Comparison : 2009 Hyundai Genesis V8 vs. 2008 Lexus GS 350
Edmunds has went ahead and pitted the Lexus GS 350 against the brand new Hyundai Genesis, resulting in a mismatch that places far too much emphasis on the pricetag:
So the Genesis is a large, rear-drive luxury sedan that’s priced like a smaller front-drive one — at 195.6 inches long it’s just 2.4 inches shorter overall than Lexus’ flagship LS 460, but the $33,000 base price for the V6-powered Genesis is more than a grand cheaper than the base price of the entry-level ES 350. There isn’t really anything directly comparable to the Genesis at Lexus or, for that matter, at any other manufacturer.
As tested, the GS 350 came fully equipped at $49,670. The Genesis showed up with a $4,000 Technology package and a $42,000 sticker. That’s a thick $7,670 price difference, in case you haven’t already made the calculation yourself. Yet the Genesis essentially matched the Lexus luxury for luxury, gizmo for gizmo.
Basing a vehicle’s value entirely on the MSRP is faulty for so many reasons — consider the residual value, which will favor the Lexus heavily. If the Lexus maintains 50% of its value over three years, and the Hyundai only 40%, the initial price difference will be reduced by more than half.
Now factor in Lexus’ superior customer service, Hyundai’s unfamiliarity with luxury customers, and the better fuel efficiency of the GS 350’s V6 (5.3 mpg better). What’s left?
Similar Stories:
Comments
To enable your avatar, please sign up with the Gravatar service.
Please keep your comments relevant to this news story. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.
Debate is welcome and encouraged, but no personal attacks will be allowed. Failure to respect all participants on this website could result in removal and blocked access.
Don’t forget the Lexus (V6) was also faster than the Hyundai (V8).
And 5 MPG more efficient.
Is a Lexus worth $7k more than a Hyundai.
Yeah!
DrFill
Lexus all the way!!!
ahahahaha
DrFill? Haven’t I seen you before on LeftLaneNews?
since the Genesis has nothing on the GS, they had to put that ugly front plate on the GS to make the Hyundai look “slightly” better
Well, if the buyer keeps his car a long time the Genesis could be a great deal with a great warranty. Depreciation on the GS today is pretty high actually. It all depends what you value. The GS is no bargain in my opinion.
I test drove the Genesis V6, all I can say is that it very close to driving my 460. Lexus watch out.
Over 600 people stampeded Hyundai dealers nationwide to get a hold of this world-beater in July.
DrFill
@kev: Noticed that awful plate as well.
@Anon: True enough, the Hyundai warranty is 10,000 miles longer. I didn’t account for that.
@LEX460L: If the Genesis V6 is directly comparable to the LS, then the entire luxury car market is in trouble.
DrFill: Just read that Hyundai’s hoping to sell 50,000 Genesis a year, though that also includes the upcoming coupe version.
Can they handle that many buyers?
They haven’t over the last 3 years, with a totally new lineup!
I guess if you go from 7 to 13 models, eventually, you have to show a YTY incrase.
Right?
DrFill
I think it’s a ploy that Hyundai’s using over and over again, and that’s overstating their goals.
My true feeling is that they’re hoping to strengthen their Hyundai brand to the level of Toyota and Honda, and they’re using the Genesis to boost the perceived quality.
What’s most confusing is the absolute lack of branding on the Genesis. Why make it so generic looking?
they can make it as competitive as they want but in the end there is still a big Hyundai logo on the front of the car.
Fact is Lexus is still gonna win and the fact that it came down to $7K to make them think the Hyundai is better means Edmunds is just retarded.
Please Note, I did not say it was comparable to my 460 I said it drove the same.I had it up to 100mph and it was just as smooth and NVH was comparable to my 460 also the suspension felt the same. I know nothing about the quality of the car.
In May 2006 I paid $26,000 for a 2006 Hyundai Azera Limited. Prior to buying the car you probably couldn’t have paid me to own a Hyundai. But the more I read about the car and Hyundai’s improved quality the more curious I became. After test-driving the Azera I was sold. The fact that I paid way less than a top-of-the line Avalon or ES350 just makes it that much better.
I really don’t care about the residual value of a car. With few exceptions there are virtually no cars out there that hold their value well beyond three years. Since I keep my cars for ten years and put less than 10K/year on my car (so my Azera will still be under warranty) I don’t care about resale value.
My Azera has more interior room than a BMW 7-series (excluding the L version) or a Mercedes S-series. The car is quiet, it gets me 28 mpg on the freeway, it has airbags everywhere, an excellent stereo system, and it looks great.
I won’t be buying a Genesis because I feel no need to purchase a new car so quickly. But when the time comes my first stop will be at a Hyundai dealership.
@LEX460: Gotcha—I don’t know, with an endorsement like that, I’m going to have to head over to the dealership to check this car out myself.
@sundevils: As the nephew of a 1980’s Pony owner, I’ll admit to some bias, I’ll admit I have a dim view of Hyundai, but that’s been slowly fading with each successive model.
Targeting the luxury market with a single model is bold, and if it’s even remotely successful (which I think it already is), it may lead to a large shift in car company thinking. My thinking is that the Genesis will lead to more luxurious offerings from Toyota/Honda & Nissan, rather than any response from the luxury brands.
Just thinking out loud here.
Regardless of what the naysayers are commenting on the Hyundai’s achievements, consumers perception on Hyundai has been changing and the pace will be accelerating. Keep up the good work, Hyundai, and keep producing better cars than Toyota, Honda and the future is yours.
This came straight from MotorTrend’s article on the Genesis vs. GS460, 300C, E550:
As St. Antoine points out, “The Genesis costs barely more than the original 1990 LS 400.” If Lexus isn’t nervous, it should be. Sure, the Genesis lacks some of the exquisiteness and attention to detail of the LS, whose interior stitching and real wood trim, for instance, are a step above, but the Lexus costs nearly twice as much. That’s a huge discrepancy in price for a minor disparity in excellence-ideal for Hyundai, not so much for Lexus. Still, prospective Lexus buyers aren’t apt to suddenly cross-shop the Genesis, although they should, given its near-identical driving experience and projected three-year residual value, which, according to Automotive Lease Guide, ranks above that of the BMW 550i, Infiniti M45, Lexus GS 460, and Mercedes E550. Is the Genesis a knockoff? Absolutely. A knockout? More of a jarring right-left combination that’ll leave Lexus a bit dazed, shuffling a step or two back, and realizing that Hyundai deserves its full attention and respect. After all, what’s Lexus to do when Hyundai actually builds a luxury sedan that doesn’t cost half as much?
I won’t disagree, the Genesis is an expertly implemented luxury sedan that should have all manufacturers standing up to take notice.
What I don’t care for is the idea that only Lexus needs to be concerned. In that regard, my position is clear: Lexus is equal to Mercedes, BMW & Audi in every way, shape and form. Problem is, the automotive press doesn’t seem to agree.
as a new proud owner of the new genesis and owning 2 audi a6s and coming out of a 911turbo and driving the es350 which was 75dollars more a month and only 10000miles a yr.I have to say its a joke and the genesis is by far more value then any car out there at the moment.I have to laugh them compariong the speed and not saying how much smaller the lexus was.I have to say if u r buying for the hood ornament and not looking for value get one of the others or if u want a better car and want to pay over a hundred which i can see doing if u want a much better car.I cant see paying 40 50 or 60 when u can have this thing loaded for 42.