Hyundai was never content with being known as a budget car manufacturer, it wanted to prove that it has what it takes to build quality luxury cars and that too at good value for money for buyers. It has managed to do just that with the 2009 Genesis which is the most luxurious sedan to roll out from its stable. Hyundai says it has spent a quarter of a billion dollars in developing this luxo-sedan and it shows. The Genesis which retails between $33,000-$40,000 in the U.S is a bargain considering that it offers the interior space equivalent to an S-Class and the power and luxury quotient of a Lexus.

The Genesis also has enough muscle to stay abreast with its competitors on the open road. The base model comes with a 3.3 litre V6 242 bhp engine which is followed by a 3.8 litre V6 290 bhp motor and finally the range topping 4.6 litre V8 which belts out 375 bhp and is likely to be the best selling model when it is launched here in the Middle East. Hyundai claims that the V8 will propel the Genesis from 0-60 mph in under six seconds making it a sporty performer. All this power is delivered via a 6-speed auto transmission to the rear wheels in this rear-wheel drive sedan.

The Genesis comes packed to the gills with tech-gadgetry enveloped in top quality materials which are used to furnish the interiors. It’s list of conveniences include powered leather seats which can be heated or cooled, a dual-zone auto climate control, advanced adaptive cruise control, HID headlamps with adaptive levelling, proximity sensor, navigation system with backup camera, Bluetooth connectivity, USB auxiliary input jack for iPod, a 600-watt Infinity Discrete Surround Audio system with a 30-gig hard drive and a BMW style shark-fin antennae on the roof. The V8 variant comes shod with 20-inch rims. The Genesis even has its own version of iDrive, placed behind the gearshift, which Hyundai describes as a “user-friendly multimedia system".

In terms of interior quality the Genesis can certainly match a Lexus and even come within striking distance of a BMW or Mercedes. This is a value for money proposition for those who are looking for a proper luxury car but aren’t willing to pay unreasonable big bucks for it.