Step into the driver’s seat and you’re treated to a completely new interior, and it’s leagues ahead of the previous generation. The materials are excellent, with an abundance of soft touch surfaces, and leather comes standard. The layout resembles the flagship Equus, but further refined, with an improved switch gear. We like that Hyundai coats all the switches with a rubberized texture that’s soft and smooth to touch.
The center stack features a clean-looking analog clock. While we complained about the lack of a digital clock on the Equus, the 2015 Genesis sedan solves this problem and also provides the function at the top of the infotainment screen. Overall, the 2015 Genesis sedan interior layout isn’t as good as an Audi, but it definitely gives BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Lexus a good run for the money.
If the standard leather and fake wood trim isn’t luxurious enough, the Ultimate Package adds real matte wood and aluminum trim. All of the vehicles present at the launch event had the Ultimate Package. We found the real wood and aluminum well-executed. It looks very good and gives the interior an extra touch of class.
Front heated seats are standard on the Genesis sedan, but those who want ventilated seats have to add the Signature Package, or step up to the 5.0 V8. Heated rear seats and steering wheel are only available on AWD sedans. We tested the heated and ventilated seats, but they were a little disappointing. The seat heaters got warm, but not quite as toasty as an Audi, VW, or Ford. The ventilated seats cooled enough to prevent your rump and lower back from sweating, but they never felt cold like seats that pipe A/C through.
Hyundai uses traditional analog gauges with an LCD display sandwiched in-between. The standard display is a 4.3-inch LCD, which we didn’t get to experience. The Genesis sedans we drove had the optional 7-inch LCD, which is part of the Technology Package. It looks good in the gauge cluster, but doesn’t offer any advanced functions as its German competition has, but still a step above the display used in the Lexus GS series.
Image courtesy of Chris Gampat (The Phoblographer)
The usual functions are available with a lane keep assist, audio, and turn-by-turn navigation displays. The audio tab is disappointing as it only shows the music source and station for SiriusXM. It would be nice if the display showed the track information as well. You can adjust your vehicle settings in the gauge cluster LCD too, which includes driver assists, door locks, HUD adjustments, and more.


The problem with Hybrids on big vehicles is there's very little benefit. The next review will be of the Lexus LS600hL and the fuel economy is only about 2MPG better in the city but 1MPG worse on the highway, at the cost of 2 Equus'.
Judging by that, anything in that $50k range is a hobo's Bentley.
Interestingly enough, the GT-R, A8L, Equus and Bentley are the stories where there was someone that chimed in saying they owned one. But that's where there's all the advanced in-car tech. While I have come across lesser cars, there's not enough tech or new features from another model for a complete story. I do plan on having a quick story on the new WRX/STI, Fiesta ST, and eventually Mazda3. However, I believe the next round of updates to compact and subcompact cars should bring new tech that will be worth covering. We're working with vehicles on a 5-year development cycle so what was new 5-years ago is what shows up for production.
We will also start a project car series as well with my new 2014 Mazda5 Sport 6MT that I'm working to upgrade with whatever bits of tech I can get my hands on from the aftermarket.
That wood paneling is actually real matte wood. Its porous and treated.
Yeah I've always thought that's kind of random too. Let's put the highest tech you can possibly imagine in a car, charge $50K for it, then it's put a 10 cent time piece in the center of the dashboard.
Yeah I've always thought that's kind of random too. Let's put the highest tech you can possibly imagine in a car, charge $50K for it, then it's put a 10 cent time piece in the center of the dashboard.
Yea, for some reason analog clock = classy. At least there's a digital read out now.
Yeah I've always thought that's kind of random too. Let's put the highest tech you can possibly imagine in a car, charge $50K for it, then it's put a 10 cent time piece in the center of the dashboard.
Yea, for some reason analog clock = classy. At least there's a digital read out now.
I have to think it's something to do with common center console design. They just don't know what to do with the space. I saw the same thing in a higher-end town and country mini-van.
I like the Hyundai warranties. You can't beat them. I wish more auto companies were doing this. Heck, my $250 PSU has a longer warranty than most $50K cars.
I have to think it's something to do with common center console design. They just don't know what to do with the space. I saw the same thing in a higher-end town and country mini-van.
I like the Hyundai warranties. You can't beat them. I wish more auto companies were doing this. Heck, my $250 PSU has a longer warranty than most $50K cars.
Its because analogue clocks are associated with classiness / luxuriousness. Hence why the T&C has the clock but the Dodge Caravan with a similar dashboard does not. I just find it extremely obnoxious when they use a infotainment linked analogue clock (ie the time is set by the infotainment system) but eliminate a digital readout completely. Sure it looks nice, but I'd like my clock in digital so I can quickly read it while driving and not have to play the guessing games with quick glimpses.
The Hyundai's are fine cars, but so are Porsche, Bentley, Rolls, Lamborghini, Bugatti, etc and comparing them is nearly ridiculousness and each has its markets. I recall a review on my old 500SL and them complaining it was 15 MPG; like spending (then) nearly a $100K for a convertible (2nd car) sports car I or anyone gives a crap!
The Hyundai's are fine cars, but so are Porsche, Bentley, Rolls, Lamborghini, Bugatti, etc and comparing them is nearly ridiculousness and each has its markets. I recall a review on my old 500SL and them complaining it was 15 MPG; like spending (then) nearly a $100K for a convertible (2nd car) sports car I or anyone gives a crap!
It competes with the E350. And at the same price, the Hyundai has real wood, higher quality leather, more driver's assistance / safety features, and I'm sure the chassis is reinforced and just as safe as the E350. I've driven an E250 Bluetec with a bunch of options. Its a great car, but it wasn't $15k better (MSRP was about $64k iirc).
Then you're comparing some base model Bluetec MB with vinyl (MB TEX) seats to leather. The DISTRONIC PLUS® with Steering Assist is a car that you need to test drive on an optioned E350 - http://techcenter.mercedes-benz.com/_en/distronic_plus_steering_assist/detail.html