Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2013 BMW 7 SERIES VS 2013 Hyundai Genesis Near Scottsdale, AZ

The 7 Series’ front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Genesis Sedan doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The 7 Series offers all wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Genesis Sedan doesn’t offer all wheel drive.

An active infrared night vision system optional on the 7 Series helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera and near-infrared lights to detect heat, the system then projects the image on the windshield, near the driver’s line of sight. The Genesis Sedan doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The 7 Series offers an optional Side and Top View Cameras to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Genesis Sedan only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The 7 Series’ optional blind spot warning system uses digital cameras monitored by computer to alert the driver to moving objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. The Genesis Sedan doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

The 7 Series’ driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Genesis Sedan doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Compared to metal, the 7 Series’ plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Hyundai Genesis Sedan has a metal gas tank.

Both the 7 Series and the Genesis Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.

The 7 Series’ corrosion warranty is 5 years longer than the Genesis Sedan’s (12 vs. 7 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 7 Series for 4 years and 50,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, tire rotation, lubrication and any other scheduled maintenance. Hyundai doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Genesis Sedan.

The 7 Series has more powerful engines than the Genesis Sedan:

On the EPA test cycle the ActiveHybrid 7 gets better fuel mileage than the Genesis Sedan 3.8 (22 city/30 hwy vs. 18 city/28 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the 7 Series gets better fuel mileage than the Genesis Sedan:

Regenerative brakes improve the 7 Series’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Genesis Sedan doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the 7 Series (except 760Li)’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The Genesis Sedan doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

For better stopping power the 7 Series’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Genesis Sedan:

The 7 Series’ standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Genesis Sedan V6 are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the 7 Series has larger standard tires than the Genesis Sedan (245/50R18 vs. 225/55R17). The Alpina B7’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Genesis Sedan (F:245/35R21 & R:285/30R21 vs. 235/50R18).

The 7 Series’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Genesis Sedan 3.8’s standard 55 series tires. The Alpina B7’s 245/35R21 front and 285/30R21 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the Genesis Sedan 5.0 R-Spec’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 7 Series has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Genesis Sedan 3.8. The Alpina B7’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Genesis Sedan 5.0 R-Spec.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 7 Series can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Genesis Sedan doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The 7 Series offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Genesis Sedan doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The 7 Series SWB offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Hyundai doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Genesis Sedan.

The 7 Series has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Genesis Sedan’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The 7 Series has a standard automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Genesis Sedan doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 750i’s wheelbase is 5.3 inches longer than on the Genesis Sedan (120.9 inches vs. 115.6 inches). The 750Li’s wheelbase is 10.8 inches longer than on the Genesis Sedan (126.4 inches vs. 115.6 inches).

The 740i handles at .91 G’s, while the Genesis Sedan pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The 750Li goes through Road & Track’s slalom 4.9 MPH faster than the Genesis Sedan (68.7 vs. 63.8 MPH).

The 740i executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Genesis Sedan (25.8 seconds @ .73 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

The 7 Series LWB has 5.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Genesis Sedan (115 vs. 109.4).

The 7 Series SWB has .2 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom and .3 inches more rear legroom than the Genesis Sedan.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the 7 Series LWB’s available rear seats recline. The Genesis Sedan’s rear seats don’t recline.

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the Genesis Sedan, the 7 Series has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The 7 Series’ standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Genesis Sedan.

The 7 Series offers an optional heads-up display which projects speed and other key instrumentation readouts onto the windshield, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Genesis Sedan doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the 7 Series and the Genesis Sedan have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the 7 Series is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Genesis Sedan prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The 7 Series’ front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Genesis Sedan’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left down on the 7 Series the driver can raise them all using the key in the outside lock cylinder. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from outside the vehicle using the key in the outside lock cylinder or the keyless remote. The driver of the Genesis Sedan can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The 7 Series’ rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Genesis Sedan’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the 7 Series to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Genesis Sedan doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The 7 Series has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Genesis Sedan doesn’t offer headlight washers.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the 7 Series detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Genesis Sedan doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

When the 7 Series is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Genesis Sedan’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

To help keep rear passengers entertained, the 7 Series offers optional rear seat controls for the radio which can play a separate audio source. The Genesis Sedan doesn’t offer rear seat audio controls.

The 7 Series’ optional Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Genesis Sedan doesn’t offer an automated parking system.