2009 Hyundai Genesis Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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There were a lot of promises heard from Hyundai regarding its Genesis. Given that it is the car manufacturer’s first rear-wheel-drive vehicle, and one of the vehicle's available engines is the first V8 Hyundai has made commercially available, one would think that was enough. Instead, Hyundai promised a pricetag around thirty grand for a car that is comparable to those costing twice as much. For the most part, they’ve delivered.
The Genesis offers two engines - a 290-hp, 3.8-liter V6 with 264 lb-ft of torque and a 375-hp, 4.6-liter V8 with 333 lb-ft of torque. Both engines come mated to six-speed automatic transmissions with Shiftronic manual control, and both are plenty fast. Hyundai claims 6.2 and 5.7 seconds for the 0-60 jaunt with the V6 and V8, respectively. Both engines have received praise for smooth operation and power delivery throughout the rpm range, and special note has been made of the transmission, which matches the car’s luxury pretensions. Both engines deliver respectable fuel efficiency, with EPA estimates of 18/27 mpg and 17/25 for the V6 and V8, respectively.
The ride and handling of the Genesis are two of the few aspects of the vehicle that fail to live up to the maker's promises. There is a certain grace missing from the Genesis that's found in the overall composure of its competitors, most notably in the Genesis’ behavior over rough road, which channels an unwanted amount of vibration through the steering wheel and even through the chassis itself. It’s not obtrusive or even excessive - overall it’s a very nice ride - but it’s still something you won’t find in the cars the Genesis is looking to emulate. Ride and handling are below average for the class, but at least average if not better overall.
On the inside, the Genesis does a good job of creating a classy, dignified interior, almost on par with those of its class competitors. Small sacrifices have been made in that some hard plastics seem out of place among the other materials, all of which show exemplary build quality with nary a rattle or squeak to be mentioned. Room and comfort are also abundant, becoming scarce only in the rear for taller occupants.
Standard features for the Genesis include dual-zone climate control, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, power windows, mirrors, and locks with keyless entry, heated power front bucket seats, a CD/MP3 player with satellite radio, as well as traction control, electronic stability control, four airbags, four-wheel antilock disc brakes with brake assist, and a shift interlock system.
Truly, there's a lot to be said for the Genesis, but it still lacks a certain grace, a certain refinement, a certain panache. That said, you have to decide if those things are worth $30,000+ to you.
Published May 31, 2022 by Michael Perkins
User reviews for 2009 Hyundai Genesis
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by Ron K
Sep 28, 2023
I owned 2 Genesis over the years as well as an E series and they both had more options and were better made cars. Sep 28, 2023
by Richard S
Nov 08, 2022
Love this Car, Just burnt out the drivers side heated seat and the NAV screen has faded to the point of no return. Silver overlay on the door handles are peeling off and creating kind of a hazard for people trying to get out of the car. Could easily cut themselves. Its an old car but drives like a dream machine, Very smooth and solid vehicle. I would buy a G80 if I had the money.Nov 08, 2022
by Mike M
Jul 01, 2022
The 2009 Genesis is great. It has all of the features you may be looking for. It rides very smoothly and it’s just a nice looking ride that is reliable. Can’t go wrong with a Genesis.Jul 01, 2022
User rating:
by Ron K
Sep 28, 2023
I owned 2 Genesis over the years as well as an E series and they both had more options and were better made cars. Sep 28, 2023
by Richard S
Nov 08, 2022
Love this Car, Just burnt out the drivers side heated seat and the NAV screen has faded to the point of no return. Silver overlay on the door handles are peeling off and creating kind of a hazard for people trying to get out of the car. Could easily cut themselves. Its an old car but drives like a dream machine, Very smooth and solid vehicle. I would buy a G80 if I had the money.Nov 08, 2022
by Mike M
Jul 01, 2022
The 2009 Genesis is great. It has all of the features you may be looking for. It rides very smoothly and it’s just a nice looking ride that is reliable. Can’t go wrong with a Genesis.Jul 01, 2022
by Anthony M
Apr 16, 2021
The car is not missing anything I think its a beautiful carApr 16, 2021
by Jeffery P
Jan 26, 2021
Dont let rear wheel Die. That is the message. No one can steal this car. It is too fastJan 26, 2021
by Lori W
Nov 26, 2020
No back up camera or GPS and only had one key when I bought it usedNov 26, 2020
by Anonymous
Jul 29, 2020
Feels and drives like a much more expensive German, Japanese luxury car.. Jul 29, 2020
by Anonymous
Apr 21, 2020
