Genesis being the car of the year

Hyundai is a company known for generous warranties, numerous standard features and generally good reliability. It's not known for large sedans, rear-wheel drive or luxury, but that didn't stop the South Korean company from building the remarkable Genesis, Cars.com's 2009 New Car of the Year. The improbably quiet and luxurious cabin's roominess rivals many full-size luxury sedans, yet the Genesis is priced below comparable midsize luxury models. Its V-6 and V-8 engines are more powerful than many competing models, yet are more efficient as well. The smooth sixspeed automatic transmission is uncommonly responsive.

Hyundai's rise from being a punchline to overtaking Honda, Nissan and Chrysler in global sales in just 10 years is compelling, but the Genesis provoked more contemplation than other candidates. Would a luxury owner really trade in for a Hyundai? Would this be some buyers' first luxury car? Should the automaker have created a separate brand like other companies have? These rhetorical questions, however, couldn't change the bottom line: The Genesis is surprising not simply because it's a Hyundai, but because it gives the European stalwarts a solid run for their money — and for much less of it. The Genesis is Cars.com's 2009 New Car of the Year because we drove it — pondered the window sticker again — and our collective reaction was, "Wow."

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