Genesis G80 Review 2021
Test Drive

Genesis G80 Review 2021

If you know the history of the Genesis brand in Australia, you probably know that the car that started it all was actually known as the Hyundai Genesis. 

And this model later became known as the Genesis G80. But now there's a new Genesis G80 - this is it, and it's brand new. Everything in it is new.

So really, uh, the genesis of the Genesis brand has come full circle. But with the market shifting from big luxury sedans to high-tech, high-performance SUVs, does the all-new G80 offer something to consider when you compare it to its rivals - the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class. ?

Genesis G80 2021: 3.5t all-wheel drive
Safety Rating
engine's type3.5 L turbo
fuel typePremium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency10.7l / 100km
Landing5 Places
Price from$81,300

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 9/10


Compared to its competitors, the G80 offers 15% more value per price, as well as 20% more features, according to Genesis Australia.

There are two versions of the Genesis G80 at launch - the 2.5T priced at $84,900 plus travel (suggested retail price but including luxury car tax, LCT) and $3.5T priced at $99,900 (MSRP). To learn more about what else distinguishes these two models, in addition to price and specifications, see the Engines section.

The 2.5T features 19-inch alloy wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires, custom ride and handling, a panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and push-button start with remote start technology, a power trunk lid, rear door sunblinds, heating and front seats with cooled, 12-way electrically adjustable front seats (driver with memory settings) and full woodgrain leather trim.

Panoramic sunroof inside. (2.5T variant shown)

Standard on all trims is a 14.5-inch touchscreen multimedia display with sat-nav with augmented reality and real-time traffic updates, and the system includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB digital radio, a 21-speaker Lexicon 12.0-inch audio system. inch audio system. inch head-up display (HUD) and dual-zone climate control via tactile touch screen controller. 

A 14.5-inch touchscreen multimedia display is standard across the range. (Luxury Pack 3.5t shown)

The 3.5T - priced at $99,900 (MSRP) - adds a few extra features on top of the 2.5T, and we're not just talking about horsepower. The 3.5T gets 20-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, a larger brake package, larger fuel tank (73L vs. 65L) and Road-Preview adaptive electronic suspension tuned to the Australians' wishes.

The 3.5T wears 20-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. (Luxury Pack 3.5t shown)

Both G80 grades are also available with an optional Luxury Package that costs $13,000. It adds: a 3-inch 12.3D full digital instrument display with Forward Traffic Alert (a camera system that tracks the driver's eye movement and alerts them if they look away from the direct direction), "Intelligent Front Lighting System", soft-closing doors , Nappa leather interior with quilting, suede headlining and pillars, three-zone climate control, semi-autonomous parking system and remote smart parking assistance (use the key fob as a remote control), rear automatic braking, 18-position driver seat adjustment, including massage function , heated and cooled rear outboard seats, a heated steering wheel, a power rear window shade, and two 9.2-inch touch screens for rear passenger entertainment.

Want to know about Genesis G80 colors (or colors, depending on where you read this)? Well, there are 11 different body colors to choose from. There are nine glossy/mica/metallic shades at no extra cost, and two matte color options are an additional $2000.

Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10


The Genesis brand is all about design. The company says it wants to be seen as "daring, progressive and distinctly Korean" and that "design is a brand" for the newcomer.

Of course, there's no argument that the brand has developed a distinctive and distinguished design language - suffice it to say that you won't confuse the Genesis G80 with any of its major luxury competitors. Please note that below we will use the design language.

The striking front end appears to be inspired by the Genesis badge, which is shaped like a crest (reflected by the huge "G Matrix" mesh grille), while the four headlights are inspired by the badge's fenders. 

These light treatments flow from the front to the side, where you see the theme repeated in the side indicators. There is a single "parabolic" line that runs from front to back, and the lower body has a bright chrome trim that is said to show power and progress from the engine to the rear wheels.

The rear end also looks quad, and bold branding stands out on the trunk lid. There's a comb-shaped trunk release button, and the exhaust ports are also adorned with the same superhero chest motif.

It handles its size very well, and it's not a small car - in fact, it's slightly larger than the existing G80 model - it's 5mm longer, 35mm wider, and sits 15mm below the ground. Exact dimensions: 4995 mm long (with the same wheelbase of 3010 mm), 1925 mm wide and 1465 mm high. 

