STYLING | 7 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
Hyundai’s style still isn’t all its own
Road & Track
Some faux wood-grain accents and a few shiny plastic panels are at odds with the otherwise luxurious interior.
Consumer Guide
Hyundai went for a mainstream look, convinced that bold designs tend to age quickly.
Car and Driver
The center console flows smoothly, almost spaceship-like, into the dash, beckoning us to touch the techy gadgetry
Popular Mechanics
looks and feels very much like a top-line Lexus
Edmunds' Inside Line
Hyundai's embarked on a swoopy, dazzling new styling theme with its smaller, more proletarian Sonata and Elantra sedans. But with its big luxury cars, the Equus and first, the Genesis, it's played a more conservative hand.
The sophistication you'll see in the Genesis simply wasn't there in the last generation of Hyundais. The flowing roofline and wide grille are smartly proportioned like the best Japanese and German sport sedans. Some of the cues might not be completely unique--there's some Lexus, some Mercedes in the shape of the headlights and the upsweep of the rear pillars--but the Genesis has its fair share of distinctive touches. And, we'd add, a distinct lack of Hyundai badging.
The interpretation of luxury inside is just as convincing. The Genesis' dash curves gently, with controls placed high on the dash, which in turn leaves a slimmer center console and more room for passengers. The up-tilted control center houses climate controls along with a multi-function display screen. Some trim levels offer leather-wrapped dash and door panels, and they're quite striking.
Conclusion
It's a bit conservative, but the 2012 Hyundai Genesis blends right into the luxury crowd.
