“I love my new Genesis. I believe if Hyundai made the following update on the Genesis it would evoke an even higher standard. The Hyundai emblem, the Genesis label and the 3.8/5.0 on the back of the vehicle should be gold plated.”
2015 Hyundai Genesis: What's New, Specs & Features
Last updated August 4, 2026
The 2015 Hyundai Genesis is an all-new second-generation sedan, making this a major change year. The headline update is a new rear-wheel-drive platform, with the model’s first AWD system on the 3.8.
About the 2015 Hyundai Genesis
2nd generation, first year (2015-2016 as the Hyundai Genesis); this design became the Genesis G80 for 2017.
Hyundai positioned the Genesis as a spacious, quiet luxury sedan built around rear-drive proportions, smooth V6 or V8 power, straightforward controls, and generous factory-installed technology. Its core appeal was long-distance comfort and rear-seat room without sacrificing strong acceleration or all-weather capability in the V6 AWD version. The model’s main distinctions were its highly rigid structure, calm ride, roomy cabin, and unusually broad comfort and safety equipment for a Hyundai-badged sedan.
The 3.8 is the core model, pairing a 311-hp V6 with leather, heated power front seats, an 8-inch navigation touchscreen, and a hands-free trunk. The V8-powered 5 sits above it with 420 hp, ventilated front seats, Lexicon audio, and a broader set of driver-assistance features.
What changed, by category
Structural
A new rear-wheel-drive platform brought a wheelbase nearly three inches longer, a much stiffer body with greater use of high-strength steel, redesigned suspension, and a quieter cabin.
Styling
The second-generation Genesis received completely new exterior and interior designs.
Powertrain
The V6 and V8 were reworked for stronger response at low and middle engine speeds and paired with an updated eight-speed automatic. The 3.8 gained the Genesis sedan’s first AWD system, while the former 5.0 R-Spec continued under the name 5.
Safety
New driver-assistance technology included automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. These features were standard on the 5.
Tech
An 8-inch navigation touchscreen and hands-free Smart Trunk opener became standard across the lineup.
2015 Hyundai Genesis specs and features by trim
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Engine | V8, 5.0 Liter | V6, 3.8 Liter |
| Transmission | Auto, 8-Spd Shiftronic | Auto, 8-Spd Shiftronic |
| Drivetrain | RWD | RWD |
| Fuel Type | Gas | Gas |
| MPG City | 15 mpg | 18 mpg |
| MPG Highway | 23 mpg | 29 mpg |
| Horsepower | 420 hp | 311 hp |
| Torque | 383 lb-ft | 293 lb-ft |
| Trunk/Cargo | 15.3 cu-ft | 15.3 cu-ft |
| Rear Legroom | 35 in | 35 in |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Alarm System | ||
| Automatic High Beams | ||
| Automatic Leveling Headlights | ||
| Blindspot Sensors | ||
| Front & Rear Parking Sensors | ||
| Lane Departure Warning | ||
| Rear View Camera | ||
| Alloy Wheels | ||
| Auto-Dimming Exterior Mirrors | ||
| Fog Lights | ||
| HID Headlights | ||
| Memory Exterior Mirrors | ||
| Power Moonroof | ||
| Head-Up Display | ||
| Navigation System | ||
| Premium Audio | ||
| Smartphone Interface | ||
| Dual-Zone Climate Control | ||
| Heated Front Seats | ||
| Heated Rear Seats | ||
| Heated Steering Wheel | ||
| Leather Seats | ||
| Memory Driver's Seat | ||
| Memory Steering Wheel | ||
| Proximity Keyless Entry | ||
| Push-Button Engine Start | ||
| Rear Window Shades | ||
| Remote Start | ||
| Ventilated Front Seats | ||
Frequently asked questions
Was the 2015 Hyundai Genesis fully redesigned?
Yes. The 2015 Genesis began its second generation with a new rear-wheel-drive platform, a longer wheelbase, a stiffer body, redesigned suspension, and completely new exterior and interior designs.
Does the 2015 Hyundai Genesis have AWD?
Yes, the 2015 Genesis 3.8 introduced the model’s first AWD system. The V8-powered 5 remained rear-wheel drive.
What happened to the Genesis 5.0 R-Spec for 2015?
The 5.0 R-Spec continued under the shorter name 5 for 2015. It retained a V8, rear-wheel drive, and an eight-speed automatic within the fully redesigned Genesis lineup.
What safety technology was new on the 2015 Genesis?
The 2015 redesign introduced automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. These systems were standard on the 5.
Is the 2015 Genesis a major step over the 2014 model?
Yes. The 2015 model is a full redesign rather than a small update, with a new platform, first-time AWD on the 3.8, new styling, a quieter cabin, standard touchscreen navigation, and added active-safety technology.
2015 Hyundai Genesis Reviews
What owners are saying about the 2015 Hyundai Genesis.
4.3
2015 Hyundai Genesis
(340 reviews)
“The Genesis 3.8 is an absolute lemon. Poor quality workmanship with the interior falling apart, panels coming undone, clips coming unglued. I am already encountering electrical and mechanical issues with less than 14,000 miles on the vehicle. Definitely would not recommend Genesis based on this experience, I will never try again, and that stinks because I really had my hopes up for this brand.”
“It Has Been Well Worth The Money For A Mid Luxury Level Car At Entry-Level Price.”