The larger lower bodywork results in more space in the cabin - and inside the car there are also interesting design cues that are said to be based on the "beauty of white space" concept, as well as suspension bridges and modern Korean architecture.

Take a look at the photos of the interior to see if you can find some inspiration, but in the next section we'll take a look at the cabin's spaciousness and practicality.

How practical is the interior space? 8/10


There's a serious wow factor in the cabin of the Genesis G80, and not just because of the way the brand has approached the balance between technology and luxury. It has more to do with the many colors and options available.

There are four different color options for the leather seat trim - all G80s have full leather seats, doors with leather accents and dashboard trim - but if that's not luxurious enough for you, there's a choice of Nappa leather trim with different quilting. design on the seats too. Four finishes: Obsidian Black or Vanilla Beige, both paired with an open-pore eucalyptus finish; and there is also an open-pore Havana Brown or Forest Blue olive ash leather. If that's still not enough, you can opt for the two-tone Dune Beige finish with olive ash.

The leather seat trim comes in four different color options. (Luxury Pack 3.5t shown)

The seats are incredibly comfortable, heated and cooled up front and as standard, while the rear seats are optionally available with external heating and cooling that pairs with a three-zone climate control system if you opt for the Luxury package. Surprisingly, though, there's no three-zone climate standard - it's supposed to be a high-end luxury car, after all.

However, it offers good comfort and decent convenience. At the front, there are two cup holders between the seats, an additional under-dash stowage that holds a cordless phone charger and USB ports, and a large, double-lidded covered bin on the center console. The glove box is a decent size, but the door pockets are a little shallow and you might have to put a water bottle in as the big ones don't quite fit.

Of course, we can't overlook the media screen and technology up front, with the infotainment unit spanning a whopping 14.5 inches. It's surprisingly well integrated into the dash, meaning you can physically look over it instead of gnawing at your forward vision. The system is also excellent and includes a split-screen layout that allows you to run the built-in GPS sat nav system as well as run your smartphone's mirroring (yes, so you can run Apple CarPlay or Android Auto along with the factory sat nav!). And switch between them deftly.

In the front of the cabin there are two cup holders between the seats and an additional compartment under the dashboard. (Luxury Pack 3.5t shown)

For those not familiar with such a multi-faceted screen, it will take some learning, and there are even smart things like augmented reality for satellite navigation (which uses AI to display arrows on the screen using the front camera in real time). But there's also DAB digital radio, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming.

You can use it as a touchscreen or opt for a rotary dial controller, but the latter option is a little odd for me as it doesn't pop up very much and requires a little touch. The overlay on top allows you to write by hand if you prefer to draw with your fingers on your way to your destination - or you can just use voice control. It's also a bit odd that there are two spin dial controllers so close together - you'll have to hit the G80 in reverse when you try to get to the menu screen.

The 14.5-inch touchscreen multimedia display supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. (Luxury Pack 3.5t shown)

The driver gets a great 12.3-inch head-up display, and all models have a partially digital instrument cluster (with a 12.0-inch screen), while cars with the Luxury Pack get a nifty, if useless, 3D cluster digital display. All displays are of high resolution and quality, although I doubt the touch screen system (with haptic feedback) for ventilation control, and the numeric displays for temperature settings are comparatively low resolution.

Vehicles with the Luxury Pack receive a 3D cluster digital display. (Luxury Pack XNUMXt shown)

The rear features small door pockets, map pockets, a fold-down center armrest with cup holders and one USB port, while Luxury Package models have two touchscreens on the front seat backs and a controller in the middle fold-out.

There is plenty of room in the back for knees, head, shoulders and toes. (Luxury Pack 3.5t shown)

Rear seat comfort is impressive, with very good seat comfort and room for side passengers. I'm 182cm or 6ft 0in and sat in my driving position with plenty of room for my knees, head, shoulders and toes. The three won't please the middle seater, as the seat isn't very comfortable and the available legroom is limited. But with two in the back, it's good, and even more so if you get the Luxury package, which adds electric rear seat adjustment to the mix, among other things. 

