Genesis News

Hyundai's premium brand Genesis has detailed its plan to supercharge sales, with the group's local CEO suggesting deliveries could more than triple under a new strategy.Genesis launched in Australia under a direct model, in which the brand itself held the limited retail spaces (just one store each in a handful of capital cities) and sold the vehicles direct to customers without enlisting a dealership network.New Hyundia Group president and CEO Don Romano has previously labelled the strategy a "distraction", and vowed to return to a more traditional national network of dealer locations he refers to as agencies.Now Romano has forecasted the results it could deliver, telling CarsGuide 500 sales a month was a possible target, which would mean annual sales of 6000. Last year, the brand managef 1602 total deliveries."We're moving from a direct model to an agency model," Romano says."We've opened two stores that are operational right now, and we're opening a third hopefully next week. A fourth, we're just finalising the design plans."It is the direction that we're going to head in. It doesn't mean we're not going to keep the direct stores, because we invested all that money and they're in certain strategic locations, so we're still kind of working both at the same time."We could continue to do that, or we could convert those stores to dealer (owned), it simply depends on the development of the brand and the rate it develops. But right now the main focus is just to expand through the country with agencies owned by dealers."Even now, with five stores operational, Mr Romano says Genesis is massively underrepresented in Australia, which is hampering the brand's advertising spend that he describes as "wasting money" given the current location penetration."I think right now we're a niche brand. We're not advertising or promoting because we don't have the coverage necessary to be able to go out and tell the story," he says. "With five stores across a country of this size, it makes no sense. So we just need to go on the path we're on right now. But we don't want to force it because it's Genesis, not a mass-market brand, so it's best that we get the right dealers in the right place at the right time and if it takes two to three years longer that's fine."For us to take that next leap we've got to tell the story, and to tell the story, we have the resources to do it, but I'd be wasting money, because if you're for instance in Adelaide it means nothing to you because there's no representation. If you're in parts of Sydney, parts of Melbourne, parts of Perth, we just don't have the proper coverage to service the customers."Genesis has always been loath to talk about sales targets, instead referring to customer loyalty as a target, but Mr Romano says that, once the network is in place, monthly sales of at least 500 would be a viable goal.Hitting it would at last put Genesis on the premium-brand map, though one with plenty of work still to do to catch its closest legacy competitor in terms of sales, Lexus, which is managing around 1000 sales per month at the moment. It would also be well-timed to take advantage of the brand's new performance focus under its Magm Magma performance division."I'm not as focused on the volume growth as I am on the loyalty and the customer service ratings to get the word of mouth to help get the exposure, but I would say...double and triple would be the minimum if we had full coverage," he says. "Because right now we're doing 150 a month, so we should be able to do 500 absolutely, but probably way down the road when it's done organically and not done with incentives and prices and dumping vehicles and demos – I don't want to get near that."

JD Power, the US-based industry analytics and consumer research specialist, has released its 2026 Initial Quality Study, a much-anticipated (and often feared) annual report looking at the way cars are built and how they operate.And despite a “sharp rise” in overall vehicle quality, this year’s study has highlighted connectivity as a significant stumbling block for manufacturers and consumers.As its name implies, the Initial Quality Study is based on responses from purchasers and lessees of new vehicles (this year 78,514 people) surveyed after 90 days of ownership.The quality audit is split into eight market segments and covers 10 categories - Multimedia, Features, controls & displays, Exterior, Interior, Driving assistance, Seats, Powertrain, Driving experience, Climate and Unspecified (unclassified gripes). Issues are rated according to Problems Per 100 vehicles (PP100).In 2026, fewer problems were cited across nine of the 10 categories, with Multimedia the exception, where “connectivity issues continue to strain customer experience with new-vehicle quality.”Introducing the report, JD Power Senior Director of Auto Benchmarking Frank Hanley said, “As more technology is introduced into vehicles, keeping the experience simple matters more than ever.“The biggest gains in quality come from features that are easy to use - simple controls, less-intrusive driver assistance and software that works the way customers expect.“When technology becomes too complicated, the likelihood of customers experiencing a problem rises considerably,” he said.The total number of reported problems with new vehicles improved to 175 PP100, down from 192 PP100 in 2025, which JD Power said is the best year-on-year improvement since 1997 and the fourth-best performance in the 40-year history of the survey.But Multimedia saw an increase of 1.4 PP100 in reported problems - typically issues with Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity and touchscreen displays - for a total of 44.4 PP100 across mass market segments and 38.3 PP100 in the premium groupings.Porsche was the highest-ranking brand overall with an initial quality score of 138 PP100, ahead of Genesis (151 PP100) and Lexus (156 PP100).Toyota Motor Corporation’s Kyushu 1 plant in Japan, which manufactures the Lexus NX and Lexus UX, received the Platinum Plant Quality Award which is based on detected defects and malfunctions.

