2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T Track vs. 2010 Honda Civic Si

Hyundai thinks it has a new value-champ among hot imports with its new Genesis Coupe 2.0T. It's hard to argue with 210 hp, rear-wheel drive, and sexy styling for only $22,750. But the Genesis isn't sold in a vacuum, so we needed to see how it stacked up against some serious competition.

As it turns out, we had another vehicle in our possession that matched the Hyundai's cheap-and-fast qualifications -a 2010 Honda Civic Si. Of course, with front-wheel drive, a small naturally aspirated engine, and practically invisible styling, it would be little more than a punching bag for the Hyundai, right?

Well, hold on a second. Long-in-the-tooth and lacking in glitz though it may be, the Civic Si remains an icon of the sport-compact world, and commands a huge following. And at a mere $22,765 starting price, it has essentially the same price as the Genesis. Plus, it remains a blast to drive. With all that in mind, we set out to determine which of these cars best satisfies the import performance car buyer on a budget.