Until recently, I never took a look at Hyundai cars and trucks. Hyundais were not sporting, stylish, nor did anyone I know own one.

Then last year, I met a woman who drove a Kia, also a Hyundai company, which she bought solely for the 10-year warranty.

A long warranty, clever marketing via the Hyundai Assurance Plan, which allows buyers to return their car if they lost their job, not to mention much improved styling, got my attention.

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, this month GM just hired Hyundai's former marketing chief, Joel Ewanick.

In January 2008, the Hyundai Genesis sedan was introduced in Detroit and was named car of the year at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. As for why, I had to find out for myself.

I borrowed one to blast out to the New York Auto Show in April.

Styling is a subjective matter and while some may say that it looks too much like a Mercedes, Lexus followed the same game plan when the first LS400 was introduced 20 years ago. Ironically, Joel Piaskowski who spent six years at Hyundai designing the Genesis line and Sonata, was recently hired as head of advanced design for Mercedes Benz.

The Genesis Sedan is equipped with the 290 hp 3.8 liter DOHC 6-cylinder engine, which provides more than adequate performance for sustained highway driving of 70-80 mph. Observed highway fuel economy was about 26 mpg. The EPA rating is 18/27.

The vehicle is quiet, devoid of wind noise and tolerable tire noise. Suspension is excellent on Michigan's tortured stretch of US-23 and in part due to its long 115.6 inch wheelbase.

The six-speed transmission response is excellent. Steering is overboosted for my personal taste, but appropriate for most drivers. Although it was April, the sedan and tires proved able in about 3-4 inches of snowy slush that I experienced in eastern Pennsylvania. Overall fit, finish, quality of materials, and switch gear feel was very good.

My only gripes? The fake wood inserts throughout the vehicle. No one really prefers simulated wood flooring in their home, so why would they want it in their upscale car? There are stylish carbon fiber and metallic inserts that are much more appropriate.

I would also like a slightly beefier steering wheel. The electronics were intuitive to Bluetooth synch my phone, interface an iPod and operate the GPS. However shutting off the GPS TTS voice was something I did not master. The LCD display is also a bit hard to see in brilliant sunlight.

Price-wise, the Genesis Sedan compares closest with an Infiniti G37, Lexus ES350, Acura TL and Mercedes Benz C300.

But from a size standpoint, it feels large. In fact it is longer than a Mercedes Benz E350 and has measurably more front and rear legroom than all these other vehicles along with a trunk capacity of 15.9 cubic feet, equal to the MB E350. The passenger cabin is roomy, with nicely bolstered seating.

The 2010 Genesis Sedan base price is $33,000 and as tested tops out at $41,830 including delivery when equipped with the $2,500 Premium Plus package (leather seats, leather dash/door trim, sunroof, power tilt wheel and upgraded speakers), the $5,500 Technology Package (upgraded sound, HD radio, XM satellite plan, backup camera, parking assist, Bluetooth interface, iPod cable, HID headlights, auto-cornering lights and 18" alloy wheels).

A 385 hp 4.6 liter V-8 edition is available comparably equipped for only $2,000 more than the loaded V-6 edition.

Overall, the Genesis Sedan is a roomy, handsome vehicle and exceptional value that is very pleasant to drive.

David Kwan, an Ann Arbor-area developer and self-described Car Nut (and collector) writes occasional auto articles and reviews for AnnArbor.com's Business Review.