Although the 2016 Genesis hasn’t been on the market for all that long, the vehicle is already starting to rack up the awards. The luxury car offers a number of opulent features and capabilities, but the nameplate has also been awarded for some of its lesser-heralded abilities.
For instance, the vehicle has been named a “Best Buy” thanks to its array of amenities, and it was coined a Top Safety Pick+ due to its variety of preventative and protective safety features. The vehicle won an award for a Super Bowl 50 advertisement, putting it in a relatively unique class. The Genesis has even recently been awarded for the reliability of previous-year models.
All told, what awards has the 2016 Hyundai Genesis won, and what do these awards truly mean? Let’s find out…
Best Buy
The 2016 Genesis was recently awarded the large car segment’s “Best Buy” designation by Consumer Guide Automotive, with the brand taking home the award at February’s Chicago Auto Show. The publication’s editorial team judges a variety of vehicles on their “price, features, performance, accommodations, fuel economy, reliability and resale value,” and they also performed a variety of diverse driving tests in several different settings.
“The Best Buy accolade from Consumer Guide Automotive demonstrates the unprecedented value across our lineup—from the Santa Fe crossover to the Genesis midsize luxury sedan,” said Brandon Ramirez, Senior Group Manager of Product Planning at Hyundai Motor America. “We won this award two years in a row, which is a testament to our continued emphasis on producing vehicles with high value and driving experience.”
The vehicle is a natural fit for this award, particularly because of its incredible safety technology. Highlighted by innovative features like Electronic Stability Control, the Lane Departure Warning System, and a rearview camera, the Genesis could have won the award solely based on these attributes.
These safety capabilities play a significant role in the vehicle being named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The organization focused on five specific tests, including small overlap front crash, moderate overlap front crash, side and roof strength, head restraint, and front crash prevention. The Genesis aced each test, thus earning the designation.
“Safety is a top priority at Hyundai, so we are pleased to see two of our vehicles on this prestigious list,” said Mike O’Brien, Vice President of Corporate and Product Planning at Hyundai Motor America. “Hyundai’s emphasis on safety continues to shine through with the advanced safety technologies across our vehicle lineup, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning with lane keep assist, as well as emergency brake assist.”
Of course, the vehicle offers a whole lot more, including a powerful and efficient 3.8-liter V6 engine. The unit pumps out 311 horsepower and 293 pounds-feet of torque, and drivers can expect an equally-impressive 18 city/29 highway mile per gallon efficiency when equipped with the rear-wheel-drive system.
Ad Meter
While vehicles are often awarded for their capabilities, the Genesis recently played a significant role in earning Hyundai USA Today’s ‘Ad Meter’ for their ‘First Date’ commercial during Super Bowl 50. Featuring actor and comedian Kevin Hart, the advertisement focuses on the car’s abundance of technology. Hart uses the Blue Link Car Finder application to ensure that his daughter is operating the Genesis safely, a feature that any parent could appreciate.
The producers of the ad had a whole lot of options to choose from. The Hyundai Genesis is full of technological amenities, and the Blue Link Car Finder is only the tip of the iceberg. A 9.2-inch high-definition screen allows drivers to access their favorite radio stations or their preferred navigation application, and they can easily use their phone thanks to its Bluetooth capabilities. The Genesis even includes an industry-first C02 sensor, providing maximum passenger comfort (and health).
“On the biggest advertising day of the year, we wanted to entertain Super Bowl fans with creative storytelling and relevant, popular celebrities, while showcasing the innovative technology features of our vehicles. Our formula clearly resonated with the thousands of Ad Meter voters,” said Dean Evans, Chief Marketing Officer at Hyundai Motor America. “Kevin Hart’s comedic chops, coupled with a human truth people could connect with, was a standout combination that put us over the top. It’s an incredible conclusion to our first year as an official NFL sponsor that we won the Ad Meter for Super Bowl 50.”
Pre-Owned
The 2016 model shouldn’t be hogging up the awards. The 2014 Hyundai Genesis (along with the 2014 Hyundai Tuscon and Equus) recently won one of TrueCar’s inaugural Pre-Owned Value Awards. The accolade commends used or pre-owned vehicles that have proven they can deliver superb value in regards to resales. Hyundai’s ability to back up their pre-owned vehicles’ manufacturer’s warranties put the Genesis on a tier of its own.
“Each of the three ranked Hyundai vehicles provides a unique value proposition for consumers in its respective segment,” said Jim Nguyen, the TrueCar EVP and General Manager of ALG. “The Hyundai Tucson led the charge during Hyundai’s recent surge in popularity here in the U.S. market. Dynamic styling and a well-appointed list of features have led to sustained demand for the Tucson among used car shoppers in the red-hot compact utility segment.”
The brand’s certified pre-owned program covers any vehicles up to five-years-old and with fewer than 60,000 miles on the odometer. Hyundai even offers a warranty that can cover the remainder of the original protections, which could potentially include the 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Owners can also opt for ten years of roadside assistance, a $50 deductable for warranty repairs, and a rental car reimbursement for any issues. Ultimately, drivers don’t need to fret about their pre-owned Hyundais suddenly kicking the bucket.
“Our certified pre-owned program offers significant value and additional protection for customers,” said Derrick Hatami, Vice President of National Sales for Hyundai Motor America. “Earning third-party accolades from TrueCar and other industry analysts reinforces the strength of our CPO program and the quality of our vehicles.”
The 2016 Hyundai Genesis is taking the luxury market by storm, and these various awards only confirm all that the vehicle has to offer. However, while these accolades are all well and good, you can only truly appreciate the car by jumping behind the wheel.