Genesis is ready to step up - both metaphorically and literally.The Hyundai-owned luxury brand has reaffirmed its plans to introduce an all-new sports car based on the Magma GT concept, unveiling an updated version of the two-door it first showed off in November 2025.The reveal came at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France, where Genesis is competing for the first time, making it the first South Korean brand to take part in the iconic endurance event.This is all part of a wider Genesis strategy to elevate the brand from its current place on the fringe of the luxury market, to a genuine rival to BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche - which are racing at Le Mans.Genesis is remaining tight-lipped on the technical specifications of the Magma GT, as it is being developed in parallel with an entry into the GT3 racing class. This means Genesis will work with the Hyundai Motorsport division to ensure the Magma GT road and race cars are capable of taking on the established sports car names.A concept of the potential new racing version was also unveiled alongside the road car.“The Magma GT Concept and Magma GT3 Concept represent two distinct yet connected expressions of Genesis performance,” said Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Creative Officer of Genesis. “The Magma GT Concept embodies our vision of luxury and athleticism on the road, while the Magma GT3 Concept translates that philosophy into the race environment, where every element is driven by performance, efficiency, and purpose. Together, they demonstrate how Genesis is exploring the full spectrum of high performance—from refined grand touring to uncompromising motorsport.”While the road and race cars can have different specifications, one possible solution for the Magma GT production car would be a detuned version of the V8 engine found in Genesis’ Le Mans Hypercar entry. A turbocharged V6 engine is also an option, as Genesis has declared it will be a mid-engine, two-seat car, so a smaller engine may be a possibility - at least in the road car.The new concept reveals an interior for the first time, with Genesis opting for a ‘twin-cockpit’ layout that the company says is “centered around an analog instrument cluster inspired by motor racing timekeeping instruments and complemented by tactile controls that emphasize precision and engagement.”José Muñoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, said Genesis’ move into motor racing, in particular the Le Mans Hypercar class where it challenges Ferrari, Aston Martin and BMW, as well as others, is designed to elevate the brand’s standing and help accelerate its growth.“Genesis has grown faster than any other luxury automotive brand and we’re thrilled to be competing in the world’s toughest endurance race where we’ll be able to validate our performance under pressure,” he said. “We’re humble but we’re hungry and we know there is hard work ahead. We’re bringing lessons from the track to our Magma performance vehicles and in how we run the business. In a 24-hour race where anything can happen, the team needs to be seamless in how we support each other and find creative solutions to win. It’s a perfect analogy for how we’re managing uncertainty and focused on delivering exceptional vehicles, technology and service for our customers.”Timing for the Magma GT to hit both the showrooms and the racetrack isn’t confirmed, but likely won’t happen until 2028 at the earliest. In the meantime, Genesis is set to launch its first Magma product in Australia next month, with the GV60 Magma set to go on sale in July.

