2021 Genesis G80 Review

　　

2021 Genesis G80 Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　The idea of a Korean luxury automaker was the furthest thing from the public's collective mind when Hyundai launched the Genesis sedan in 2009. But slow and steady progress has indeed resulted in a stand-alone Genesis brand (starting in 2017) and now a full redesign of the midsize sedan that started it all.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Genesis G80 2.5T 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$175/mo  for G80 2.5T

　　G80 2.5T

　　2.5T 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $47,700 MSRP2.5T 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $50,850 MSRP3.5T 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $59,100 MSRP3.5T 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $62,250 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　The 2021 Genesis G80 builds on the groundwork laid by its predecessors, offering more technology, driving aids and luxury features than ever before. Genesis has also given it the quad headlight design and large grille that it first introduced on the new GV80 SUV and refreshed G90 large sedan.

　　The G80 is powered by your choice of two engines. The previously standard V6 has been replaced by a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 300 horsepower. For more power, there's a new turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 with 375 hp. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional for the latest G80.

　　It's a pretty compelling package compared to luxury stalwarts such as the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Although these sedans haven't been as recently redesigned as the G80, they offer exceptionally high levels of refinement and technology. Other brands, such as Lexus and Volvo, offer luxury alternatives as well. What's our take? Check out the categories of our Expert Rating below for our in-depth review on the new G80.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　8.0

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the G80 drive? The redesigned G80 is a solid performer all around. The turbocharged V6, which is what we tested, has plenty of power whether you're hoofing it from a stop or need a squeeze of power on the highway. At our test track, our V6-equipped G80 test vehicle accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. That's a bit slower than six-cylinder German rivals but right on point with the Cadillac CT5 V-Series. Other highlights include smooth and quick transmission shifts and an unobtrusive engine stop-start system.

　　The G80 3.5T comes standard with an adaptive suspension. (It's otherwise optional on the 2.5T.) Put the car in its Sport mode and the suspension firms up and does a good job of reducing body roll when you drive around turns.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the G80? The G80 is sport sedan adjacent, so it should be exceedingly comfortable, right? Yes. Mostly. The plush seats are wonderfully supportive and wide without making you feel like you're being swallowed by them. Other highlights include nicely sculpted rear outboard seats and quick heating for the seats and steering wheel.

　　Now for the "mostly" part. We expected more from the G80's trick road-scanning adaptive suspension. Overall tuning is on the soft side when you put the car in Normal mode. Pleasingly, there's no residual bounciness after traveling over bigger bumps. However, the ride can get overly brittle over cracked pavement. There's also some noticeable road noise, though wind and engine noise is sufficiently muted.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? An agreeable ride height and narrow door sills make it easy to get in and out of the G80. The driver literally has the best seat in the house, with additional adjustments (including massage) that aren't available on the front passenger seat. The view outward, though not bunker-like, is hampered slightly by thick front and rear pillars and a tall decklid. Certain features included on our tester — including surround-view and blind-spot cameras — definitely help.

　　Once inside, tall folks might notice their hair brushing against the headliner in either row. Sub-6-footers should have no problem, however, and you can always slouch a little and take advantage of the prodigious amount of legroom.

　　The dashboard layout and design are attractive, with a pleasing selection of physical buttons for controls that you might use frequently. The touchpad/wheel infotainment controller presents an initial learning curve. Some of our drivers found it became second nature after some practice, but others never warmed up to it. The display is a short but ultra-wide touchscreen. Touching the right side of it from the driver's seat can be a stretch.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The 21-speaker Lexicon audio system is mind-blowing. Throw on some hip-hop or electronica, and you'll feel the bass in your bones. Even at higher volumes, the speakers did not distort or get muddy. We've experienced inferior systems in Bentleys. The navigation system offers multiple input methods for easy destination search, and the maps display is bright and free of clutter. Using the touchpad/wheel can be distracting, and the voice recognition system returns hits as often as misses. Audi's MMI and Mercedes' MBUX are much better.

　　The driver aids are fine. The adaptive cruise control works well but the lane-centering feature will sometimes ping-pong the vehicle to either side of the lane. That's not terribly unusual at this stage of automated technology development, but rivals are a little bit smarter. A larger dip in surface pavement caused the collision mitigation braking feature to trigger and momentarily pump the brakes. This is totally unacceptable on any vehicle.

　　

Storage

7.5/10

　　How’s the storage? At 13.1 cubic feet, the G80's trunk is larger than the CT5's, the same as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class' but a bit smaller than the BMW 5 Series'. It is quite deep, however, and there are pockets with nets behind each of the wheelwells. Interior storage space is more impressive, with numerous large bins and trays sprinkled throughout the cabin.

