2011 Hyundai Genesis vs. 2011 Acura RL

Road Test: 2011 Acura RL vs. 2011 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 V8 on Examiner.com

 Yes, it’s finally time for you to call the men with the funny white coats for the Honda and Acura Examiner as he is trying to compare a V8 engined, rear drive Hyundai luxury sedan with Acura’s top of the line SH-AWD RL which stickers for about $10,000 more, How is that an even competition when the new Equus could have no doubt sat it’s gargantuan hind quarters on the similarly priced RL to keep it from escaping its disturbingly corpulent South Korean grasp.

But after listening to countless pundits claiming the Hyundai Genesis looked like a Lexus, Mercedes, Volvo or Infiniti, I realized that there is only car that looks almost exactly like it barring differences in grille and tail-lamp execution. Yes, the 2011 Acura RL has a very similar side silhouette and body frame design as that upstart whipper snapper known as the Genesis. Doesn’t Hyundai know that Acura invented the whole idea of Asian luxury car brands? Well, I guess makes sense to copy the originator.

But after listening to countless pundits claiming the Hyundai Genesis looked like a Lexus, Mercedes, Volvo or Infiniti, I realized that there is only car that looks almost exactly like it barring differences in grille and tail-lamp execution. Yes, the 2011 Acura RL has a very similar side silhouette and body frame design as that upstart whipper snapper known as the Genesis. Doesn’t Hyundai know that Acura invented the whole idea of Asian luxury car brands? Well, I guess makes sense to copy the originator.

Although Hyundai just recently introduced a new 2012 Hyundai Genesis sedan with a more powerful 5.0 liter V8 engine and 8-speed automatic, there are still plenty of 2011 Genesis models on dealer lots with the very capable 4.6 liter V8 and ZF 6-speed automatic. In fact, given the eminent launch of the 2012 model, now might just be the best time ever to get a terrific deal on a brand new Hyundai Genesis sedan with a mighty impressive 385 horsepower/333 lb. feet of torque V8 motor that returned a very impressive 18.4 miles per gallon given the power on hand.

Now, the 2012 version of the Genesis is going to be offered with the same basic 3.8 liter 333 horsepower/291 lb. feet of torque V6 along with the same 4.6 liter V8 tested here. But the new range topper (known as the 5.0R) tops the power charts with 429 horsepower/376 lb. feet of torque. Both V8 engines require premium fuel but the V6 motor does not so consider that in your budgeting for the lifetime cost of your new Genesis. And remember, the 3.8 liter V6 engine isn't exactly low on power despite its "base model" billing so it remains a good bargain. That is, until you go faster than 70 miles per hour. Yes, you read that right. For 2011, the only big change that the RL underwent was the addition of a much needed 6-speed automatic which really transformed how this biggest of all Acura sedans performs.




To read how each fared in a number of categories, click here for full review!