Genesis Australia has officially unveiled the updated version of its GV60 small electric SUV.It will start from $88,300, before on-road costs, which represents a substantial price drop compared to outgoing variants, wearing price tags of more than $100,000.The key reason for the reduction is the fact the GV60’s base model is rear-wheel drive, as opposed to all-wheel drive.It will closely rival the BMW iX1 and iX2, with those models also receiving substantial price drops, now coming in slightly cheaper than the GV60, and both have AWD.Price drops are a continuing trend in this segment with the Volvo EX40 now available from under $50K.It will also provide competition to the Zeekr X.There have been some significant upgrades to the new GV60, including an improved 84kWh battery, now offering a driving range of 561km (WLTP).DC fast charging for the car from 10 to 80 per cent now takes 18 minutes, courtesy of an 800-volt platform.There is also a new front bumper to reduce the drag co-efficient to a slippery 0.28 on the GV60, according to Genesis.The car’s single electric motor produces 168kW, which is somewhat of a downturn on the 234kW available on the outgoing base variant of the car.On the inside, the GV60 has a combined 27-inch digital driver display and central touchscreen as well as wireless phone charging capabilities.In addition to this new model of the GV60, there will be a performance-focused Magma version.Some details are confirmed for the Magma variant including outputs of 448kW/700Nm and an all-wheel drive driveline.This is substantially more than the outgoing Lux Performance variant's 360kW/700Nm.We also know it will have an electric limited-slip differential, drift mode and a virtual gearshift system, likely similar to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N's.More information on the Magma GV60 is expected to be revealed closer to the line-up’s official launch in June.2026 Genesis GV60 pricing Australia  

Fuel prices are soaring across the board whether it is petrol or diesel. Some drivers are being more affected than others as lower fuel efficiency contributes to higher refuelling costs. Here are the most expensive cars to run currently in Australia based on fuel efficiency. Other contributing factors to the high fuel costs on this list include the fact many of the cars have big fuel tanks and require premium fuel.Fuel prices have been calculated using the average prices for fuel in New South Wales and at an average of 15,000km driven per year. Among the heaviest guzzlers is the Nissan Patrol four-wheel drive, with its 5.6-litre V8 drinking fuel at a rate of 14.4L/100km. Its 140-litre fuel tank and requirement for premium unleaded petrol means it costs $364 per fill-up and a total yearly cost of $5617.28. The Patrol will move to a more efficient 3.5-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo petrol, which is expected to reduce fuel costs. The Ford Mustang sports car is another V8 on this list, with its 5.0-litre unit registering average fuel efficiency at 13.6L/100km and a yearly cost of $5310.27.Ford’s other representative is the Ranger Raptor high-end ute, powered by a twin-turbo six-cylinder petrol engine costing $4482.76 per year. The Ineos Grenadier off-roader is the most expensive model to run and costs $5618.50 a year to run, in part due to it being diesel, which has been the fuel type that has increased the most. The Lexus GX550 has refuelling costs of $208 per fill-up currently, costing $4800 for the year, along with nearly $3000 for the Jeep Gladiator, which unlike many on this list can run off E10 fuel.The 6.2-litre petrol V8 found in the Chevrolet Silverado full-size pick-up has an economy of more than 12 litres per 100km, costing $4,356.30 over the year.  Genesis’ GV70 luxury SUV costs more $4400 per year in fuel, a similar figure to the supercharged 5.0-litre V8 variants of the Land Rover Defender. Highest fuel efficiency new vehicles on sale under $150,000 

It’s been a minute since the only cars we would regularly see wearing a strip of blue and white Sillitoe tartan down the side were the Holden Commodore, Ford Falcon and sometimes Toyota Camry.The world of police cars and vehicles has broadened — Ford Rangers, Hyundai Santa Fes, Volkswagen Passats, the list goes on. All must be practical, of course, and for different purposes.But there are new things to consider now, like hybrids and EVs, new ute options and of course which cars will be the PR show cars, the ones that don’t really have to work too hard. Here are five suggestions from across the spectrum.BYD Shark 6Something about a ute in white with police decals and a bullbar on the front just works. Our digital artist Thanos Pappas has rendered the Shark 6 as a police car both in the red dirt of rural Australia, and in the Sydney CBD.Australia and its vastly different environments could be the perfect place to see if the innovative BYD Shark 6 has what it takes to ‘keep the streets safe’ as it were.While its electric ability would make it ideal for city and suburban patrols, its petrol power means range anxiety on longer routes isn’t a concern.The big question surrounds its ability to off-road - CarsGuide’s off-road guru Marcus Craft deemed it suitable for “light to moderate off-roading” only, though we’re not sure how many police chases end up requiring rock-crawls and hill-climbs.Still, it looks good in the livery, and isn’t that the most important thing about policing? Right? Isn’t it?Kia TasmanPerhaps a little closer to reality is the idea of a Kia Tasman police car. Not only is there already a strong relationship between Kia (and Hyundai) and many police services around the country but there’s even a mock-up Tasman cop car already.During 2025 there was even a period that