Hyundai Genesis

Hyundai Genesis: generations: what actually changed when you pick a year

Treat restyling as the later 1 generation cars, not a third generation. Production windows overlap: original 1 generation runs to 31 December 2012; 1 generation, restyling starts 1 August 2011.

Treat restyling as the later 1 generation cars, not a third generation. Production windows overlap: original 1 generation runs to 31 December 2012; 1 generation, restyling starts 1 August 2011.

1 generation (2008–2012): three versions, all RWD, 6-speed Automatic. 3.3 AT 262 hp, 3.8 AT 290 hp, 4.6 AT 373 hp. The lightest kerb in the whole model is this generation’s 3.8 AT at 1730 kg.

1 generation, restyling (2011–2014): five versions, still all RWD, but 8-speed Automatic. Keep 3.3 AT 262 hp and 3.8 AT 290 hp; add a second 3.8 AT at 333 hp (same name — distinguish by 333 hp); keep 4.6 AT 373 hp but switch that V-shaped 8 from Distributed injection (multi-point) to Direct injection (direct); add 5.0 AT 430 hp, the highest horsepower in the data.

2 generation (2014–2017): five versions, 8-speed Automatic. New entry 3.0 AT 249 hp in both RWD and AWD. 3.8 AT is only the 315 hp AWD car. 5.0 AT is 420 hp (10 hp less than the restyling 5.0 AT 430 hp) in RWD and AWD. Ground clearance stays 150 mm wherever it is measured; on both 5.0 AT cars of 2 generation clearance is not measured.

Engines and specs: every named version

Use the names exactly. Where two rows share a name, the split is power, then drive.

Specific output (hp per litre of the listed displacement): restyling 3.8 AT 333 hp is the densest six at 88.1 hp/L; restyling 5.0 AT 430 hp is 85.4 hp/L; 2 generation 3.0 AT 249 hp is 83.0 hp/L; 2 generation 3.8 AT 315 hp and 5.0 AT 420 hp are both 83.4 hp/L; original 3.8 AT 290 hp is 76.8 hp/L — the lowest of the set.

Compression ratio not measured on 1 generation 3.3 AT, 1 generation 4.6 AT, and restyling 3.3 AT. Bore × stroke not measured on those same three. Where measured: 3.8 AT 290/333 hp is 93 × 85.8; restyling 4.6 AT is 92 × 87; all 5.0 AT and 2 generation 3.8 AT 315 hp are 96 × 87; 3.0 AT is 92 × 75.2.

Performance and economy (mpg / L/100 km)

0–100 km/h, measured: restyling 5.0 AT 4.8 s (fastest in the file); 2 generation 5.0 AT RWD 5.0 s (0.2 s slower, 10 hp less, 137 kg heavier than the restyling 5.0 AT at 1923 kg vs 2060 kg); both 4.6 AT cars 6.0 s; restyling 3.8 AT 290 hp 6.9 s vs original 3.8 AT 290 hp 7.0 s (same 290 hp / 358 Nm, 8 gears vs 6, but 75 kg more: 1805 vs 1730); 2 generation 3.8 AT 315 hp AWD 6.8 s; both 3.3 AT 8.0 s; 2 generation 3.0 AT RWD 8.6 s; 2 generation 3.0 AT AWD 9.0 s (slowest measured). Not measured: restyling 3.8 AT 333 hp; 2 generation 5.0 AT AWD.

Top speed, measured: 4.6 AT 250 km/h (both generations of that name); 3.8 AT 290 hp and 2 generation 3.8 AT 315 hp all 240 km/h; 3.0 AT both drives 230 km/h; 3.3 AT both 210 km/h. Not measured: both 5.0 AT of restyling and 2 generation, and restyling 3.8 AT 333 hp.

Fuel (L/100 km). Best mixed figure in the data is original 3.8 AT 290 hp: city 13.6 / highway 7.2 / mixed 9.5. Restyling 3.8 AT 290 hp: 14.0 / 7.3 / 9.8 — same engine output, +0.3 mixed after the 8-speed and +75 kg. 2 generation 3.0 AT RWD: 15.3 / 8.5 / 11.0; 3.0 AT AWD: 15.6 / 9.0 / 11.4 (AWD costs +0.4 mixed). 2 generation 3.8 AT AWD: 16.2 / 8.9 / 11.6. Both measured 5.0 AT cars (restyling 430 hp and 2 generation RWD 420 hp) share 15.7 / 10.2 / 13.1. Not measured for city/highway/mixed: both 3.3 AT, both 4.6 AT, restyling 3.8 AT 333 hp, 2 generation 5.0 AT AWD.

CO2: 3.0 AT RWD 256 g/km, 3.0 AT AWD 265, 3.8 AT AWD 270; all other versions not measured. Eco class Euro 5 only on the three 2 generation six-cylinder rows above; elsewhere not measured.

Dimensions, weight, tank, wheels

Tank is 73 L on every version. Ground clearance is 150 mm on every version where it is listed; not measured on 2 generation 5.0 AT RWD and 5.0 AT AWD.

