Are Genesis Good Cars? Are They Reliable? Get The Scoop

Are Genesis good cars, are they reliable, and should you buy one? We will help you decide.

Genesis is a new luxury car brand that has quickly earned a reputation for making high-quality cars and SUVs. Developed by Hyundai in the mid-2010s, it competes directly with established players like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Lexus.

But is Genesis a good brand? Are its vehicles as good as the company wants you to believe? The simple answer is, yes,

Genesis are good cars for the simple reason that they are well-made luxury vehicles that provide a commendable level of luxury, performance, and refinement at prices that often beat the competition.

In this article, we highlight the strengths and weaknesses of Genesis so that you have a better understanding of how they stack up against the more popular luxury vehicles in the marketplace.

IN THIS GUIDE

About Genesis Cars?

Genesis is the luxury division of Hyundai Motors in the same way that Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti are the luxury divisions of Toyota, Honda, and Nissan.

Initially introduced in 2008 as a Hyundai model (the Hyundai Genesis), it became an independent brand in 2015 and launched its first standalone model, the Genesis G90, in 2017.

You can learn more about the history of Genesis and other interesting facts by reading our general overview of the brand.

As an upstart in a highly competitive luxury car segment dominated by BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Lexus, Genesis hoped to gain a footing by offering buyers a lot of value for the money. Its cars and SUVs, therefore, typically provide more features than BMWs and Mercedes-Benzs and a comparable level of performance at a much lower price.

Genesis only sells sedans and crossover SUVs, and most of them are built on rear-wheel drive platforms, which provide a more dynamic and engaging driving experience than front-wheel drive platforms.

The company has never offered a traditional sports car or full-fledged performance vehicle, though there have been ongoing rumors that one is planned.

Here is a complete list of all the Genesis models currently available:

Model	Body Style	Size	Drivetrain
G70	Sedan	Compact	Gas engine
G80	Sedan	Mid-size	Gas engine
G90	Sedan	Full-size	Gas engine
GV60	Crossover	Compact	Electric
GV70	Crossover	Compact	Gas engine / Electric
GV80	Crossover	Mid-size	Gas engine

Genesis announced at the end of 2021 that it will stop selling internal combustion engine vehicles in 2025 and have a zero-emissions, purely electric lineup by 2030. Considering there are many advantages to owning an electric car, this can be good news for you.

The GV60 electric crossover was the company’s first all-electric vehicle to be built from the ground up.

Are Genesis Good Cars

Safety, reliability, performance, features and amenities, affordability, and cost of ownership are the main criteria used to determine if a car is good. We will use them to evaluate the quality of Genesis cars.

Safety

Genesis cars and SUVs have excellent crashworthiness ratings and crash-avoidance technologies.

In fact, every single Genesis model that has been tested has earned the highest crash rating possible from the IIHS, NHTSA, and Euro NCAP.

Advanced safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control all come standard, while parking sensors and a surround-view camera system are available.

Many competitors bundle these top-line safety equipment into pricey packages rather than make them standard on their vehicles, but not Genesis.

So, are Genesis safe? Yes, safety is something Genesis does exceptionally well. Thanks to their excellent crashworthiness and long list of standard crash-avoidance technologies, Genesis models typically have excellent safety credentials.

Are Genesis Reliable?

Genesis cars and SUVs have good reliability for luxury vehicles, and you have parent company Hyundai’s good track record for making reliable cars to thank for that.

Granted Genesis vehicles are more complex and sophisticated than the average Hyundai or mainstream vehicle and, therefore, not as reliable, they excel against most of their competition. You can see this with the G80 midsize luxury sedan.

According to RepairPal, a certified network of repair shops that tracks the reliability of different vehicles using actual repair invoices, the Genesis G80 is noticeably more reliable than the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Audi A6, and most other European or American mid-size luxury sedans.

You can reasonably extrapolate this performance across the rest of the Genesis lineup.

Genesis vehicles are generally less reliable than Lexus and Acuras, however, but they are backed by an excellent 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, one of the best factory warranties in the automotive industry.

So, are Genesis reliable? Yes. Genesis cars and SUVs have so-so reliability compared to the industry average, but they are more reliable than most luxury vehicles, particularly BMWs, Mercedes-Benzes, Audis, Cadillacs.

Performance

When Hyundai set out to develop its luxury brand, it benchmarked BMW. What this means is that Genesis leans towards the sporty end of the luxury car spectrum.

Most Genesis models have a rear- or all-wheel drive configuration, as a result, providing drivers a more enjoyable driving experience than vehicles with a front-wheel setup, including Acuras, Buicks, Lincolns, and most Lexus and Infinitis.

On top of being fun to drive, Genesis are relaxing and comfortable even when driving on rough road surfaces. Their engines are powerful and fuel-efficient for their respective classes, enabling swift and easy acceleration.

They are for those who appreciate comfortable cars that have a bit of soul.

Needless to say, Genesis is a major upgrade over corporate siblings Hyundai and Kia on the performance front. Moreover, of all Asian luxury car brands, it is perhaps the truest competitor to BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguars, and other sporty European brands.

So, do Genesis cars have good performance? Yes, they offer a good balance between comfort and fun, matching or exceeding the performance delivered by BMWs, Mercedes-Benzes, Jaguars, and other sporty luxury cars.

