Cars and coffee. Late night parking lot meets. It would be typical to assume these types of activities would be reserved for only high-end vehicles. However, one thing has always been certain, you’d never find a Hyundai at an event like that. Most readers here can understand and wouldn’t even question why; enthusiasts just know, Hyundais are a bit embarrassing to roll around in. How much power was under the hood, how it drove or how it looked, nobody bothered to listen. Once you mentioned “Hyundai”, you became a castaway. Year after year the Korean manufacturer got by, building low-cost, affordable, and economic vehicles that would get you from point A to point B, that’s it. Nearly two and a half decades of the same vanilla flavour. But being younger than many of their competitors, they had to start somewhere and with the kinks finally ironed out, Hyundai has set themselves up for success within the past 5 years. With new branding, bold styling and actually taking it beyond the point A to point B philosophy, they truly are maturing into an established car maker. A “reboot” in movie terms where everyone forgives and forgets the past as the current blows them away. Hyundai owners rejoice for this new and audacious direction they are taking.

The 2015 Hyundai Genesis is the perfect culmination of drop dead good looks, luxury dialed up to the nines and impressive performance – a vehicle Hyundai has rebooted in a major way. With styling cues resembling many high end luxury vehicles at a fraction of the cost, it’s no wonder why many are taking notice to the once modest Korean automaker. The first thing you will notice with this vehicle is that there are less “Hyundai” badges and more “Genesis” ones. We can't dispute the similarities of the new logo with Bentley's signature “V” either. Everything from the keys to the badges, to the welcome light, make no mention of the Hyundai brand. Simply an “H” on the boot, a courageous move that we admire. That being said, the Genesis has been completely re-designed from the ground up over the last generation. Bold styling and a plethora of standard features brings it front and center in a very competitive segment. LED daytime running lights, taillights and fog lamps, HID headlamps, mirror mounted welcome lights, navigation, and 18 inch alloy wheels all come standard. Hyundai is really starting to push the envelope on design, engineering and innovation, while keeping the customer's finances in mind.

Our particular vehicle was the 3.8 Tech, and it certainly lives up to its name. The Genesis harbours enough technological gimmicks to make any gadget geek melt with excitement. As with many current luxury vehicles on the market, proximity key is standard - your key never needs to leave your pocket. Simply walk up to the vehicle and you are greeted with a satisfying clunk and a Genesis symbol illuminating at your feet.

Our beige Napa leather interior was very inviting with enough wood trim throughout to deliver an upscale look. A large 8-inch touch screen navigation system is standard on all trims - response times are lag-free and touch sensitivity is on par with today’s smartphones and tablets. Seats are 12-way adjustable with lumbar support, with the driver’s seat having added adjustability for thigh support and side bolster. All media and dash functions can be controlled via steering mounted controls with a dedicated button for voice recognition.

New for 2015 is the head-up display (HUD). It's one of the better HUDs in today's market with all the information you'd need projected on the windshield in front of you: a digital speedometer, blind spot notifications, cross traffic warnings, and speed limits via front mounted cameras. Navigation turns are also displayed along with a digital speedometer and music info – a tight, neat and organized display. Rear passengers are treated to climate controls, comfortable heated buckets seats, an electronic rear sunshade, side sunshades, and a 14-speaker Lexicon stereo to make it a truly VIP experience.

Safety is also one of Hyundai's top priorities: the Active Lane Guidance system vibrates and corrects the steering wheel when you are veering out of the lane, Blind spot indicators beep if you're about to steer into a neighbouring vehicle, and the Active Cruise Control adapts to the vehicle ahead of you while maintaining a distance of your choice.

The Genesis carries a large footprint - it's over 16 feet long and a hair over 6 feet wide. Yet, it is quite agile thanks to a healthy 3.8L V6 engine pumping out 311 hp and 293 lb-ft (a 5.0L V8 engine that delivers 420 HP and 383 lb-ft Torque is also available). Customers living in cold climates will be happy to hear that Hyundai's HTRAC All Wheel Drive system now comes standard. The new 8-speed automatic is a great transmission and I’m glad that Hyundai didn't bother with a CVT. An Eco, Normal, and Sport mode are available to choose from, and we really enjoyed the latter. The dash illuminates red, throttle response is increased, shifts are faster and the steering tightens up. Who would've thought a 2000kg Hyundai sedan could feel agile.

Hyundai is making some serious moves to tackle the luxury sedan market currently dominated by BMWs, Mercedes', and Audis. Rebranding and new styling cues are a good start, and the low starting price point of the Genesis is Hyundai's key advantage - $44,123 before freight and PDI. Our V6-equipped tester rang up at $53,000, and was more than sufficient on our daily commutes. It was joy to drive with a nice exhaust note to match. We're testing the Genesis 5.0 V8 next week, so keep posted for our thoughts and comparisons. But wait, did I just write this whole review on a Hyundai? I can’t believe that this is a Hyundai we’re talking about. Without a doubt, the new 2015 Genesis is definitely going to change many peoples’ minds and perceptions of the brand, including myself; I’m sold.