Picking the Fastest Hyundai Genesis: More Is More
WallStCheatSheet.com, in a profile of the fastest 40 cars for every brand in the United States, has proclaimed the Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec as the fastest Hyundai sold in the United States. As the site explains, "This car makes 348 horsepower from a 3.8 liter V8 engine, and can hit 0-60 in 5.6 seconds. Not bad for a company that traditionally builds consumer sedans not really tailored for road performance."
It further explains, "Top speeds are governed by Hyundai’s internal systems, but the Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec is capable of reaching terminal velocity in the neighborhood of 152 miles per hour. Though cars like the Equus sedan are more powerful, the Genesis Coupe is the car you’ll want if you’re trying to get somewhere in a hurry."
But what about the 2015 Genesis sedan with a V8? According to MotorTrend.com, "Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph comes in 5.2 seconds, up from that last-gen Genesis' 4.8-second time." Sure, the sedan is slower than its predecessor but it appears to be faster than the coupe by a full four-tenths of a second. (The V6 sedan is rated by various publications and websites in the 6.6 to 6.8 second range for 0-60 times.)
Don't consider the Veloster Turbo a competitor. It's rated at 7.7 seconds for 0-60, which is respectable coming from a 2.0-liter, 200 hp engine. The 2014 Hyundai Equus just loses the 0-60 competition by a mere tenth of a second to the Genesis coupe and a half-second to the 2015 Genesis sedan.
So, when it comes to outright 0-60 times the winner is the Hyundai Genesis sedan – not the Genesis Coupe. How is that possible?
Keith Griffin has been writing continuously about new cars since 2002. He used to be the guide to used cars at former About.com as well as a contributor to The Boston Globe and Automotive Traveler. He is founder and president of The Internet Car and Truck of the Year, where "Internet Pros and Average Joes" pick the car and truck of the year. Currently Keith is the managing editor for American Business Media. Follow Keith at @indepthauto on Twitter.