The Korean automaker took everything good about last year’s G80 and added features that its rivals do well to take note of
3 hours ago
Sedans don’t hold the place in the automotive world that they once did. SUVs and crossovers took their place years ago. In that process, many sedans went out of production or saw their quality and performance dwindle. Luxury sedans appear to be a holdout though. Several brands in that segment still build four-door saloon cars but they’re not without bloat both in the form of pricing and literal weight.
That’s where the Genesis G80 comes into play. As really the Genesis of Genesis (the car brand) itself, the G80 branched off of the Hyundai family tree and is now getting a mid-cycle refresh for 2025. For a deep dive into trims and available features see our full coverage of those details here.
Since it arrived as a new brand and model back in 2016, it’s given birth to seven other models under the badge. Having just spent time driving the newest version of the G80 around the rolling hills of Lexington, Kentucky, we have a new-found perspective on it.
QUICK FACTS
Our test car was the top trim in the lineup, the G80 3.5T Prestige with Genesis’ twin-turbocharged V6, an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and all-wheel drive. Put simply, this car feels like a cheat code.
A Cabin That Punches Up
No matter how good a car might sound on paper, how it feels to sit in, to drive, and to ride is what really matters. The G80 feels every bit as premium as its price would suggest. When I wasn’t driving around Lexington in the G80 I enjoyed being a passenger in both the front and the rear seats. Clearly, Genesis thought about each of these positions as it built the car.
At six-foot-six, I typically don’t fit in cars of this size but didn’t have much of a problem in the G80. Even in the rear seats where my head scuffed the sculpted roofline, I had plenty of legroom. It’s nice to see Genesis include front-passenger-seat controls on the side of the chair so that a rear-seat passenger can move it forward when nobody is in it. That could also be annoying if you happen to have mischievous kids in the back who like to play with buttons.
More: We’re Driving The 2025 Genesis G80, What Do You Want To Know About It?
Moreover, the dash, seating surfaces, and console are of top-notch quality. The quilted Nappa leather seating surfaces don’t just look good, they also feel great. I especially appreciate the thick bolsters in the rear seats. The front driver’s seat has a massage function and a feature to automatically adjust after an hour of driving to keep the driver feeling fresh and relaxed. That same system can act as a massage seat but is only on the driver’s side. Sincerely, I’d rather spend time in this cabin than in an equivalent Mercedes.
The switchgear is good but not exceptional. The same sharpness that one will feel in a BMW, Audi, or Benz has just a touch more slack in the G80. Compared to the vast majority of cars, the G80’s switchgear feels awesome though. The stitching and detail work on tiny pieces are great touches too. For example, Genesis uses small bits of fabric on some closure hooks to mute the interaction between plastics. It also added a 3D pattern to the interior lighting that’s eye-catching and attractive.
Technology
Genesis really focused a lot of effort on improving the technology experience in the G80 for 2025 and it shows. Last year’s car was no slouch but this one is unquestionably a competitor against cars like the BMW 5-series, Audi A6, and Mercedes E-class. New for 2025 is a 27.5-inch screen that incorporates the infotainment system and the driver information display into one panel.
Upon entry it’s a dominant feature but once the car is on and running it fades into the background and feels natural to use. Part of that comes down to the placement, which is low in the dash. That aids in visibility while not making the screen too intrusive and in-your-face.
In addition, Genesis gives customers the freedom to interact with the screen how they see fit. Drivers can simply touch the screen to provide inputs or use a scroll wheel in the center console that feels very similar to BMW’s iDrive. The menu layout is intuitive and those who prefer Android Auto or Apple CarPlay will be happy to know that both are standard in wireless form across the G80 lineup.
I also really like little touches in the car like the 3D Setup feature. Instead of hunting and pecking through the user interface to find a feature, one can simply select the area of the car that they want to change or interact with and all available options will pop up. That’s a great way to simplify interactions. The camera systems are great too. I really like having blind spot cameras that automatically appear in the driver information display when the turn signal is on.
Notably, Genesis offers a slew of connected features like smart keys, remote access, stolen vehicle recovery, a WiFi hotspot, and more. Are there real privacy concerns there? Yes. Does Genesis still get credit for providing all of these services for free for the lifetime of the first owners? Also yes. Axing the subscriptions so many other automakers are leaning into feels like a great move.
