MPG-o-Matic 2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec Sedan Review Summary: The 2012 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec Sedan seeks to stand out in a thinning crowd. In the days when gas was cheap, American streets were dominated by big V8 powered sedans, and Hyundai unknown on these shores. Flash forward thirty or forty years, and the American car manufacturers have slashed their rear-wheel-drive offerings in a market that’s been overtaken by high-end Japanese and European designs. The sporting R-Spec throws down the gauntlet at a cost considerably lower than the competition.
There are three engine choices in 2012 Hyundai Genesis Sedan, with 4.6- and 5.0-liter V8s, as well as a 3.8-liter V6. We tested the top-of-the-line Genesis 5.0 R-Spec equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission with shift interlock and Shiftronic, which allows the eight-speed transmission to be manually controlled via leather-wrapped slapstick. Unlike its competition, the Genesis Sedan is only offered in rear-wheel-drive (RWD). All-wheel-drive is not available.