If you are simply trying to get the most for your $50,000, the Genesis 5.0 R-Spec makes a ton of sense -- more power than a BMW 550i or Infiniti M56 for the price of a 535i or M37. The ten-spoke wheels add a welcome touch of menace to the quiet exterior, and the hushed 5.0-liter V-8 sounds pretty good when you really wail on it. Even at full throttle, though, it can't drown out the sound of Hyundai knocking a glass ceiling. The automaker has hit many homeruns over the past two years -- including the Genesis -- but it still has something to learn when it comes to getting people to spend close to $50,000. The 5.0 R-Spec is nice, of course. It's fast, luxurious, and well put together. So is the $35,000 Genesis 3.8. The important difference is that the 3.8 competes in a price range where many buyers really want a practical, luxurious, nondescript looking sedan. For $45,000 to $50,000, I think people want to feel a bit special.
Premium competitors shouldn't breathe easy, though. More recent Hyundai offerings like the Sonata, Elantra, Accent, and Veloster embody a sense of swagger and identity that the brand had not yet earned when it was developing the Genesis. I highly doubt the next one will be so tentatively styled.
