Genesis G80 | Review

You’ve probably not paid much attention to the Genesis G80 because, from launch, it was only available with a clattery old diesel engine or a not-very-exciting-nor-efficient petrol one.

Things have changed, however, and now that the Electrified G80 has arrived, the Korean luxury saloon makes more sense for company car drivers.

In the executive saloon segment, there’s not really much choice if you want an electric vehicle (EV). Of course, there’s a slew of big, expensive, battery-powered SUVs, but only the BMW i5 and Mercedes EQE occupy the same space as the G80.

As with the recent Electrified GV70, Genesis has shoehorned the high-tech Hyundai/Kia 800v electric powertrain into its existing saloon model. A good start, then. Power is rated at 370PS and Genesis says you’ll get 323 miles per charge.

You can read more about the Electrified G80 in our long-term test review.

The car uses an 87.2kWh battery and features two electric motors, meaning it has all-wheel drive.

Is this the electric business car we’ve all been crying out for?

The Korean take on luxury is a bit different to that of the Germans. It’s more classic, more refined and understated. There’s real wood on the dash, soft and comfy leather seats and lots of chrome trim. 

Whether drivers will be prepared to pass on the four Audi rings, BMW roundel or Mercedes three-pointed star in favour of the Genesis wings remains to be seen, but they would be missing something special.

For starters, the G80 is impeccably refined. It’s wonderfully quiet on board and on the move. The interior is a relaxing place to pass the miles and comes with all the toys you’d expect.

There's a high resolution 14.5-inch infotainment system display and Genesis has included a rotary controller for the infotainment system to simplify its operation, while the system also has a touchscreen. 

We found the digital instrument cluster a little underwhelming, with lower grade graphics than the main screen and no sat-nav map; it is less functional than the displays used in rival cars.

The G80’s electric powertrain delivers impressive performance, accelerating the car from 0-62mph in less than five seconds.

When it comes to ride quality, we have no complaints. The Electrified G80 floats along, amplifying the luxury feel of the interior. Usually this would point towards sloppy handling, but somehow the Genesis engineers have managed to score on both counts as the G80 feels surprisingly agile when driven more enthusiastically.

Pricing for the G80 starts at £43,100, for models powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine. It develops 304PS and has CO2 emissions from 189g/km. All-wheel-drive is available, as an option, taking CO2 emissions to 210g/km. The petrol engine should return 30-33mpg.

The trim line up includes Premium, Luxury and Sport. All models get leather upholstery, heated and electrically adjustable front seats, LED lighting, adaptive cruise, blind spot monitor, lane keep assist, parking sensors and rear-view camera.

Luxury comes with rear climate control, an electric tailgate, 20-inch alloys and a heated steering wheel. Sport alters the appearance, with different bumpers, dark chrome trim and carbon fibre instead of wood inside.

There's an array of option packs, which include rear seat entertainment, massaging and cooled seats and a Lexicon sound system.

The Electrified G80 is £69,100 and only comes in the Luxury trim level.

The G80 blends the charm and comfort of a proper old luxury car with modern technology and an impressive electric powertrain. It represents good value and should act as a wake-up call to the executive segment heavyweights who’ve yet to enter the space.