The space behind the seats is not as roomy as some of the competition, offering 424 liters (VDA) of luggage space. What does this mean in the real world? We insert into Cars Guide luggage set - 124-litre, 95-litre and 36-litre hard cases - and they all fit, but not as easily as, say, the Audi A6, which has 530 liters of space. For what it's worth, there's room under the floor to save space.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10


The 80 Genesis G2021 launch lineup has a choice of four-cylinder or six-cylinder. But at launch, you can't choose anything other than a petrol engine, as no diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or electric model is available. This may happen later, but at the time of the Australian debut, this is not the case.

Instead, the entry-level four-cylinder petrol engine is a 2.5-liter unit in 2.5T version, delivering 224kW at 5800rpm and 422Nm of torque from 1650-4000rpm. 

The 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers 224 kW/422 Nm (2.5T variant shown).

Need more? There is a 3.5T version with a twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine producing 279 kW at 5800 rpm and 530 Nm of torque in the 1300-4500 rpm range. 

Those are strong numbers, and both share a total of eight when it comes to the gears available in each of their respective automatic transmissions. 

The twin-turbo V6 delivers 279 kW/530 Nm. (Luxury Pack 3.5t shown)

However, while the 2.5T is rear-wheel drive (RWD/2WD) only, the 3.5T comes with all-wheel drive (AWD) as standard. It is equipped with an adaptive torque distribution system that can distribute torque where it is needed, depending on the circumstances. It is shifted back, but if necessary, allows you to transfer up to 90 percent of the torque to the front axle.

Thinking about 0-100 km/h acceleration for these two? There is a small gap. The 2.5T claims to 0-100 in 6.0 seconds, while the 3.5T is said to be capable of 5.1 seconds.

The G80 is not designed to tow a trailer.




How much fuel does it consume? 7/10


The fuel consumption of the Genesis G80 is clearly dependent on the powertrain.

The 2.5T is about 154kg lighter (1869kg vs. 2023kg curb weight) and the combined fuel economy claims are in line with that figure of 8.6L/100km.

On paper at least, the big six 3.5-liter engine is thirsty, fuel consumption is 10.7 l/100 km. Genesis even fitted the 3.5T with a larger fuel tank than the 2.5T (73L vs. 65L). 

Both models require at least 95 octane premium unleaded fuel, and neither has the fuel-saving engine start technology that most European competitors have used for decades.

We haven't been able to make our own fuel pump start calculations, but the average shown for the two different models was close - 9.3L/100km for the four-cylinder engine and 9.6L/100km for the V6. .

Interestingly, none of the engines have start-stop technology to save fuel in traffic jams. 

What is it like to drive? 8/10


It looks like a real luxury car. Even maybe a bit like an old-school luxury car, one that wasn't designed to be a maestro of point-to-point handling, but rather designed to be comfortable, quiet, cruising and cool looking.

The 2.5T's suspension setup, compliance and comfort, and the way it handles are very predictable and recognizable - it feels like a really easy car to drive.

The steering is precise and precise and easy to appreciate and also really nice to expect in a 2.5T. (2.5T variant shown)

Also, the four-cylinder engine, while lacking theatrics in terms of sound, is strong in terms of the power and torque available to the driver. There's a huge amount of pulling power in the mid-range, and it really accelerates with the level of tenacity. It doesn't feel heavy either, and since it's rear-wheel drive, it also has good balance, and the Michelin tires provide great traction.

The gearbox is really good - in Comfort mode it behaves very well and shifts as you would expect, except for the occasional moment when it shifts into a higher gear to save some fuel - but this is a rather rare occurrence.

G80 3.5T accelerates to 0 km/h in 100 seconds. (Luxury Pack 5.1t shown)

In sport mode, the driving experience in the 2.5T is mostly very good, although I missed the firmer suspension setup and damping control in that mode. The lack of adaptive dampers is perhaps the 2.5T's biggest drawback.

The brake pedal travel and feel is really good, gives you confidence in how the brakes behave, it's very easy to tell how much pressure you need and it's very quick to apply when you need it.