Features, Amenities

Genesis is a premium brand that strives to provide world-class luxury at the best value. To that end, the brand designs visually striking, high-end interiors with top-notch materials such as vinyl or leather upholstery and brushed metal and real wood trim.

Genesis cars and SUVs are also offered with a wealth of tech and convenience features such as an advanced, easy-to-use infotainment system with a large touchscreen, a premium sound system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, wireless smartphone charging, and multiple USB ports.

Heated and ventilated seats, full LED headlamps, and head-up display (HUD) are other commonplace features.

Needless to say, a Genesis will give you a more luxurious experience than a Hyundai, Kia, or any other mainstream vehicle for that matter.

Because Genesis competes firmly in the premium car segment, it also means the brand often outclasses the quality provided by competing brands in the affordable end of the segment (Buick, Acura, etc.)

So, do Genesis have good luxury features and amenities? Yes. Genesis vehicles come standard or are offered with a wealth of modern luxury, tech, and convenience features, matching or exceeding their competition.

Affordability

Genesis vehicles are a large notch above Hyundais, Kias, and other mainstream vehicles, so expect to pay higher prices for them.

But when compared to other luxury vehicles, particularly those from Europe, they typically provide more features and comparable performance for a much lower price.

For example, a Genesis G70 normally costs $5,000 to $10,000 less than a comparable BMW 3 Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class while offering more features and amenities and similar levels of performance.

Genesis cars and SUVs, therefore, deliver premium-level luxury, performance, and refinement at prices that are more in line with models from lesser luxury car brands such as Acura, Lincoln, and Buick.

Their lower starting price combined with a lack of prestige and recognition as a result of Genesis being a new brand also means used Genesis can be quite cheap. They represent an incredible value when considering how well they are usually packaged.

If you’re thinking about buying a used Genesis or any other used car, make sure to read our used car buying guide for useful tips.

So, are Genesis affordable? Yes. Genesis cars and SUVs typically represent an incredible value, providing buyers with a lot of features, performance, and refinement for less money than the competition.

Cost Of Ownership

Genesis cars and SUVs have a lower cost of ownership than most luxury cars. Good reliability and cheap parts due to the familial ties to Hyundai make them inexpensive to maintain.

You will find that Genesis typically cost noticeably less to maintain and repair than BMWs, Mercedes-Benzes, Cadillacs, and other European and American luxury cars.

For example, RepairPal estimates that the average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Genesis G80 is $565, much lower than the $976 average for all luxury mid- and full-size luxury cars evaluated.

Genesis vehicles are also fairly good on gas and don’t cost an exorbitant amount of money to insure. While they don’t hold their value as well as Lexus and perhaps Acuras, they depreciate at around the same rate as most other luxury vehicles.

So, are Genesis cheap to own? Yes. Genesis cars and SUVs have good reliability, and sharing parts with Hyundai vehicles helps make them inexpensive to maintain and repair. They also don’t cost a lot to fuel and insure when compared to other luxury vehicles.

Genesis Cars FAQs

Want to know more about Genesis cars? Here are answers to other popular questions.

Why Are Genesis Cars So Cheap?

Genesis cars and SUVs tend to be cheaper than other luxury vehicles because Genesis is a very young car brand with less brand recognition than BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and other established brands, and they are made in South Korea, a country with lower production costs than the U.S. or Western Europe.

Genesis also offers fewer model customizations, which further drives down costs.

Do Genesis Hold Their Value?

Genesis vehicles hold their value fairly well but not quite as well as the average mainstream vehicle (Toyotas, Hondas, Hyundais, etc.). Luxury cars generally depreciate at a faster rate.

Compared to other luxury cars, Genesis have worse resale values than Lexus and Acuras because Genesis is a much newer brand that has yet to build strong brand recognition and prestige.

However, thanks to their good reliability, they have comparable or better depreciation than most American and European luxury vehicles.

Are Genesis Cars Expensive To Maintain?

No. Genesis cars and SUVs are cheap to maintain and repair because they are reliable and, therefore, don’t break down often. They also have low parts and servicing costs as a result of sharing components and technologies with Hyundai vehicles.

Their parts are inexpensive and readily available.

How Many Miles Does A Genesis Last?

Genesis are very reliable vehicles that can last a very long time with proper maintenance. Genesis is owned and made by Hyundai, an automaker with a good reputation for reliability.

It’s not uncommon for Genesis vehicles to last over 100,000 miles (160,934 km) with careful driving and routine maintenance and servicing.

Final Thoughts

Genesis is a luxury car brand introduced in 2015 by Hyundai to compete in the lucrative luxury car segment.

Despite not having the pedigree of prominent players such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and even Lexus, it has quickly garnered a reputation for high-quality vehicles that offer a lot of features and performance at prices usually lower than competing luxury vehicles.

Genesis cars and SUVs are very safe and reliable, provide a comfortable and fun driving experience, come jam-packed with features, and have aggressive pricing. They are also good on gas and inexpensive to maintain and fix.

If you’re looking for a luxury vehicle and aren’t a brand snob, consider getting a Genesis. You have a lot to gain and little to lose.

So, are Genesis Good Cars? Yes. We would even go as far as to say they are underrated.