around Australia “multiple jurisdictions considering and are interested” in using the Tasman for policing.Whether that comes to fruition is yet to be seen - a lot of testing has to be done before a car is deemed suitable for police work, perhaps one reason a couple of other cars on this list may fall short in certain areas.Ford MustangThe Mustang is one such car that might have a couple of downsides - the inability to to detain someone safely being one - but police have often had high-powered highway patrol cars or community engagement vehicles that aren’t really built for your everyday patrols.It wouldn’t be the first time this has come up - about ten years ago the NSW Police Force was considering a Mustang GT for highway patrol, but the previous generation car was struggling with some overheating issues under hard testing.The Ford Mustang seems like a good choice given it’s an easy design to admire, it’s actually a very capable sports car, and it’s got a link to the former FPV patrol cars in the form of its Coyote 5.0-litre engine, on which FPV’s Miami V8 was based.Toyota RAV4This might seem like a boring, obvious answer, but the incoming Toyota RAV4 would make a really sensible car for Australian police.The hybrid of it all, not to mention Toyota’s long history of supplying police cars and its reputation for reliability.That and if the current RAV4 is anything to go by, the new one should be a fairly capable and easy-to-use thing.Genesis G70Victoria Police announced in 2017 it would add dozens of BMW 5 Series highway patrol cars to its fleet, so why not a similar rear-drive sports sedan from the sibling brand to Hyundai, models from which police have been using for some time now.A 3.3-litre twin-turbo engine with 274kW and 510Nm, plus some decent handling and dynamics alongside a design I reckon would suit the blue and white (and yellow in highway patrol form).

China is dominating Australian new-car sales, but it’s also not alone, with a handful of legacy brands bucking the trend to somehow grow their sales in the face of BYD, Chery and GWM’s continued ascent.

A number of popular car brands in Australia are at risk of paying fines in excess of $10 million for not meeting tightening emission standards if they don’t correct course quickly.

Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury arm, has revealed a range of off-road concept vehicles, including the bespoke X Skorpio off-road coupe.The brand showed off its range of concepts in the UAE as part of what it called a “glimpse into Genesis’ next decade”, with each car leaning into off-road prowess. The models shown include the GV70 Outdoors concept, featuring a pumped ride height, off-road wheels and tyres, with a roof platform and rally lights, and the GV60 Outdoors concept, which adorns the EV with a set of tracks rather than wheels and similar upgrades to the GV70.The X Skorpio is billed as the brand’s first “extreme off-road vehicle”, which is “purpose built to conquer harsh terrain with cutting-edge performance and luxurious design”.The model is named as such drawing inspiration from the black scorpion, which it says is “known for its resilience and ability to thrive in harsh environments”.It sports a tubular frame, roll cage and other “components sourced directly from off-road endurance racing specialists”, and while it is designed with the performance of Dakar-style trophy trucks in mind, it also features a focus on interior comfort and ergonomics.It also builds on the brand’s previous Magma GT concept, featuring a V8 engine. In the case of the X Skorpio, Genesis says it produces 820kW/1152Nm, although deeper details on this yet-to-be-made-for-production engine are yet to be revealed.It also features 19-inch wheels with 40-inch tyres and motorsport-grade Brembo brakes. The body is built from fiberglass, carbon fibre and kevlar.The latest range of concepts build on a clear shift toward the lucrative 4x4 market by Genesis, which is no doubt eying the success of the Toyota LandCruiser range, as well as its Lexus GX and LX spin-offs.Many Chinese brands are also making inroads into the performance 4x4 space, with GWM finding success in markets like Australia and the Middle East.The new concepts build on other recent examples of Genesis’ future model previews, like the X Gran Equator concept which previews a Lexus-GX rivalling large off-road SUV.In an investor briefing in late 2025, the brand confirmed it was plotting a production version of not only the X Gran Equator, but also a ute under the Hyundai brand.The production car based on the X Gran Equator was said to feature a new range-extender hybrid powertrain, which will be placed in other Genesis models to headline the brand’s emissions-friendly European presence.The focus of the brand’s incoming range of cars it wants by 2030 was very much focused on the European and US markets, which could see the Australian market wait longer than usual to see these new models from Hyundai’s luxury arm.Genesis is also plotting an expansion on its Magma sub-brand for performance versions of its existing range.In other Genesis news, the brand recently released an array of images from a design concept it worked on for a Ford F150-sized pick-up truck. The project was ultimately shelved, with Chief Design Officer for the brand Luc Donckerwolke explaining to CarsGuide that it simply wasn’t the right time for the luxury arm to be launching such a product.This doesn’t rule it out for the future. Meanwhile, the luxury brand’s Hyundai parent has been increasing its commentary around its highly anticipated first ute model, most recently hinting it may share the frame from its Kia Tasman sister product, but will instead debut with “new technology” rather than the Tasman’s 2.2-litre diesel.

