By Kelly Foss www.car-data.com 2009 Hyundai Genesis There is an uncanny similarity to the path that Hyundai has taken with their new luxury sedan, the Genesis, and the introduction of the Lexus brand by Toyota 20 years ago. Back then, Lexus was positioned as direct competition to the Euro luxury brands, Mercedes and BWM, with the promise of a high quality luxury vehicle at a much lower price. The approach has paid off handsomely for Toyota, and now the Genesis from Hyundai seems to be on the same path. The Genesis has received the very best engineering attention and efforts that Hyundai has. In short, they set out to make the very best car that they could and offer it at a remarkably low price.   Did they succeed? Yes. The Genesis is an impressive vehicle and the starting price is only $33,000. The Genesis qualifies as a true luxury sedan. It has the look, the feel and the presence of a car that is much more expensive than this one really is. It is a rear-wheel driven sedan offered with either a new and powerful 3.8 liter V-6 or a new and even more powerful 4.6 liter V-8. The 6-speed automatic and the base V-6 will rocket the vehicle to 60 miles an hour in only 6.3 seconds, and the V8 is even faster.

Though not designed for the race track, this car is a comfortable and competent long-legged cruiser with some sophisticated suspension components. The feel is vault solid and the cabin is tomb-quiet inside. A drive in traffic or on the highway is a pleasure. Upscale materials are found everywhere, and the fit and finish is commendable. The interior style is elegant and uncluttered. Cabin space is large and rear seat room is generous. The list of standard equipment is long and options are grouped in three simple packages, Premium, Premium Plus and Technology. The Genesis with the 4.6 V-8 has an up-charge of only $5,000 and the most expensive model available with all possible options added comes in at an affordable $42,000. The Genesis has passed the luxury test, and what makes it so appealing is the value proposition. For comparison, it is priced like the midlevel Lexus ES sedan but is more similar in size and layout to the larger GS, which is priced about $15,000 more than the Hyundai. The same comparison could be made for the Mercedes C Class price but E Class size or the BMW 3 Series price and the 5 Series size. The Genesis is a very nice vehicle at a very appealing price. For what you might pay for a lesser sedan, the same money could buy a truly elegant and satisfying Genesis, complete with Hyundai ’s famous 100,000 mile warranty.

2010 Volvo XC60 Historically, Volvos have received high marks on functionality and safety, but lower scores for styling and interior amenities. Well, things have been changing inside the company for several years, and the new XC60 SUV is the poster child of modern Volvo. The XC60 might rightly be considered a smaller version of the XC90 SUV. Actually, I find the new XC60 a much more appealing vehicle.   To begin with, the styling is a skillful blend of an instantly recognizable Volvo shape presented in a curvaceously appealing and seductive form. From any angle, the new XC60 is a very fine looking vehicle and totally current with the times.   It’s hard to decide if this model is a compact or a midsize SUV, but it holds five comfortably and has a large cargo area behind the rear seats. With all seats folded, you can bask in its 67 cubic feet of storage volume. This Volvo is a very solid vehicle and weighs in at more than 4,000 pounds, yet it handles quite nimbly and drives smaller than it is. I found the XC60 to have surprisingly capable handling as we tested it on twisting west coast mountain roads. On the freeway, it is smooth, quiet and serene inside.   It exudes that “you’re safe in here” Volvo feeling and the vehicle has the technology to deliver. The XC60 benefits from and has all the safety gear that Volvo has developed

over the years, plus something new. Volvo’s City Safe technology is being introduced on this model. The system basically monitors the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you when driving at low speeds, where most collisions occur. If it senses that you are getting too close, it applies the brakes and can actually bring the vehicle to a complete stop. Volvo is also thoughtful enough to include features like laminated glass in the sunroof so if you are in a crash, the glass won ’t shatter all over the passengers. You also get stability control, traction control, lane departure warning, driver alert control, distance control and whiplash prevention seats just to name a few. The XC60 is powered by an inline transverse turbocharged 3.0 liter 6 cylinder engine. It puts out 281 horsepower and 295 ft. lbs. of torque. All XC60 ’s come with a 6-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. This combination makes this Volvo a joy to drive both in town and on the highway. The engine is responsive, the handling is controlled and the ride is very nice. The interior of the XC60 has also been tastefully done. The leather seats are attractive and comfortable. The design is upscale and the available real Nordic Light Oak wood inlays are oh so Scandinavian. Niceties like navigation, Sirius radio and DynAudio make the drive all the more enjoyable. Visit www.car-data.com for more information on these models.•