When it made its 2009 debut, Hyundai's flagship sedan, the Genesis, was a marvel. It offered rear-wheel drive, a potent V-8 option and an interior nearly on par with those of Lexus and Acura. It was so good, Cars.com bestowed upon it our highest annual award, "Best of 2009." For 2012, the Genesis gets some mild tweaks to its looks, undercarriage and, most importantly, to the engines, including an all-new 429-horsepower, 5.0 liter V-8.

Updates make the 2012 Hyundai Genesis even better, but they might not win over today's fickle buyers. Even so, shoppers won't find a worthy alternative at a similar price.

To compare the 2011 and 2012 models side by side, click here.

• Performance
• Exterior
• Interior
• Features
• Safety
• Genesis in the Market