Premium medium-sized SUVs are a small but consistently popular segment of the new-car market, and it’s easy to understand why.While providing an aspirational mix of luxury, performance and technology, they’re still spacious, practical, versatile and – perhaps most importantly – relatively accessible SUVs.Basically, they’re the sporty family friendly reward purchase for people who’ve earned it –which means they have a lot to live up to.As part of our ongoing 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year awards, here are our top 10 mid-size SUV model ranges from the sub-$130K category in alphabetical order and why they made the cut. Our top three, including the category winner, will be announced on February 6.Nearly four years late to Australia, the Q4 e-tron is available in elegant SUV wagon and racier SUV coupe body-styles that are both pleasingly spacious and practical.And despite leveraging a shared dedicated-EV architecture with other Volkswagen Group vehicles, the interior quality, layout and presentation are on-brand, matching the slick and easy driving experience, with a lovely balance of speed, agility, control and comfort.But the lack of full single-pedal braking and spare wheel are disappointing, while the 55 twin-motor/AWD’s prices are too high.Still, the Q4 e-tron is smart, stylish and sophisticated. And the 45 is all the Audi SUV EV you need.The third generation of Audi’s popular Q5 steps up in several ways, including in price, size and tech, adopting new mild-hybrid assistance for the petrol and diesel choices as well as a PHEV option.Chunkier than before, the Mexican-made medium-sized SUV sits on an evolved architecture. With the same wheelbase as before, it isn’t as roomy as its increased length suggests, whilst the screen-heavy dash looks modern but lacks physical buttons for too many vehicle functions.On the other hand, the boot is big, all powertrains deliver on performance, refinement and efficiency, whilst the handling and ride qualities have improved noticeable from before.Not class-leading, then, but certainly now highly competitive.BMW’s renaissance continues, following on after the excellent X5 and X1, with the fourth-gen X3, sharpening its reputation as the driver’s choice among mid-sized SUVs.Larger yet lower than ever, with ample space, the futuristic, tech-heavy interior is artfully executed, while there’s more equipment as standard nowadays.It’s mild-hybrid xDrive AWD all-round for the punchy inline petrol and diesel engines, along with a PHEV AWD providing ample muscle as well as impressive economy.As you’d hope, the chassis dynamics are first class, with an immersive and flowing driving experience that’s second to none.Expensive options, divisive styling, a fiddly transmission selector and no spare don’t overshadow a brilliantly executed luxury/performance SUV.Another VW Group EV, Spanish brand Cupra’s take on the Audi Q4 e-tron effortlessly melds style and attitude, elevating the genre in the process.With point-and-squirt acceleration, sharp steering and immersive handling – and all without ruining ride comfort – Tavascan is the keen driver’s delight. You can thank the sober German engineering underneath.The interior is spacious for its compact proportions, the ergonomics are fine and the front seats are brilliant, but the scaly-looking dash texture seems cheap, the lack of a spare wheel jars and, being sourced from China, we expect more standard equipment in the base Endurance.Still, there’s personality aplenty in this unique EV SUV and we’re here for it.Challenger brand Genesis’ take on the BMW X3, the GV70’s styling has the visual swagger of a Bentley, while providing a comfortable and functional cabin experience.The Series II facelift brings sweeping improvements, especially to refinement and tech updates, with lots more equipment, upping the lush Korean luxury SUV’s value quotient.Neither petrol engine is a slouch, but the V6’s considerable performance better suits the commanding roadholding