The Hyundai Motor Company made a daring move back in 2008 when they entered into the luxury segment with the Genesis sedan. The rear-wheel drive premium offering was the first of its kind manufactured by the Hyundai for the United States market. The success of the Genesis has proven well worth their effort, with the recent announcement that a luxury lineup of vehicles under the Genesis Motors name will be created in the very near future. The Korean automaker has big plans for its luxury vehicle lineup, and the most recent 2016 Hyundai Genesis is only thought to be a small indication of what Hyundai’s new luxury brand has in store.
Hyundai Competes with High-End Luxury Brands
Until the introduction of the Genesis and later the Equus, Hyundai was always thought to be a value-brand of vehicles. Their lineup was low to moderately priced, offering plenty of practical options for people on a budget. When Hyundai began creating luxury sedans, the brand was put into immediate competition with some of the highest-end luxury brands on the market.
It is hard enough for luxury automotive companies to compete with one another, and their entire focus is on the luxury end of vehicle retail. With these brands in stiff competition, Hyundai put itself in an even more vulnerable spot when they first introduced the Genesis. Other brands known for only manufacturing high-end luxury vehicles were probably unintimidated when Hyundai announced their intention to bring luxury sedans into their lineup.
While this may have been the initial reaction of luxury car makers, they are no doubt singing a different tune only eight years later. Not only is the Genesis a true contender in the luxury vehicle segment, it is one of the most affordable options for drivers looking for a premium sedan, without the premium price tag.
The 2016 Genesis Faces Off with Big Names in Automotive Luxury
The direct competitors of the 2016 Genesis sedan include names that Hyundai likely never anticipated facing in head to head comparisons. One of the most noteworthy adversaries of the 2016 Genesis is the 2016 Cadillac CTS.
Cadillac is a brand known for creating high-end automobiles that are premium in every sense of the word. From quality materials, exceptional standard features, and high performance specifications – the Cadillac brand has long been one of the top players in the luxury car world since its introduction.
The 2016 Genesis vs. the 2016 Cadillac CTS
Despite its rich history of luxurious sedans, SUVs, and coupes, Cadillac is no match for Hyundai. That is one sentence neither of these brands thought they would ever see in black and white – but there it is. We said it. The Hyundai Genesis far outshines the Cadillac CTS in many ways, making the controversial statement we just made, a very real truth. We aren’t the type to say seemingly outlandish remarks without backing them up – so let’s take a look at how and why this is true.
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Genesis Costs Less than the CTS:
Let’s start off with a fact that is unlikely to cause an uproar. Most people could probably guess with a decent level of confidence that the Hyundai Genesis would cost less than the Cadillac CTS. With that being said, it may surprise most people of how much less the Genesis costs. The base 2016 Genesis 3.8 has a starting MSRP of $38,750. A comparably equipped 2016 Cadillac CTS sedan starts off at $58,285. Almost exactly $20,000 more expensive than the Genesis, your jaw may have actually hit the floor.
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Genesis Outperforms the CTS:
The same base Genesis model we just talked about, features a 3.8-liter 6-cylinder engine that makes 311 horsepower and 293 lb.-ft. of torque. The CTS includes a 3.6-liter engine for the price we mentioned above, delivering more horsepower than the Genesis at 335, but less torque of 285 lb.-ft. Both engines include direct injection systems, rear wheel drive, and an 8-speed automatic transmission with manual interaction. Both sedans achieve essentially the same fuel economy rating, while the Genesis offers a slightly larger fuel tank of 20.3 gallons, over CTS’s 19.
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Genesis Offers More Standard and Available Interior Features
Despite it’s $20,000 price hike over the Genesis, the 2016 CTS does not outshine the Hyundai sedan in the amenity and interior convenience category. The Genesis and CTS sedans both offer mostly the same interior amenities as one another, with the exception of a few that are only standard or available on the Genesis. An automatic tilt away steering column and memory steering column are both available on the base Genesis model, while Cadillac does not even offer these as options for the CTS. Genesis comes with a standard CD player and MP3 player compatibility, while the Cadillac CTS only offers these as options. The only amenity that the CTS offers standard, is a memory function on the front driver’s seat. Hyundai does offer this option as an available feature, just not standard. While memory may be important to you, it may not be worth the extra $20,000 you would pay for the Cadillac.
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Genesis Includes More Exterior Features:
The 2016 Genesis and 2016 CTS both offer exceptional standard exterior features. The Genesis once again outshines the CTS in a few key areas in this category. Hyundai offers front fog lights and speed-sensitive wipers as available features on the Genesis, while buyers of the CTS do not have the option to include either of them. A remote fuel door is also standard on the Genesis, and not an option on the CTS. Cadillac does offer its panoramic sunroof as standard equipment, as well as a memory adjustable exterior mirror. The Genesis offers up both of these features as optional, rather than standard.
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Genesis Has the Better Warranty:
Any vehicle purchase should be backed by a great manufacturer warranty. This is especially true in the luxury vehicle segment. While Cadillac offers a basic warranty of 48 months or 50,000 miles, Hyundai extends the Genesis warranty to 60 months or 60,000 miles. Hyundai’s powertrain warranty of 120 months or 100,000 miles is noticeably higher than Cadillac’s 72 month or 70,000 mile powertrain warranty. Finally, Hyundai offers a corrosion perforation warranty of 84 months, while Cadillac stops the same warranty protection at 72 months.
Genesis Wins, Hands Down
When reading through this information, we aren’t entirely sure why anyone would purchase the CTS over the Genesis. Even adding the few amenities to the Genesis that the CTS includes as standard, surely won’t raise the sedan’s price tag $20,000. On top of this price gouge, the Cadillac CTS is entirely missing a few key features as even optional equipment.
Hyundai may not be known for its luxury vehicles, but the Genesis is proving time and again that it can compete with the biggest names in automotive luxury. The Cadillac CTS comparison is just one of many examples that demonstrates how Hyundai is keeping up with a market that they are still relatively new to joining. With the Genesis Motors brand debuting soon, we can’t wait to see what else this adaptive automaker has in store for the luxury vehicle market.