　　Got kids? It can be initially difficult to install a child safety seat because the lower car seat anchors are not as easily accessible as those in other luxury sedans. But once you've got that done, the large rear doors and expansive rear legroom make it easy to get infants in and out.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The V6-powered, all-wheel-drive G80 is rated at 21 mpg combined (18 city/26 highway). These numbers aren't stellar for the class, especially since the big three Germans all use mild hybrid powertrains that boost fuel economy. That said, we achieved 24.1 mpg on our mixed-driving 115-mile evaluation route, illustrating that the EPA's numbers should be easy to achieve in real-world driving. The G80 is also more efficient than rivals without whizbang technology. A similarly configured Cadillac CT5 has identical EPA estimates, yet we observed 21 mpg on our evaluation route.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the G80 a good value? Value has always been a Genesis strong suit, and the G80 starts off thousands of dollars less than its German competition. However, our fully loaded test G80 cost more than $69,000, which is only slightly less expensive than similarly equipped top-tier rivals. Conclusion: The G80's best value is lower on the trim ladder.

　　Interior materials are a pleasant mix of leather, faux leather, open-pore wood and aluminum. The overall effect is simply stunning, especially when you compare this G80 against its predecessor. That said, our tester exhibited a popping noise after hitting a bump or turning the wheel full lock at low speeds, which really marred the luxury experience.

　　Genesis' warranty coverage can't be beat: five years/60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper and 10 years/100,000 miles for the powertrain. Three years/unlimited miles for roadside assistance is a little stingy, but three years of complimentary maintenance is among the segment's best.

　　

Wildcard

8.5/10

　　The G80 is supremely comfortable in most situations, whether you're stuck in traffic, puttering around town, or cruising on the highway. It's a little slower and less fun to toss around than Germany's best, but the G80 gives you 95% of what you'd expect from a midsize luxury sedan.

　　Genesis' new shield-like grille is an acquired taste, but you have to admit the G80 doesn't blend into the ether of parking lots anymore. The new cabin design is also hugely impressive compared to the previous model. While the first-generation G80 did a great job differentiating itself from its Hyundai roots, the second-gen model allows Genesis to forge its own distinct identity.

　　

Which G80 does zzdcar recommend?

For the full luxury sedan experience, we'd opt for the G80 3.5T for its more powerful engine and greater number of standard features. To that, we'd add the Prestige package for its impressive array of features. You may want to opt for all-wheel drive if you live in an area with inclement weather.

　　

2021 Genesis G80 models

The 2021 Genesis G80 is available in two trim levels that depend on the engine selected. The G80 2.5T is powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (300 horsepower, 311 lb-ft) and the G80 3.5T uses a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 (375 horsepower, 391 lb-ft). Both engines use an eight-speed automatic transmission and can be optioned with all-wheel drive. Highlighted standard features include:

　　G80 2.5T

　　Starts you off with:

　　18-inch wheels LED exterior lighting Proximity key with push-button ignition Power-adjustable and heated front seats Power-adjustable steering column Simulated leather seating surfaces Dual-zone climate control 12-speaker audio system 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility Navigation Heated rear seats and steering wheel (with all-wheel drive)The Genesis G80 also comes with a host of standard safety features, such as:

　　Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Genesis and the car in front) Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time) Evasive steering assist (enhances the forward collision mitigation system with steering-based collision avoidance) Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Driver attention warning (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)Two packages are available for the G80 2.5T:

　　Advanced package 19-inch wheels Hands-free power trunk opener Ventilated front seats Panoramic sunroof Special wood trim Power rear sunshades Three-zone climate control Lexicon audio system with 21 speakers Prestige package Leather seating surfaces Soft-close doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut) Wireless device charger Heated rear seats and steering wheel (for rear-wheel-drive 2.5T) Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the G80 and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Blind-spot camera (displays an image of the vehicle's blind spot in the instrument panel when you activate a turn signal) Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle) Remote automated parking system (pulls in or out of a parking spot via remote control from the key fob) G80 3.5T

　　Compared to the base 2.5T, the 3.5T has the more powerful V6 as well as:

　　Contents of the Advanced package Leather seating surfaces Soft-close doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut) Wireless device chargerOne package is available for the G80 3.5T:

　　Prestige package Features from the 2.5T's Prestige package that otherwise weren't standard on the 3.5T 20-inch wheels Upgraded leather seating surfaces Microfiber suede headliner Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield) Digital gauge cluster

　　

2021 G80 Highlights

Trim: 2.5T3.5T2.5T

　　

Base MSRP	$47,700
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$175/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	13.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles