The
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| Genus and Santa Fe feature similar traits, though the Genus is a bit more car-like. (Photo: Hyundai Auto Canada) |
Santa Fe, which, when put side-by-side with the Genus is more of an SUV than a crossover, at least when factoring in its comparatively towering 1,725 mm (67.9 inch) height that measures 160 mm (6.3 inches) more than the Genus, wouldn't directly compete with a more wagon-like CUV. In other words, just like Toyota sells a Matrix and a RAV4, for instance, Hyundai could offer both crossover models.
Like the Santa Fe, the Genus offers a spacious cargo area accessible via a wide rear clamshell liftgate/tailgate combo, opening up to flat-folding individual rear seats - but there's more to its cargo carrying capacity than that. A rear deck, concealed in the bumper, extends outward over the trunk sill, transforming into an exterior "park bench". According to Hyundai, the sliding deck is also good for hauling bikes and other large items, adding to this crossover's functional capability.
And those rear seats? They slide forward to build what Hyundai calls
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| Genus is certainly a better looking vehicle than the Neos III concept. (Photo: Hyundai Auto Canada) |
a "visual unit" with a sliding two-layer cargo floor, making a "flexible wrap-around cargo space". I really like how Hyundai describes the rest of the interior; with "visual forms that mimic the continuous flowing nature of sand dunes". Don't you just want to go there? There is a sense of fluid movement to the Genus' cabin surfaces, though, and its instrument panel, set into a "floating frame", and unique foldable centre stack that hides a blue-hued illuminated infotainment interface, is decidedly upscale. Such details make concept vehicles fun, and while Hyundai's designers and engineers no doubt had a good time putting all this together, a production Genus would probably receive and interior
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| Fun but classy Genus interior is anything but conventional Hyundai fare. (Photo: Hyundai Auto Canada) |
treatment that more closely resembles the new Santa Fe - no bad thing. It probably would come with the option of aubergine (egg plant) leather or the "contemporary silk-like textile" draped over primary surfaces, as Hyundai explains it. No, but it's likely the light beige leather inserts would remain, joining more beige elsewhere in the cabin - with the option of anthracite or light gray to complement a variety of exterior colours.
The anodized metal accents would be replaced with metal-like plastic, of high quality mind you, and the perforations in the leather seat surfaces would most likely remain in top trim levels. A road-ready Genus might also lose the wrap-around roll-bar, although the cool "almond-shaped" dome light might remain, just to give it that made to measure look that more and more automakers are trying to capture, even at the lower end of the market. The Santa Fe, after all, offers a luxury experience despite what many believe will be a very attractive entry-level midsize CUV price tag.
And
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| Frowny-looking grille on Hyundai concepts like the HCD Talus, hints at a new trend. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
like that Santa Fe, which will join the Sonata in North America, Europe and other markets, the Genus could be an all-market vehicle if produced. So, don't let the fact that the new crossover is being introduced in Geneva, Switzerland after being conceived in the Hyundai European Design Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, located just outside of Frankfurt, lower your hopes of getting your hands on one.
No doubt, the attractive model would sell well no matter where it was put to market. It follows a similar "frowning" grille treatment to Hyundai's Talus concept, which debuted in Detroit this January, at least in overall shape, but executes the design language in a slightly happier demeanor thanks to a bisecting body-colour bumper. It's not as sporty as the Talus, purposely, but rather more upscale - almost premium-like.
