Used 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Because it has the look, the features and all the right numbers when the rubber meets the road, the 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe – even with all its impressive improvements – leaves us wanting for better intangibles. Suspension and driving feel are two of Hyundai’s biggest opportunities for improvement, and the opportunity is especially glaring on a rear-drive car designed to deliver visceral thrills. If you want a high-value, high-style, high-power, high-grip coupe, definitely check out the Genesis Coupe. If you demand driving feel and related intangibles, check out your local Scion, Subaru or even your Ford dealer.

The 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe looks like a hot import sports coupe, but drives more like a muscle car. Power is a definite strong suit – the 4- and 6-cylinder engines are both terrific – but the Genesis Coupe doesn’t offer the refined man-machine interface or nuanced feedback that separates mere performance cars from true driver’s cars. We had a blast in the Genesis Coupe on the racetrack, but when the relationship progressed into a daily routine, the car’s steering, shifter and suspension shortcomings amounted to a language barrier. For our money, the Genesis Coupe is at its best when outfitted with the V6 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission – and driven with a smooth, fast, grand touring mindset.

Interior styling has been a strong point in Hyundai vehicles of late, and for 2013, the Genesis Coupe’s comprehensive freshening includes a restyled center stack and the addition of electroluminescent gauges. It doesn’t go pound-for-pound with stretch competitors like the Infiniti G or BMW 1 Series, but it definitely offers a richer environment than non-lux foes like the Ford Mustang and Scion FR-S.

If you dressed a 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe in the badges of a less familiar European exotic brand, you could fool plenty of people into thinking you’d made some really insightful investments. It really does carry that kind of presence, especially with the changes for 2013 that include a completely new face highlighted by a big new grille. If you want an affordable, powerful sports coupe that’s big, bold and without a hint of retro influence, the Genesis Coupe is it.

BLUELINK
Find the cheapest nearby gas, dictate and send a text message, get an alert if someone’s driving your car somewhere they shouldn’t… Hyundai’s BlueLink system is full of cool features.

STRIKING STYLING
Can we count sheet metal as a feature? Clearly, one of the Genesis Coupe’s strongest selling points is its hot look.

The 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe lineup starts at $25,125 (including destination) with the Genesis Coupe 2.0T. In addition to a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and 6-speed manual transmission, the base Genesis Coupe features Bluetooth phone connectivity, iPod/USB and auxiliary audio inputs, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, and automatic headlights. Every Genesis Coupe is covered by a full complement of active and passive safety features, as well as Hyundai’s 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

A fully loaded Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track with automatic transmission tops out at a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $35,125. In addition to the traditional upgrades – leather seats, moonroof, upgraded audio – upper-tier models offer high-intensity-discharge headlights and LED running lights, proximity-sensing unlock and push-button start, touchscreen navigation, and BlueLink telematics. The racier R-Spec and Track models offer an even stiffer/sportier suspension, a Torsen limited-slip differential, Brembo brakes and 19-inch wheels.

Thanks in part to a new turbocharger, the Genesis Coupe’s 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine now cranks out an impressive 64 more horsepower for a grand total of 274. And with the addition of direct injection, the 3.8-liter V6 is up 42 horsepower to 348. Torque figures are also up and, impressively, so is fuel economy (just a tad). Both engines now offer the choice of a 6-speed manual transmission or a new 8-speed automatic.

2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine
274 horsepower (260 w/regular gas) @ 6,000 rpm
275 lb-ft of torque (260 w/regular gas) @ 2,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/30 mpg (manual), 20/31 mpg (automatic)

3.8-liter V6 engine
348 horsepower (344 w/regular gas) @ 6,400 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque (292 w/regular gas) @ 5,100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/27 mpg (manual), 18/28 mpg (automatic)