2009 Hyundai Genesis V6: Auto door locks

I like how Hyundai is allowing custimization of their cars while many others are "you are stuck with what you get". I personally love auto door locks but only one of my cars have ever had them.

Love this featur!

I think it's great that Hyundai included these personalization features, but I can't understand why it has taken so long for non-luxury brands to start offering them. This kind of customization was available 8-10 years ago on entry-level C-Classes, 3-Series, and A4s. Nowadays even a run-of-the-mill family sedan has an infotainment system, adding these features onto that would be inexpensive and really nice for a lot of people.

This is really nice- I really wonder how Hyundai does it when supposedly high-tech car companies like Lexus don't have things like this (at least mine doesn't). You have to bring it to the dealer and they set it for you blah blah blah. I like this car. I want one for a commuter/roadtrip car.

good for Hyundai for this feature. i hate automatic locking doors, too creepy.

I'm glad this "feature" can be disabled.

3 Years ago I was hit head-on in my '91 Accord by some lady who wasn't paying attention in her Mitsubishi Montero Sport, we were both traveling about 50mph. The impact knocked me unconscious for what I suspect was around 15-20 minutes, because I didn't regain consciousness until the EMTs arrived. Even awake, my body was in so much pain and shock I couldn't move. Because my doors weren't locked, they were able to get to me without taking the time to cut the doors (to undo the lock) and smash the window in towards me and rush me to the hospital.

I can't say with certainty that the time saved not having to deal with a lock saved my life, but I'm sure it has saved and will save someone else in the future.

Now figure for yourself the odds of you being in an incapacitating auto wreck versus getting carjacked... if you still think automatic door locks are a good idea, I can't help you...

I'm glad this "feature" can be disabled.

3 Years ago I was hit head-on in my '91 Accord by some lady who wasn't paying attention in her Mitsubishi Montero Sport, we were both traveling about 50mph. The impact knocked me unconscious for what I suspect was around 15-20 minutes, because I didn't regain consciousness until the EMTs arrived. Even awake, my body was in so much pain and shock I couldn't move. Because my doors weren't locked, they were able to get to me without taking the time to cut the doors (to undo the lock) and smash the window in towards me and rush me to the hospital.

I can't say with certainty that the time saved not having to deal with a lock saved my life, but I'm sure it has saved and will save someone else in the future.

Now figure for yourself the odds of you being in an incapacitating auto wreck versus getting carjacked... if you still think automatic door locks are a good idea, I can't help you...

leave it on auto and one day it will kidnap you. rise of the robo cars.

Woops, sorry about the double-post. Apparently "Preview Comment" and "Post Comment" both post???

Most cars with auto locking are also programmed to automatically unlock the doors in the event of a crash. So, I don't seem many drawybacks, and have learned to appreciated this feature.

i turned the feature off on my A4... i figured that the more you lock and unlock the doors, the quicker the motor will fail and i have to spend money to replace it...

I dislike the auto door locks, I've got mine deactivated, but the ability to set that in the car's computer is utterly brilliant. Well done, Hyundai.

In fairness, it should be noted that setting it is a user-option in models with the Driver Information System included in the technology package. Otherwise, like in most Hyundais, the dealer must set it for you. And the Genesis does have an automatic unlock on crash feature, so I see little reason not to have the auto locks on.

Auto locks are one feature I've never missed, I've deactivated the "feature" on any car I've owned.

My G8's auto door locks are customizable too. @chicagotex I don't know about all cars with auto locks, but I seem to recall BMW's with auto locks, unlocking them in an accident.

My 99 SHO had auto door locks and got really used to it. When I got my 04 A4, it didn't have it enabled by default, so I had the dealer enable it. I like the idea of it, mostly now that you can enable/disable it with MMI in newer Audis. It does perturb my friends when they try to open the door before I pull the keys out of the ignition :P

My Acura also has customizeable features like this. However I'll admit that Domestics do the locking feature better than most. They allow the front doors to open by simply pulling the handle if you have to let a passenger out then automatically relock when the vehicle is in motion again. Back doors stay locked until the switch is pressed for child safety. When airbags deploy in GM cars (and I know this from personal experience) the car automatically unlocks the doors, turn on interior lights, and disable the ignition system to kill the engine. Oh, and there's that call to OnStar emergency.