and aggressive aesthetics more, while the GV70 Electrified EV’s effortless, isolated pace make it a peaceful retreat. Too bad the former is thirsty and the latter lacks a spare.Whichever you choose, Genesis’ mid-sized SUV is highly enjoyable – and better than you might think.One of this decade’s greats, the Ioniq 5 has been a breathtaking symbol of Hyundai’s tremendous engineering ambition, creating an EV benchmark that’s still yet to be equalled for the money.Yes, prices are creeping up, but the 5’s ability to deliver elevated performance, efficiency, driving athleticism, refinement and pleasure shade rival efforts.And that’s not even taking in the timeless design, vast cabin, thoughtfully presented ergonomics and exceptional practicality.We wish it included a spare wheel and some of the interior plastics look more Aldi than Audi, but otherwise there’s so much that’s radiant about the Ioniq 5. It remains a modern motoring masterpiece. And that’s before even considering the supersonic 5 N that out-Porsches any Macan.The second-gen NX cracks the German mid-sized luxury SUV code that its underwhelming predecessor could not, without abandoning hard-won advantages like exquisite quality and reliability.Basing it on the enduring fifth-gen RAV4 ensures a robust and refined platform, along with affordable hybrid tech access.Yet the NX transcends those with its unique design, sumptuous interior, great seats and ample practicality. The base turbo is rapid, the hybrids are efficient and the PHEV flagship powerful, while the steering, handling and ride qualities are also up to brand expectations.Inevitably, a spare wheel isn’t offered and the PHEV’s electric-only range pales against Chinese alternatives, but the NX provides luxury without the risk.A step forward in quality, ride comfort and refinement over the patchy previous model, the second-gen GLC from 2022 has remained Mercedes-Benz’s best-seller for sound reasons.Along with advanced technologies, a sturdy cabin, top-shelf safety and family-orientated practicality, the GLC provides the luxury of choice – from an attainable 200, through to indecently-quick AMG versions. The newly released PHEV is on the money for buyers seeking efficiency. And the GLC Coupe boasts a sleeker silhouette.The model’s sheer ubiquity may put some people off, options can be very expensive, servicing isn’t cheap, the stop/start tech can be annoying and most models are not exciting to drive, but there’s solid engineering behind the GLC.Devised before the global EV sales slowdown, the second-gen Macan was meant to be a bold, electric-only statement of intent, with Porsche’s formidable engineering expertise delivering a breakthrough experience.Though almost identical at first glance, everything changes, including the body structure and alluring double-screen interior presentation.But it is the 800-volt architecture (shared with the Audi Q6 e-tron) that moves the game on, providing tremendous steering, handling and ride-comfort attributes, along with a powertrain ranging from a brisk (and very on-brand) rear-mounted electric motor opener to the twin-motor AWD missiles.The Macan II’s driver-focused tactility, alacrity and control rewrite the rulebooks. Mission accomplished, then, but we wish it wasn’t so expensive.Launched in 2017, the second-gen XC60 proved to be a compelling premium contender, with lovely proportions, a gorgeous interior, stellar seats and state-of-the-art Volvo safety.An advanced platform provided a sophisticated base, adding to the luxury aspirations of the Swedish family SUV, and enhanced by progressive powertrains, including a rorty PHEV. The XC60 II was ahead of its time.Which explains why the 2025 facelift is so minor – a more-contemporary nose, updated multimedia and fresh trim are the main changes.But the driving experience feels as dated compared to the leading BMW X3 as the styling. Which is classic Volvo: evolve over time. The beloved 240 of the ‘70s lived nearly 20 years and XC60 II could be next!