Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2016 BMW 7 SERIES VS 2016 Hyundai Genesis Near Phoenix, AZ

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The 7 Series offers an optional backup collision prevention system which use rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Genesis Sedan doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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’ 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.

Both the 7 Series and the Genesis Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

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, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Hyundai doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Genesis Sedan.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the 7 Series has a 950-amp battery. The Genesis Sedan only offers a standard 740-amp battery.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2015 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 18th in reliability, above the industry average. With 42 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 24th.

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

As tested in Motor Trend the 750i 4.4 turbo V8 is faster than the Genesis Sedan 5.0 DOHC V8:

On the EPA test cycle the 740i RWD gets better fuel mileage than the Genesis Sedan 5.0 RWD V8 (21 city/29 hwy vs. 15 city/23 hwy).

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’ 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 750i’s 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 are solid, not vented.

The 7 Series stops shorter than the Genesis Sedan:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 7 Series offers optional 21-inch wheels. The Genesis Sedan’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard 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 front and rear suspension of the 7 Series uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Genesis Sedan, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The 7 Series offers an available 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 automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The 7 Series’ height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Genesis Sedan doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 7 Series’ wheelbase is 7.9 inches longer than on the Genesis Sedan (126.4 inches vs. 118.5 inches).

The 750i xDrive handles at .88 G’s, while the Genesis Sedan 5.0 pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The 750i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Genesis Sedan 5.0 (25.4 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26.7 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

The front grille of the 7 Series uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Genesis Sedan doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the 750i xDrive is quieter than the Genesis Sedan 5.0 (38 vs. 39 dB).

The 7 Series has .9 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 9.4 inches more rear legroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Genesis Sedan.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the 7 Series’ 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.

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.

Optional air-conditioned front and rear seats keep the 7 Series’ passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The Genesis Sedan only offers an air-conditioned driver’s seat.

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.