My 2009 Genesis has 89,000 miles and it still looks great! I love the way it handles, its strong & responsive engine, and its classy interior. It flies effortlessly & smoothly down the highway and the stereo sound is perfection! In 2009, Hyundai was still playing catch-up in terms of execution refinement. The steering wheel auto-positioning feature has a glitch. The radio receivers Sirius reception needs to be refreshed every time it is selected. The trunk lid is very heavy, though I have not attempted to adjust it, if it is even possible. All that said, I love my Genesis. A great used vehicle value!Apr 21, 2020
by Anonymous
Dec 02, 2014
I purchased this car brand new in 2009. Absolutely satisfied with the car. I have had 2 notes with telephone numbers from anonymous admirers of this car placed under the windshield wipers within the first month! This is a great car for a great price!Dec 02, 2014
by Desmond M. W
Feb 25, 2014
I really like the body style and overall size of the car. It is so spacious. Overwhelmingly loaded with standard features that only come as extras in other luxury vehicles. I wish there was more wood grained trim in the interior.Feb 25, 2014
by Robert W
May 21, 2013
Let's get the not-so-good out of the way first:
This is easily the largest car I've ever owned, and it feels every bit of it. While it is very comfortable and more than spacious enough for myself, my wife and 2 kids (3 & 9), it lumbers down the interstate like a barge. Putting the pedal to the floor either sends it off on its way (at a respectable clip for such a large car) or leaves it to ponder what it's next move is. Usually the latter.
When trying to shoot gaps while merging or simply trying to get out of the way of yourself...the "always on" traction control will try it's best to bounce your face off the steering wheel as it cuts fuel and aggressively clamps the brakes. Unless you pull the fuse, the traction control is not going anywhere, regardless of whether or not you "turned it off" with the button.
The 6speed auto trans, in general, leaves a bit to desire. It certainly isn't smooth with it's shifts (up or down) at partial throttle. Unless you are already traveling at/near hwy speeds, a WOT application causes the car great panic. Either downshifting too far only to hold redline longer than necessary, not doing anything...AND THEN downshifting too far and holding redline longer than necessary, not downshifting at all, actually applying the power only to instantly stifle it with esc/tc, or any combination of those. However, for those 60-80mph WOT runs, it is pretty smooth and moderately quick for such a large car.
My 2009 has been in the shop twice in the past 6 months. The first visit was because a wheel sensor went out. That caused my Nav, ABS, & traction control to stop working. Also during that visit the dealer addressed the steering wheel which would no longer raise (tilt up). All of which was covered under warranty.
The second visit was to look at an intermittent problem with the power seat (drivers) where it would not move forward at all. Unfortunately, the dealer was unable to replicate the issue so nothing was done. It still happens occasionally.
There are other random issues that pop up here and there. The audio will completely cut out for about 3-5 seconds, and then fade in, regardless of what input you are listening to (DVD, MP3 player, CD, XM, FM). The Nav screen sometimes doesn't turn on at all when starting the car. This requires you to shut off/restart and all is well again. A more recent one (has only happened once, so far) is that upon starting, the ESC light is on and the shifter will not slot over in order to be shifted out of park. I can feel it being physically obstructed by something. Shutting off/restarting "fixed" it. And, for a big PITA...
The key fob system (keyless ignition/entry) is far from user friendly. The car usually has a very hard time recognizing the fob in such far away places as...the armrest on the door, or the center console. The fob rarely unlocks/locks the doors but is ALWAYS recognized enough where I can use the "open trunk" button on the actual trunk (not the button on the fob). I have replaced batteries and this still happens (I tried to have the dealership address this when I first visited them, but they could not replicate the issue). It is especially true during cold/Winter months.
On to some good (finally!):
Again, this is a large car. It's heavy and it has a huge gas tank (20gal) to feed that 4.6L V8. However, I get a constant and respectable 20.4 - 20.6mpg combined (more stop/go than go). It is spendy to fill 17-18 gallons of gas, however...even just using 87 oct.
I have the tech package which includes a 550 watt, 17 speaker surround system with NAV and a 6-disc in-dash CD/DVD changer (although you can't watch DVD's while the car is in motion). The sound system is simply fantastic. It works fine for MP3's but you'll want to get some lossless files (non-compressed) to truly appreciate it.
The NAV system is fairly cumbersome, but works well provided you can input the proper destination...which isn't to say doing so is hard; just that the steps aren't necessarily in a logical order.
The Bluetooth integration works fairly well and the call/sound quality is certainly better than other BT systems I've been on the other end of. My experience with this, however, is limited.