Kerb / gross (kg):

• Lightest: 1 generation 3.8 AT 290 hp — 1730 / 2280 (6.0 kg/hp).
• 3.3 AT either generation-1 body: 1805 / 2280 (6.9 kg/hp).
• Restyling 3.8 AT 290 hp and 3.8 AT 333 hp: 1805 / 2280 (6.2 and 5.4 kg/hp).
• 4.6 AT original: 1820 / 2280 (4.9 kg/hp); restyling 4.6 AT: 1820 / 2320 (same kerb, +40 kg gross).
• Restyling 5.0 AT: 1923 kerb, gross not measured (4.5 kg/hp — lowest kg/hp in the file).
• 2 generation 3.0 AT RWD 1965 / 2470 (7.9 kg/hp); 3.0 AT AWD 2045 / 2520 (8.2 kg/hp). AWD on this engine is +80 kg kerb and +50 kg gross.
• 2 generation 3.8 AT AWD 2055 / 2520 (6.5 kg/hp).
• 2 generation 5.0 AT RWD 2060 kerb, gross not measured (4.9 kg/hp). 5.0 AT AWD: kerb, gross, 0–100, top speed, and fuel not measured.

Wheels, where listed: 1 generation 3.8 AT 235/50 R18 and 225/55 R17; restyling 3.8 AT (both 290 and 333 hp) 225/55 R17 and 235/50 R18; 2 generation 3.0 AT both drives 225/55 R17 and 245/45 R18; 2 generation 3.8 AT 245/45 R18, 245/40 R19, 275/35 R19; both 2 generation 5.0 AT 245/40 R19 and 275/35 R19. Wheel sizes not measured on 3.3 AT, 4.6 AT, and restyling 5.0 AT.

Chassis labels are the same on every row: Independent, spring front and rear; Ventilated disc front; Disc rear. Length, wheelbase, and overall dimensions are not measured in this dataset.

Which version to choose (by the numbers)

If you want the strongest 0–100 in the file: restyling 5.0 AT 430 hp, 4.8 s, 1923 kg. You give up a listed top speed (not measured), listed gross mass (not measured), and listed wheels (not measured). Mixed fuel where measured is 13.1 L/100 km.

If you want V-shaped 8 without the 5.0 litre: 4.6 AT 373 hp. 0–100 is 6.0 s in both 1 generation (6-speed, multi-point) and restyling (8-speed, Direct injection (direct)). Top speed 250 km/h is the highest measured. Fuel not measured. Restyling only changes gearbox, injection, and gross weight (+40 kg).

If you want the lightest sedan and the best measured economy: original 1 generation 3.8 AT 290 hp — 1730 kg, mixed 9.5 L/100 km, 7.0 s, 240 km/h, 6-speed. The restyling 3.8 AT 290 hp is the same 290 hp and 358 Nm with 8 speeds, 6.9 s, 9.8 mixed, 1805 kg. The extra 75 kg buys 0.1 s and two gears, not more power.

If you want the stronger 3.8 without leaving generation 1: restyling 3.8 AT 333 hp — +43 hp and +37 Nm versus the 290 hp 3.8 AT, same 1805 kg (5.4 vs 6.2 kg/hp), 8-speed, still RWD. 0–100, top speed, and fuel are not measured, so you cannot prove it is quicker than 6.9 s from the 290 hp car using this file.

If you need AWD: only 2 generation. 3.0 AT AWD 249 hp is the slowest measured (9.0 s) and heaviest six relative to power (8.2 kg/hp). Versus the same 3.0 AT RWD you pay +80 kg, +0.4 s, +0.4 L/100 km mixed, +9 g/km CO2 (265 vs 256). 3.8 AT 315 hp AWD is the AWD six that still reaches 6.8 s and 240 km/h; mixed 11.6 is 2.1 worse than original 3.8 AT 290 hp RWD. 5.0 AT AWD 420 hp has the same 519 Nm as the RWD 5.0 AT, but almost every vehicle figure is not measured — you cannot compare 0–100 or weight on the data.

If you want the smallest engine in the later car: 2 generation 3.0 AT RWD 249 hp, 8.6 s, 230 km/h, mixed 11.0, Euro 5, 1965 kg. That is 13 hp below 1 generation 3.3 AT 262 hp, 0.6 s slower than that 3.3 AT’s 8.0 s, and 160 kg heavier (1965 vs 1805). Displacement is 343 cc smaller. Buy 3.0 AT for the newer generation and Euro 5, not for a lighter or quicker six.

Hyundai Genesis 5.0 vs 3.8 vs 3.3 (horsepower shopping): peak hp in the catalogue is restyling 5.0 AT 430; then 2 generation 5.0 AT 420; 4.6 AT 373; restyling 3.8 AT 333; 2 generation 3.8 AT 315; both early 3.8 AT 290; both 3.3 AT 262; both 3.0 AT 249. There is no 2.0 T and no coupe engine in this model file.

Reliability, engine problems, recalls: not measured here. The comparison above is only the listed specs.

Practical pick, arithmetic only: daily RWD six with measured economy → 1 generation 3.8 AT 290 hp. Same six with 8 speeds → restyling 3.8 AT 290 hp. Same six with more hp and unknown sprint → restyling 3.8 AT 333 hp. AWD six with a full performance row → 2 generation 3.8 AT 315 hp. Fastest listed sprint → restyling 5.0 AT 430 hp. Newest chassis with AWD and Euro 5 at the cost of 8+ kg/hp → 2 generation 3.0 AT.