Of course, the layout isn’t perfect and finding one’s way to the rear seats happens to be quite a tour de force. The swooping roofline not only impedes access but also takes a considerable amount of headroom away from rear passengers. Even my teenage son couldn’t find a comfortable way to sit back there and enjoy the drive. He kept wriggling and chafing for painfully long minutes.
Sporty GT
As the more powerful version in the lineup, the 3.8 GT obviously stands out the most when you hit the road. The 306-horsepower V6 beneath the hood proves docile and pleasant to work with. A simple dip of the throttle is largely enough to thrust the little coupe forward with controlled authority. Unlike most performance-oriented machines, you don’t feel any violence in the acceleration, which is a good thing if you ask me.
Power delivery is flexible (another positive), eliminating the unpleasant feeling of getting pinned to the seatback with the slightest jab at the gas pedal. Rest assured, however, that exhilarating thrills await those with a heavy right foot.
Sending all that power to the rear wheels is a short-throw six-speed manual gearbox. My only complaint here is that the shifting feel lacks some excitement.
As for the brakes, they’re strong and precise, although the brake pedal becomes spongy if you’re not insistent enough. And remember, as a rear-wheel drive car, heavy braking in corners followed by a sudden acceleration will force you to quickly reach in your bag of advanced driving tricks, even if the electronic nannies play a big role in restoring order.
The real beauty of the Genesis Coupe, however, lies in its razor-sharp steering. The car shreds corners and tight spots into pieces and maintains great front-axle precision at all times. Of course, it helps to rely on a nicely-tuned suspension.
Genesis Coupe wrap-up
Despite some visibility issues (common to all sports coupes), the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 GT is a true little marvel. Relatively cheap, highly capable and decidedly stylish, it gives us one more reason why Hyundai products are so successful: there should be more of them, or at least like them, on the road.
photo:Philippe Champoux, Matthieu Lambert
 |
| The 306-horsepower V6 beneath the hood proves docile and pleasant to work with. |
Sporty GT
As the more powerful version in the lineup, the 3.8 GT obviously stands out the most when you hit the road. The 306-horsepower V6 beneath the hood proves docile and pleasant to work with. A simple dip of the throttle is largely enough to thrust the little coupe forward with controlled authority. Unlike most performance-oriented machines, you don’t feel any violence in the acceleration, which is a good thing if you ask me.
Power delivery is flexible (another positive), eliminating the unpleasant feeling of getting pinned to the seatback with the slightest jab at the gas pedal. Rest assured, however, that exhilarating thrills await those with a heavy right foot.
Sending all that power to the rear wheels is a short-throw six-speed manual gearbox. My only complaint here is that the shifting feel lacks some excitement.
As for the brakes, they’re strong and precise, although the brake pedal becomes spongy if you’re not insistent enough. And remember, as a rear-wheel drive car, heavy braking in corners followed by a sudden acceleration will force you to quickly reach in your bag of advanced driving tricks, even if the electronic nannies play a big role in restoring order.
The real beauty of the Genesis Coupe, however, lies in its razor-sharp steering. The car shreds corners and tight spots into pieces and maintains great front-axle precision at all times. Of course, it helps to rely on a nicely-tuned suspension.
Genesis Coupe wrap-up
Despite some visibility issues (common to all sports coupes), the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 GT is a true little marvel. Relatively cheap, highly capable and decidedly stylish, it gives us one more reason why Hyundai products are so successful: there should be more of them, or at least like them, on the road.
 |
| The 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 GT is a true little marvel. |
photo:Philippe Champoux, Matthieu Lambert
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