At Rs.50 Lakh, will Hyundai Genesis stand up against German cars?

The Genesis is Hyundai’s answer to the Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5-Series and Audi A6, while also being a tad bit better equipped. But can it do better in a segment ruled by the German giants.

The mid-size luxury sedan segment is undoubtedly a German turf. With the Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5-Series and Audi A6 ruling the roost since eons, it is hard to imagine another automaker cutting through the competition and gets even harder when you consider a mainstream automaker trying to achieve the same. That being said, the Hyundai Genesis is indeed a very capable luxury sedan loaded with features, safety systems and top notch quality, but does it have what it takes to topple the Germans in the segment?

Spotted by a reader of Motor Beam in Chennai, Hyundai has brought in 3 units of the Genesis that are doing regular errands on Indian roads which also gives a good idea on how the car feels visually compared to its rivals.

Undoubtedly, the Genesis boasts of an impressive road presence with a long wheelbase and an expansive grille up front and will certainly please corporate buyers. Hyundai has also given the Genesis an Aston Martin-esque logo of its own that conveys the car’s premium credentials.

On the inside, the Hyundai Genesis boasts of some very interesting features including ventilated seats, heads-up display apart from the usual creature comforts and a plethora of safety options including lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control and much more. The premium sedan comes with wood trim choices in 5 grains and leather upholstery options (including ivory white) overseas. Hyundai has also improved significantly on the driving dynamics and ride quality, parking every close to the German trio. Speaking of drawbacks, it is the lack of a diesel engine that will hurt the car’s sales gravely in the luxury space, especially in a market like ours.

All said, there is another factor called brand value that manages to triumph every comparison we make between all the models in the mid-size luxury segment.

If launched in India, the Genesis will be brought in as a CBU and priced at around Rs. 50 lakh, on par with the 4-cylinder versions of the Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5-Series and Audi A6. Even with a comparatively lesser price, the Genesis loses out on brand value which happens to be a major deciding factor for customers in India. But, look past it and the sedan will offer so much more. Should Hyundai play the gamble by bringing the Genesis to India or should it wait?