Who knows but I personally don't purchase a car based on any magazine rankings and reliability is not my top priority.

I'm with you, USA1999. My Lexus GS was, by far, the worst car I ever owned. And I'm not exaggerating. The worst experiences that I've known for Mercedes and BMW were with the first generation ML and X5. But neither had issues at the level of my GS. Yes, maybe like you, I, too, had a lemon. But it still tainted my image of Lexus for many years.

Regarding this comparison, I'm not surprised by the outcome. The Genesis is, for the most part, a competitor to a Buick Lacrosse and Lexus ES. Both are very, very, good cars, but not the cars that Hyundai keeps touting as its competition.

Apparently, quite a few people place so-called "reliability" much higher on their list of consideration and that's why Toyota and Honda sell so many cars (not fleet sales but consumer sales).

Yes they do, I was on the bandwagon. When I was younger and on a limited budget I had plenty of Japanese cars (Honda Civic and Accord, Toyota Celica, Nissan Pathfinder). I admit it, some of those cars were extremely reliable (those days) no matter how hard I drove them. But I don't think they are as good "reliable" as they were and some maybe on par with their American and German counterparts like my old LS460.
In a few years I intend on getting either an M4, C63 or RCF but personally I am not putting any emphasis on reliability like the average consumer looking to purchase an appliance does. I will drive them both and see which one I like best and most of all, who gives me the best deal.

@USNA1999: I've owned 35 cars since I've been driving when I was 15. When I was in college I always owned Japanese cars because they were bullet proof. I still think their reliability and quality are better than the American automakers.

However, as you said and hit the nail on the head, reliability is NOT my #1 priority either. That's because most cars are very safe AND according to the reliability rankings aren't separated that much (look at the top of the rankings on the percentage the number of problems are based on). Do I want a "clunker" (lemon) - heck no. I guess when you get a little older (as me) you prefer to enjoy the Performance, Handling, hear the beautiful notes coming from the engine. I'll take any BMW, Audi, MB, Aston Martin, Porsche, Bugatti, Ferrari or Corvette any day over some "reliable" Honda or numb feeling Toyota. The Japanese make very reliable and dependable cars - just what the younger generation now prefer to drive.

The Lexus has legendary Toyota quality/durability, but Hyundai has matched them for a while now. The Hyundai is MUCH more attractive. My vote Hyundai.

The Hyundai Genesis wins this contest hands-down. The Lexus so, non-transparently, a tarted up Camry. Honestly, the Avalon is a much better package than the Lexus.

The Genesis however is just fantastic. In NYC, they are all over the place, in black, and they are hot. Not that being the livery car "gold-standard" is any badge of courage, but what used to be the domain of Town Cars and E350's is increasingly becoming a Genesis monopoly. Its a class ride, luxurious, and durable to boot.

Wall Street doing that bad they have to downgrade to Hyundais?

Some of you might note that the Camry is a totally different platform...FWD, while the GS is RWD. Also, this GS is in the last year of this design. Hyundai just completely redesigned the Genesis. And while the Genesis looks great, these things depreciate by 50% in 1.5 years...so, not the 'good value' they want you to believe they are. Of course, you can typically drive one away from the dealer with about $6k off sticker. This will help with that depreciation.

Its puzzling how Lexus is apparently 'clearly a Toyota' yet seemingly no one knows about it, mandating these 'Lexus is a Toyota' breaking news in every Lexus article.

If you're not buying for reliability, why settle on a Koraen car? Just go out and buy what you really want, a German car unless you can't afford it.

Cloned Audi? Lets bring allllllll the cloned Audi greenhouses to the kitchen table shall we? Avalon, Altima, Infinti M, Fusion, Sentra, Chrysler 200, Lincoln MKZ, Crosstour but only the Genesis would be the copycat because it's Korean.

"If you're not buying for reliability, why settle on a Koraen car? Just go out and buy what you really want, a German car unless you can't afford it"

Ignoring Suzuki, Saturn, Pontiac Isuzu RIP. What? People wanted the Genesis over the G8.

"its because its an Audi clone"

2009 Tundra, VW Iroc, Lancer EVO, Chevy Sonic hint front ends.

Genesis recall: http://www.autoblog.com/2015/03/09/hyundai-genesis-sedan-electrical-recall/

So desperate for autospies to post a Hyundai recall huh? I guess so after looking at Honda recalling so much seeing a Korean car finally getting a recall cheers you up huh?