The car is certainly roomy, but the seats are also very comfortable. The heated seats REALLY warm your legs/butt/back, to the point most people usually turn it off of 3 (the highest setting) to 1 after about 3-5 minutes. The cooled driver's seat doesn't cool nearly as well as it heats, but it does make a difference, nonetheless.
The leather interior has shown to be fairly resilient to what my dog (great dane) and kids (3 & 9) have thrown at it.
The bottom line:
This is a lot of car for the money. It has modest tech for a full-size luxury car of the same year, but when you factor in price it has no equal. The sound system that comes with the tech package is one of the best factory systems out there, of any brand. The car is a great long distance runner. It doesn't do sprints or hurdles worth a damn, but if you accept it for what it is (a huge, powerful, soft, comfortable, people mover) you should be more than happy to accept the minor quirks (although they may infuriate you over time, most are still minor things).
All told, I'm not sure I can find a large car that offers more, for the money. But I'll likely look for that car when the time comes.
UPDATE (7/9/14): I've owned the car for a few years now. I've added a Borla Cat-Back exhaust and a K&N air-filter. The CBE sounds terrific, although the car is all bark-no bite. Adding the exhaust forced me to use the shiftable automatic, however. If you don't plan on shifting the car yourself, I would not recommend an aftermarket exhaust...as the car will chug along in a high gear at low speeds, creating a great deal of drone. Leaving the vehicle in a lower gear and keeping the rpm's up maintains a very nice crackle of exhaust. There are plenty of youtube vids of the borla setup.
Thoughts on the car, as of now...a few recalls here and there, but no electronic/mechanical failures of any kind yet. Very solid car for the money. Can't say that enough. Again, it would be GREAT if traction control was fully switchable. Not to do doughnuts or burnouts, but just to be able to drive the car without the thing cutting fuel and throwing you forward as it lurches around. maddening.
As much car as this is for the money, I don't think I'll be back for the new model (or even a 5.0R-Spec). It's a really good car, and still looks good (IMO) after 5 years and a good deal of modernizing among automaker designs of recent years...but I'll be trying a different brand of large car with sport/luxury after this. Hopefully, the sport, however much is there, is actually usable.May 21, 2013
by Roberto L
Apr 21, 2012
brakes a little sticky, steering as a numbness to them. Handles very well for a
family car. Gas is a little pricey and maintenance is a bit pricey. It fun to wrestle
around corner. Overall its perfect for someone that like big sports cars.Apr 21, 2012
by Ted G
Oct 17, 2011
A lot of luxury for the price. Owned a Lexus amd Mercedes prior and gave up nothing Love the warranty many confuse if for a MB or BMW that is fun. The NAV is a little quirky but OK to useOct 17, 2011
by Roger K
Jan 10, 2011
If you are looking for affordable luxury at an affordable price, then you need not look any further. This car performs like a luxury sports car and has the looks and drive of a mid size mercedes. the interior is well apointed and options are driver friendly. The cost of ownership is very reaonable, gas mileage averages 27(mph)Hwy and 22(mph)city. The only maintenance needed during 26000 miles has been routine oil changes and tire rotations. Driving this car makes you smile! Jan 10, 2011
by sam s
Nov 01, 2009
good experience so far. car performance is good, and engine is powerful, and the suspension system is not as good as lexus, but it is a sports car afterall.
Love the black/black look, and no problem after one month so far.Nov 01, 2009
by Byung Ho L
Oct 27, 2009
Great V8 engine, no major repairs yet but squeaked a little,
performed good, acceleration and braking top notch, cost
around $50000 for the V8 4.6L, definitely a fun and cool car
to drive as I hear whistles around as I drive Oct 27, 2009
by Bob M
Jun 26, 2009
Our original intention was to buy another SUV. But when we saw this car, it didn't take long for us to change our minds. The interior is luxurious and the pearl white is beautiful.Jun 26, 2009
by Anonymous
Jun 23, 2009
Great buy for the money,only complaint is the ride, appears rough on bad roads.You can run ninty and not know it.Can't hear any road noise, acceleration and braking great. Only have 1500 miles getting around 21 mpg.combination of hw and city driving
Enjoy driving againJun 23, 2009
by Mohamed H
Jun 04, 2009
This car is amazing...... It is fast and it is luxurious. I just
love it.... It is a very smooth and fast and luxurious car.
There is no bad thing about it.... The car is fun to drive.
Again, I just love itJun 04, 2009
by John w
Apr 29, 2009
The suspension is rather harsh when traveling over bumps in the road,small or large. However in every other aspect of the car,it is awesome and I would not hesitate to buy another one ,once the suspension is retuned.Apr 29, 2009
by Anonymous
Nov 01, 2008
First of all, Cadillac man this vehicle IS rear wheel drive.
