2009 Hyundai Genesis 4.6

Months in Fleet: 9
Mileage: 25,595

After nine months and countless long-distance trips adding up to more than 20,000 miles, we decided to see how our Four Seasons Hyundai Genesis 4.6 sedan would fare in an urban jungle. Always up for a challenge, our sometimes cranky and always opinionated New York bureau chief Jamie Kitman offered to spend the last several weeks of the summer with the big Hyundai. "I was an early champion of the Genesis sedan but I must say I prefer the V-6-equipped Genesis. It has superior fuel economy and, especially for in and around the city, the extra two cylinders are not missed. That said, the Genesis remains a serious luxury cruiser - comfortable, quick, smooth, and a wee bit sporty - and with more than 20,000 miles on the odometer, despite feeling slightly less smooth than the V-6 I drove recently, this big Hyundai is a quality piece."

Two members of the rock band Tally Hall - managed by Kitman - spent some time piloting the Genesis and quickly became enamored with the Hyundai's "maneuverability, smoothness, and strong power at highway speeds." They were also amazed by the number of comfort-oriented and technological goodies crammed into the sub-$50,000 Genesis. During one particularly sweltering drive, bassist Sedghi Zubin praised the air-cooled front seats. "Few things can ease the pain of sitting in Manhattan gridlock; one of them, I've now realized, is not having a sweaty backside."

After a taste of the hustle and bustle of New York City, the Genesis was chosen for another long highway slog, this time to Maryland. "This is a very respectable road car. Plenty of room, plenty of power, plenty ecomonical, plenty fun. Although I found the seats to be adequately comfortable, the lack of support provided by the seat bottoms became apparent after many hours behind the wheel. A friend who drives a Porsche Cayenne Turbo was impressed with the interior fit and finish. Overall, the Hyundai Genesis is great to drive and easy to live with on a day-to-day basis."