I also like that the customizable features in my Acura can be saved for individual drivers and recalled when driver 1 or 2 key fob is used to unlock the door.

Honestly, entry-level lux cars on up have had customizable features like this for years. I would expect no less from Hyundai or anyone else selling something north of $30k.

IF I have to worry about some fool getting my car without my permission, I would MOVE, pronto. Why would one want to live in a crime infested area?

"IF I have to worry about some fool getting my car without my permission, I would MOVE, pronto. Why would one want to live in a crime infested area?"

Congrats. That has to be the most ignorant quote of the week. Crime can and does happen anywhere. Criminals often go to other areas where they're not known. And some of us live and work in reasonably safe areas but have no good route between the two except through a not-so-safe area. Additionally, it helps keep kids and impatient, childish adults in the car until it's safely stopped.

"I dislike the auto door locks, I've got mine deactivated, but the ability to set that in the car's computer is utterly brilliant. Well done, Hyundai.'

You could customize these features on my old Alero. This kind of thing was available since at least the late 90s on some cars. Same with having a sound or headlight flaash when you lock the doors with the key fob. The fact that some manufacturers make you go to the dealer to change these things is pathetic.

"Honestly, entry-level lux cars on up have had customizable features like this for years. I would expect no less from Hyundai or anyone else selling something north of $30k."

Actually, entry level cars period have had this for years. When people drive one or two brands and aren't aware of what else is out there they tend to thing certain things are exclusive. This is hardly a "luxury" feature.

This is pretty standard fare these days, or so I thought. Until I bought my '08 Nissan Aramada. It cannot be set to do so. While it seemed a nuisance at first, I had gotten used to and even appreciated this feature on my '03 Ford Expedition. What gives, Nissan?

@allthingshonda-

This doesn't really have anything to do with your comment, but I found it interesting that every feature you named was first created by Mercedes. That particular methodolgy for auto-locking doors has been found on Benzes since the '80's (although I agree with you, it is still great that the domestics get it right when so many don't). Also, the emergency phone call and door-unlock when the airbags deploy was first available on Mercedes vehicles in the mid-90's courtesy of TeleAid (although not nearly as sophisticated as OnStar is now). Lastly, Mercedes invented the smartkey in 1996/1997 (which every luxury brand uses today) and created keys with personalized settings in 1999.

chicago -

Our Genesis is equipped with impact sensing door unlock system: "all doors will be automatically unlocked after an impact causes the air bags to deploy."

So you can get out of the wreck AND avoid the carjacking.

Regards,
Albert

"Lastly, Mercedes invented the smartkey in 1996/1997 (which every luxury brand uses today) and created keys with personalized settings in 1999."

Although Ford had personalized settings retrieved with the keyless fobs on Lincolns beginning in '93 or '94 and in the '95 MY also tied them to climate control, audio presets, vehicle settings (including steering and suspension firmness) along with seat and mirrors on the then-all-new Continental. Too bad it still drove like a barge. That of course was back when Ford was the most profitable automaker in the world and actually had development money, as opposed to their last-horse-to-cross-the-finish-line philosophy of late.

Auto-unlock from a crash has been around on BMW's since at least the late 80's. I've been in a serious crash where I'm glad the doors were locked AND unlocked themselves automatically, along with the car cutting the high current power, turning on the interior lights and hazard flashers, and calling for help.

@bimmerjay,

You learn something new everyday. I had no idea Lincoln had such things (partly because I have never known anyone who owned an early '90's Lincoln and partly because the cars got no publicity because in nearly everyway they were simply awful), but that's cool. I didn't know that could be done without a fully-functioning on-board computer system like those rolled out at the turn of the century on top-spec Benzes, Bimmers, and Lexuses (all of which added customizable keys).

Thats what I expected snake doctor.
The mighty hyundai (which means modern) keeps growing and improving......
just saw a tv doc about hyundai heavy industries....darn, wow!