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How does the saying go? “You can have it fast, you can have it good, or you can have it affordable; but you can’t have it fast, good and affordable.” That is … until the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. While it can’t lay claim to being the fastest sports car out there, or the cheapest, the Genesis Coupe hits the...




How does the saying go? “You can have it fast, you can have it good, or you can have it affordable; but you can’t have it fast, good and affordable.” That is … until the Hyundai Genesis Coupe.



While it can’t lay claim to being the fastest sports car out there, or the cheapest, the Genesis Coupe hits the sweet spot for being fast, good and affordable.



Newly introduced for the 2010 model year, the Genesis Coupe is Hyundai’s first serious entry into the sports car field. The Coupe shares its name with the Genesis luxury sedan, introduced for 2009, but shares very little else. Whereas the sedan version of the Genesis received hearty kudos for its luxurious ride and list of amenities, the Genesis Coupe has garnished praise for its agile handling and smooth V-6.



Because there are so many variables in creating today’s new cars, it is rare when a car will beat out all others in all categories. This leaves drivers increasingly searching for the best combination of personal preferences and best price.



The Genesis Coupe might not claim that it gets from 0 to 60 mph faster than all its competitors, but it can lay claim to doing so in less than 6 seconds. That’s a feat accomplished mostly by sports cars costing from $5,000 to $10,000 more than the Genesis. Let’s see the hands of those willing to part with thousands of dollars for a difference of one or two tenths of a second?



Plus, raw power is only half the story; a sports car must be able to domesticate all that power in order to deliver outstanding performance. So, while the Genesis Coupe isn’t the least expensive sports car out there, it is quickly building a reputation for being the best-handling sports car for the money.



The Genesis Coupe truly is a revelation as a “budget” sports car. For an MSRP ranging from $22,000 to $30,000 plus, the Genesis gives you handling and performance on par with cars costing $40,000 or more.



The entry-level Genesis Coupe, priced at just $22,000, is fitted with a respectable 2-liter, 210-horsespower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, comparable to the Audi A4 engine, for example. For a starting price of $25,000, Coupe owners can drive off with the 3.8-liter, 306-horsepower, aluminum V-6, comparable to the V-6s in the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro.



The 3.8-liter engine in the Genesis Coupe is smooth and, when paired with the ZF six-speed automatic transmission in my test car, accelerated at breakneck speed lighting up the cobalt-blue torque gauge on the dash. The wider tires (245/45R18) in the back allow this rear-wheel-drive car to dig in eagerly and propel you as if on a racing track.



Brembro brakes and a Torsen limited-slip differential are standard on three of the Genesis Coupe trim levels and available in both the four- and six-cylinder versions of the car, said Jay Danos, general sales manager at Eddie Tourelle’s Northpark Hyundai in Covington.



While there are a few areas where Hyundai can certainly tweak the Genesis Coupe, such as in tire and shock selections, as it is, the car still takes fast turns with a much more refined attitude than the popular domestic entries in its category.



With a center of gravity that feels near-perfect, as hard as I tried, I was never able to shake the rear loose. And, thank god for the seats in the Grand Touring trim model during those tries!



The perforated-leather seats, with their chiseled bolsters and headrests that telescope out of the seat backs, are as close to world-famous Recaro racing seats as you’ll get in this price range. Unfortunately, I had no use for the standard heating option this week.



In addition to the impressiv

Tags: Hyundai

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Hyundai Genesis Coupe: Hits the sweet spot was originally published by New Orleans Auto Reviews: Hyundai. Read the full story by clicking here.