The 3.5T with the drive mode set to Custom was the best drive ever. (Luxury Pack 3.5t shown)

Another thing I'd like to point out is that the safety systems are pretty good, they don't tend to overwhelm the driver too much, although the steering feels a bit artificial when this assist system is engaged. However, when you turn it off, the steering is precise and precise, and it's easy to appreciate and also really nice to wait in the 2.5T.

The difference between 2.5T and 3.5T is noticeable. The engine simply offers a level of lightness that the 2.5 simply cannot match. It really impresses with how linear it is, but quickly gains momentum through the rev range and also has a very pleasing sound. It just feels right for the car.

The lack of adaptive dampers is perhaps the 2.5T's biggest drawback. (2.5T variant shown)

I think there's an important difference here: the G80 3.5T may be a very powerful big luxury sedan, but it's not a sports sedan. It may be sporty in its acceleration, taking 5.1 seconds from 0 to 100, but it doesn't handle like a sports sedan and it shouldn't.

It may well be that there is a gap that needs to be filled for those who want a sportier version of the G80. Who knows what might scratch that itch. 

The G80 3.5T may be a very powerful large luxury sedan, but it's not a sports sedan. (Luxury Pack 3.5t shown)

With that in mind, the 3.5T's adaptive suspension system still errs on the side of softness, but again, I think a luxury car should behave like a luxury car. In recent years, the trend has been for every car of every luxury brand to behave like a sports car. But Genesis apparently does things a little differently.

For me, the 3.5T with the drive mode set to Custom—suspension stiffness set to Sport, steering set to Comfort, engine and transmission set to Smart—was the best drive of all.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 9/10


The Genesis G80 line was designed to meet the safety requirements of the 2020 crash test but was not tested by EuroNCAP or ANCAP at launch.

It has both low-speed and high-speed automatic emergency braking (AEB) operating from 10 to 200 km/h and pedestrian and cyclist detection from 10 to 85 km/h. The adaptive cruise control system has a stop and go function, as well as lane keeping assist (60–200 km/h) and lane following assist (0 km/h to 200 km/h). The adaptive cruise control system also has machine learning that, with the help of AI, can apparently learn how you prefer the car to react when using cruise control and adapt to that.

There is also a crossroad turn assist feature that prevents you from trying to jump over unsafe gaps in traffic (works between 10 km/h and 30 km/h), as well as blind spot monitoring with "Blind Spot Monitor" which can intervene to stop you from moving into oncoming traffic at speeds between 60 km/h and 200 km/h, and even stop the vehicle if you are about to exit a parallel parking space and there is a vehicle in your blind spot (speed up to 3 km/h). ). 

Rear cross traffic alert with vehicle detection and emergency braking function from 0 km/h to 8 km/h. In addition, there is a driver attention warning, automatic high beams, rear passenger warning and a surround view camera system.

The luxury package is required to get a rear AEB that detects pedestrians and objects (0 km/h to 10 km/h), but there are some models under $25K that get tech like this standard. So this is a little disappointing. 

There are 10 airbags including dual front, driver's knee, front center, front side, rear side and full-length curtain airbags.

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 9/10


Genesis says that time is the ultimate luxury, so you don't have to worry about wasting time servicing your vehicle.

Instead, the company offers Genesis To You, where it picks up your car when it needs to be serviced (if you're within 70 miles of the service location) and returns it to you when it's done. A car loan can also be left for you if you need it.

It's part of the brand's promise, which also provides its new vehicles with a five-year unlimited/kilometer warranty for private buyers (five years/130,000 km for fleet/rental car operators).

A five-year free service is also offered with a service interval of 12 months/10,000 km for both petrol models. Short intervals are the only real downside here and could pose serious questions for luxury car rental operators, with some competitors offering up to 25,000 miles between services.

Buyers receive roadside assistance for five years/unlimited mileage and free map updates for the satellite navigation system for the first five years. 

Verdict

If you are in the luxury sedan market that is not one of the mainstream, you are a very specific person indeed. You're great at thinking outside the box, and going even further beyond the SUV-shaped box. 

The Genesis G80 might be the right car for you if you don't favor cutting-edge electrification technology or aggressive handling. It's something of an old-school luxury model - chic, powerful, but not trying to be sporty or pretentious. The 3.5T is the best choice because it suits that bodywork best and definitely offers something worth considering for the asking price. 

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