Hyundai to launch GENESIS luxury car brand in India by 2027

The Genesis brand will most likely bring in luxury electrified and ICE SUVs to India in 2027, taking on more established German rivals. 

After years of speculation, Hyundai has finally confirmed the launch of the Genesis luxury brand in India by 2027. This marks the third and final marque under the Hyundai Group umbrella to come to India, the other one, of course, being Kia. According to us, Genesis will most likely be launching India operations with SUVs, which are the most popular body style in India by far and will bring in both ICE and Electric SUVs, especially considering the other high uptake of ICE SUVs in this segment as compared to EVs. 

The Genesis GV80 was the first SUV from the brand, and although there have been a fair few comparisons to the likes of the Bentley Bentayga, with a starting point of about 1/3rd that of the Bentley, with similar proportions, this has always been seen as a phenomenal value proposition in the luxury space. Under the hood, the GV80 has two engine options: a turbocharged 2.5-litre 4-cylinder or a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Until recently, the GV80 was only available as an all-wheel-drive version, but with its latest update, the SUV also gets a Rear Wheel Drive option. Expect prices to be between Rs 60-70 lakh when the SUV does make it to India. 

Just like the GV80, the G80, their flagship sedan, also powered by similar powertrains, could also find a place in the Indian market, especially if priced aggressively, taking on the likes of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Unlike the GV80, the G80 also has a fully electric version that Hyundai could bring to India, albeit for a niche audience. 

Another electric offering Genesis could bring to India would be the GV70 electric, an SUV that sits slightly below the GV80 and comes with both an electric and a petrol variant. Just like the larger cars, this too gets the same 2.5-litre and 3.5-litre engines with all-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive layouts. The GV70 would take on the likes of the BMW X3, the Mercedes-Benz GLC, the Audi Q5, etc. 

Would you buy a Genesis in India over the likes of a Mercedes-Benz, Audi or BMW? Let us know!