Finally, Genesis partnered with Bang & Olufsen for its premium sound system in the G80. It includes three speakers in each door, two behind the rear seats, and one more ahead of the front occupants. Overall, I’d call it good but not amazing. I’m not a sound engineer so it’s tough to say exactly what it’s missing but the sound isn’t as enveloping or rich as in some other automobiles. Full disclosure, my everyday headphones are also from Bang & Olufsen so I was surprised by the sound in the G80.
Drive Impressions
The G80 3.5T might have 375 horsepower pumping out of it but like a thoroughbred, it requires a bit of prodding for it to show off that power. In its default mode, the throttle and braking feel just a touch muted. That’s not all bad, it leads to a very comfortable ride and subtle changes in acceleration and deceleration. The sedan also soaks up bumps and bruises in the road with aplomb. Genesis even uses its forward camera system to proactively react to speed bumps and potholes. On top of that, the 3.5T Prestige features rear-wheel steering which cuts the turning radius from 19.2 feet to 18.1.
Personally, putting the G80 in Sport or Sport+ mode returned a more enjoyable driving experience overall. After all, one often buys a sedan in part because they like the way it handles and behaves when compared to a crossover or SUV. The G80 in either of the more aggressive driving modes feels athletic and strong. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a true competitor for BMW’s M division or anything with an AMG badge.
Nevertheless, it’s powerful enough to easily overtake the vast majority of cars on the road. It handles well and provides excellent steering and pedal feedback too. Pointing it into a corner, dipping further into the throttle, and guiding it through the bend is a rewarding experience.
The brakes feel good too and on our top trimmed vehicle, Genesis includes a Sport braking mode which sharpens the pedal feedback. In Sport+ mode, you’ll even feel the driver’s seat side bolsters hug you a bit tighter.
It’s worth noting that Genesis includes a bit of augmented engine noise in the G80 but it also allows drivers to turn it off. Frankly, it barely changes the sound in my ears. In fact, it sounds great without the augmentation so I’d suggest flipping it off rather than have it playing at any level.
Across a full day of driving the G80 for several hours, we achieved 18.3 mpg in mixed driving conditions. That’s in line with what Genesis quotes, namely 16 mpg in the city, 24 on the highway, and 19 combined.
The big downsides of driving the G80 are ones that very few people will likely worry about. For one thing, it’s not very playful in that one can’t really turn off all of the safety systems and hoon it. Really though, who is going to do that on a regular basis?
Secondly, this car is heavy. Genesis says it has a maximum curb weight of 4,619 pounds (2,095 kg). That’s almost 300 pounds (136 kg) heavier than an equivalent BMW 540i xDrive. Keep in mind too that the BMW has the same horsepower and just a bit more torque. Will it cost more to maintain over time? Almost certainly. Does it also drive more sharply? Also yes.
Overall, I parked the G80 with one thing clearly in mind: this car does exactly what Genesis needs it to do. It’s comfortable, it’s quick enough, and it’s incredibly quiet. The G80 feels expensive from behind the wheel and the average driver won’t feel like they’re missing out on anything.
Conclusions
It’s important to get one thing out of the way when it comes to the G80, or any Genesis for that matter. This is not a German brand. If it’s ever going to be a true rival to those companies, it’ll need time to grab ahold of that sort of brand presence and market share. Genesis will also need to ensure that its customer experience is at least as good if not demonstrably better than its rivals.
Lexus and Acura built their reputation on excellent customer care, reliability, and quality. Genesis clearly has the quality portion of the equation figured out. In my book, it’s a far superior car to drive than anything Acura or Lexus has to offer too. Is it as reliable as it needs? Does it provide an exceptional customer experience? Only time will tell if the market feels that it does.
For now, though, the G80 truly does feel like a cheat code against its rivals. It drives great, it feels luxurious to spend time in, and it comes with an outstanding warranty package. No, it isn’t always cheaper on the front end but we bet that the warranty coverage will likely make it the better value over time. That’s to say nothing of what feels like a cabin that some German automakers could learn from. Those who obsess over badge status could save thousands by considering a Genesis over an E-Class, A6, or 5-Series – but then again, to each their own.
Those who truly prize value over all else would be hard-pressed to find a better option. No, Genesis doesn’t play on the extreme-performance ends of the scale like AMG, M, and RS yet… but that time might be coming too. For now, the Genesis G80 feels like a cheat code in the luxury sedan world. It’s very comfortable, very quiet, packed full of tech, priced well, performs great, and does all of that while looking like it belongs too.
Photo Credits: Stephen Rivers/Carscoops, Genesis