It’s not every day you find a rear-wheel-drive coupe with serious horsepower from a brand better known for practicality than performance. But this 348-horsepower V6 machine shattered expectations, proving its maker could build something worthy of true enthusiast attention. Sharp handling, muscular acceleration, and a surprisingly refined interior helped it stand tall against more established sports car rivals.
This coupe didn’t just look the part, it delivered genuine driving excitement. Its balanced chassis, available manual transmission, and bold styling made it a compelling alternative to pricier imports. And while it may have flown under the radar when new, time has revealed its value as one of the most underrated performance bargains of its era.
For enthusiasts seeking rear-drive thrills, everyday livability, and a touch of luxury, this unlikely performance car remains a reminder that passion for driving can come from the most unexpected places.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including the Edmunds, CarEdge, RepairPal, J.D. Power, and the EPA.
The Hyundai Genesis Coupe was the Korean brand’s first real sports car
Credit: Hyundai
We’ve become somewhat accustomed to Hyundai producing exciting sports cars through their N performance division, but it wasn’t that long ago that a sports car from the Korean giant seemed outlandish. Back in 2008, they launched a competitor to some pretty established affordable sports cars, the Genesis Coupe.
Setting new stadards for Hyundai
Before the launch of the Genesis Coupe back in 2008, Hyundai had never made a rear-wheel drive sports car. They had dabbled in offering some more performance-oriented trims, but never a fully dedicated sports car. The Genesis Coupe was based on the same platform as the Genesis sedan, with both helping to justify the existence of Hyundai’s stand-alone luxury brand of the same name.
The Genesis Coupe launched to some pretty heavy competition. Hyundai claimed that the coupe aimed to deliver a driving experience similar to the esteemed Infiniti G37. We think it achieved this goal pretty well, and it is heavily underrated. In the States, it ran from the 2010 model to the 2016 model.
In its time on the market, it underwent a single facelift, with Hyundai changing its styling pretty heavily for the 2013 model year. These are the models we’d go after as they look more interesting, they come with much better materials, and their engines and transmissions are much better than the pre-facelift models.
The range-topper featured a pretty impressive 348-horsepower V-6
Credit: Hyundai
The Genesis Coupe was always offered with a choice of either a turbocharged four-cylinder or a stoic V-6. Both are pretty fantastic for their time. The facelift for the 2013 model added quite a bit more power to both engines and more refinement to the transmissions on offer, making them the best choice if you’re looking for an affordable used sports car.
2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe performance specifications
Engine
2.0-Liter Turbocharged Inline-Four
3.8-Liter Naturally Aspirated V-6
Transmission
6-Speed Manual or 8-Speed Automatic
6-Speed Manual or 8-Speed Automatic
Horsepower
274 HP
348 HP
Torque
275 LB-FT
295 LB-FT
Driveline
RWD
RWD
0-60 MPH
5.7 Seconds
5.2 Seconds
Top Speed
152 MPH
162 MPH
The original Genesis Coupe launched with much less power than the post-facelift models. The four-cylinder used to make 210 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque, with the newer model smashing those figures. The V-6 started out with 312 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. The 2015 and 2016 models were only offered with the V-6.
The transmissions were also upgraded after the facelift. The four-cylinder models used to feature a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. The V-6 got a six-speed automatic instead. Both models got an updated eight-speed auto for 2013 onwards. The manual transmission, which is generally regarded to be pretty rough and clunky, was also improved, though it still isn’t among the best.
The Genesis Coupe is criminally underrated in our opinion. It features a great balance of ride and handling, one that few of its rivals from this era can match. R-Spec models, which come with more performance equipment and tighter suspensions, feel harsher on the road but are even more capable around twisty sections of road.
2013+ Genesis Coupe fuel economy
Model
City
Highway
Combined
Turbo-Four Manual
21 MPG
29 MPG
24 MPG
V-6 Manual
18 MPG
27 MPG
21 MPG
Turbo Four Auto
17 MPG
27 MPG
21 MPG
V-6 Auto
16 MPG
25 MPG
19 MPG
The turbocharged Genesis Coupe is definitely the more efficient choice here, at least if you opt for the manual transmission. The EPA originally estimated the V-6 with the manual to be more efficient than models with the turbo-four and an automatic transmission. Later on, they estimated the manual V-6 to manage 19 miles per gallon.
The Genesis Coupe is not the most efficient option out there, but it comes pretty close to its rivals from the same time period.
You can grab a Hyundai Genesis Coupe for an absolute steal right now
The Genesis Coupe is a bit of a dark horse. While we’re very fond of it, it isn’t nearly as popular as its rivals. This can be chopped down to a couple of things, including its clunky transmission and below-par power output at launch. What this means if you’re on the hunt for a used sports car, though, is that you can take home a well-taken-care-of Genesis Coupe for almost nothing.
Average used pricing
Model
Average Used Price
2.0-Liter Turbo
$9,614
3.8-Liter V-6
$13,636
If you were to grab a post-facelift Genesis Coupe today, you’d be paying an average price of $12,286, which is incredibly low for such a brilliant machine. Obviously, the four-cylinder models are much more affordable than the V-6 models. The newer the model you get, obviously, the more you’ll have to pay as well.
There are a ton of different trims to choose from, all with varying equipment. For a car from a decade ago, the Genesis Coupe comes with a pretty nice list of standard features, so we wouldn’t blame you for skipping the upper trim levels. However, considering prices are pretty low, we’d personally opt for one of the top trims.
While the turbocharged four-cylinder is fairly impressive for its price, we’d grab a model with the V-6 under the hood. In fact, we’d go for the top-of-the-line V-6 Ultimate trim. These list for an average price of $14,457 and come with a ton of equipment. They feature things like cruise control, leather upholstery, heated seats, and a sunroof.
Reliability and maintenance costs
- Average annual maintenance costs: $621 (RepairPal)
- Recalls: 6
- Common issues: Alarm goes off without reason; no sound from stereo; whine from power steering
It has, for some reason, become a thing to dunk on Korean cars when it comes to reliability, but there is very little data to support that they aren’t reasonably sturdy. The Genesis Coupe gets reasonably high scores across all models years. RepairPal gives it a 3.5 out of five stars, which they consider to be above average. J.D. Power may not have rated all models, but the 2015 model year gets 80 out of 100 for quality and reliability.
The Coupe has had six recalls issued, but not every recall affects every model year. It is important to make sure the model you’re looking at has had any relevant recalls seen to. There are a couple of common issues that you should be on the lookout for as well, listed above. As with any used car, give it a thorough test drive before you buy and have a mechanic take a look if you can.