I just came back from my dealer driving around this awesome car. I can tell you: dollar for dollar you can not beat this vehicle in terms of value for your money. Yes it may not be a "true" sports sedan, but in my opinion has the perfect balance of luxury, performance, reliability and performance in one value oriented car. The interior is absolutely HUGE. The stitched leather on the dash was a great surprise. Everything on the inside looks and feels of high quality materials. The car is very quiet. In fact, I asked the salesperson for the key to start the engine and the guy was like " sir, the car is already started." I was like "what?!" I didnt believe him until I looked at the tach of which said 400 rpm. I had the V6 model and let me tell you this thing can push. The engine noise is very well contained. The handling is between an Inifiniti M and a BMW 5 Series. I found that the chassis is well balanced and handling is very good. This is definitely a great car. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a car in this segment. Fuel economy is one of the best too.Nov 01, 2008
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Top Comparisons
Have you driven a 2009 Hyundai Genesis?Compare this car
2009 Hyundai Genesis Pricing
Original MSRP
$32,250 to $37,250Price range
N/AAverage price on CG
N/AYoY price change
N/ATrims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone integration · Hard Drive: 40GB · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Lexicon · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Surround audio: 7.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 15
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 12.6 · Front brake width: 1.1 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 12.4 · Rear brake width: .51 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center folding with pass-thru · Center console trim: wood · Dash trim: alloy · Door trim: leather · Shift knob trim: wood · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Memorized settings: steering wheel · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Rear power outlet: 12V · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: door pockets · Sunshade: power rear window · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.91
Exterior Features
Door handle color: chrome · Front bumper color: chrome accents · Grille color: chrome accents · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: Auto on
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Sunroof: power glass
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear · Parking sensors: front and rear
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Upholstery: leather
Spare Tire
Size: temporary
Steering
Steering ratio: 14.9
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lateral links · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Stabilizer Bar: diameter 26 mm · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: strut · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Stabilizer Bar: diameter 18 mm · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link
Telematics
Navigation system: hard drive navigation system · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy · Wheels: alloy
Windows
Front wipers: rain sensing · Laminated glass: acoustic
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone integration · Hard Drive: 40GB · 6 disc in-dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Lexicon · AM/FM radio · XM with NavTraffic satellite radio · Surround audio: 7.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 15
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 13.0 · Front brake width: 1.18 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 12.4 · Rear brake width: .51 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center folding with pass-thru · Center console trim: wood · Dash trim: leather · Door trim: leather · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Memorized settings: steering wheel · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Rear power outlet: 12V · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Sunshade: power rear window · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.13
Exterior Features
Door handle color: chrome · Front bumper color: chrome accents · Grille color: chrome accents · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: Auto on · Tail and brake lights: LED rear center brakelight
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Moonroof: one-touch open/close
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear · Parking sensors: front and rear
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Upholstery: premium leather
Spare Tire
Size: temporary
Steering
Steering ratio: 14.9
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lateral links · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Stabilizer Bar: diameter 26 mm · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: strut · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Stabilizer Bar: diameter 18 mm · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link
Telematics
Navigation system: hard drive navigation system · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Windows
Front wipers: rain sensing · Laminated glass: acoustic
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Rear side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone integration · Hard Drive: 40GB · 6 disc CD/DVD in-dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Lexicon · AM/FM radio · XM with NavTraffic satellite radio · Surround audio: 7.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 15
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 13.0 · Front brake width: 1.18 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 12.4 · Rear brake width: .51 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center folding with pass-thru · Center console trim: wood · Dash trim: leather · Door trim: leather · Shift knob trim: wood · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Memorized settings: side mirrors · Multi-function remote: keyless entry with panic alarm · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: rear · Rear power outlet: 12V · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: front seatback · Sunshade: power rear window · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.13
Exterior Features
Door handle color: chrome · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: grey · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: coolant temperature warning
Lights
Headlights: Auto on
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: manual folding
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Moonroof: power glass
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Parking sensors: front and rear
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Upholstery: premium leather
Spare Tire
Size: temporary
Steering
Steering ratio: 14.9
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lateral links · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Stabilizer Bar: diameter 26 mm · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: strut · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Stabilizer Bar: diameter 18 mm · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link
Telematics
Navigation system: hard drive navigation system · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: speed sensitive · Laminated glass: acoustic