2023 Genesis G80

Looking at the 2023 Genesis G80 it’s hard to believe that the Korean luxury brand is only seven years old. Redesigned in 2021, the second-generation G80 is part of a wave of models (G90, GV70 and GV80) created entirely after the make was spun off from Hyundai in late 2015 and its clear Genesis is playing to win. The G80’s distinctive style, refined engines, sybaritic cabin and loads of features best its teutonic rivals in many ways while costing less. Many brands have taken swings at the Germans, but few have connected so well.

This year’s big news in the G80 universe is the launch of the Electrified G80 (which we review separately), which swaps gas the regular models’ gas engines for electric motors and an 87.2-kWh battery pack. The Electrified is more efficient and powerful than the regular G80, but also much pricier. Meanwhile, gas-powered 2023 G80s get only minor changes this year. A redesigned infotainment control knob graces the console and the former 2.5T Prestige model morphs into the slightly more expensive Sport Prestige, with a few more features.

Not all of the G80’s rivals are German, but it’s clear that the Korean company is targeting the premier league players: the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and most of all the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, this country club’s founding member. Also in the mix are cars like the Acura TLX, Cadillac CT5, Jaguar XF and Lexus ES. These players are generally less expensive, but the G80 just looks and feel more luxurious than they do, and often comes with more standard equipment. Only Mercedes-Benz really matches the Genesis’ levels of opulence.

The G80 is a refined cruiser rather than a performance car. Even so, the base 2.5T’s 300 horsepower are the most of any base engine in this group and it’s quite a bit quicker than some of its four-cylinder rivals, getting to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The 3.5T’s 375 hp are more on par with other six-cylinder alternatives but it can still hustle. It handles well, but its driving personality is subdued and fuel mileage mediocre with the V6. Genesis doesn’t (yet) offer true high-performance models like the BMW M5.

Everything about this car skews towards comfort, and the G80’s slick styling hides a roomy, lavish cabin. Aside from Lexus, there’s more backseat legroom than any other competitor and plenty of headroom even with the optional panoramic sunroof. But the interior shines in terms of the quality materials and thoughtful, well-crafted details. The top trims give off distinct Bentley vibes, but even the base 2.5T feels plush. The 13.1 cubic-foot trunk isn’t particularly remarkable, but apart from the Jaguar most rivals aren’t much larger.

True to its reputation, Genesis stands out on value. Though there are plenty of available luxuries, world-class active-safety systems are standard including adaptive cruise control and the automaker’s navigation-based Highway Driving Assist system. Comparable equipment costs extra on the Germans and others; if it’s there at all. All of the car’s systems are also backed by a best-in-class warranty. But this car’s materials and execution have an intangible quality that transcends equipment lists. The G80 makes you feel like you’re in something special. It may not have much heritage, but it has gravitas to spare.

Performance: 12/15

Like the GV70 and GV80 SUVs, the G80 comes as the four-cylinder 2.5T or the V6 3.5T, the names reflecting the size of the engines and the fact that both are turbocharged. Both use a smooth-shifting and responsive eight-speed automatic transmission. 

Though it’s the base model, the 2.5T is no slouch, which 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque on tap, well above the outputs of the Mercedes-Benz E350, Audi A6 45 TFSI or BMW 530i. It’s faster to 60 mph than they are too, with a zero-to-60 time of under 6 seconds, faster than all of its European rivals and in some cases by more than 2 seconds. 

The 3.5T’s twin-turbo V6 makes 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque for even brisker progress, hitting 60 mph in a little under 5 seconds. V6s also get an electronically controlled suspension with road preview. The Germans’ upgraded six-cylinder powerplants (A6 55, 540i and E450), however, match or beat the 3.5T’s straight-line numbers, and the 540i in particular is a livelier performer on twisty roads.

But raw speed isn’t really the point of the G80. It’s a smooth, effortless cruiser with driving manners as smooth as a Barry White record. It never gets out of shape or feels wobbly on twisty roads, but it wants to get you where you’re going in comfort rather than encouraging you to be a hooligan. Genesis has cleverly dialed in the whispery quiet cabin and cushy ride of old-school land yachts while preserving competent handling and responsiveness.

The V6 Sport Prestige adds firmer suspension damping and rear-wheel steering. Below 37 mph, the rear wheels turn against the fronts, reducing the car’s turning circle and improving maneuverability. Above, they work with the front wheels to improve agility. It works, and the V6 Sport Prestige does feel lively, but this is still a car that’s about smoothness and serenity. 

Fuel Economy: 10/15

The four-cylinder, rear-drive 2023 G80 2.5T earns a 26 mpg combined rating from the EPA (22 city, 32 highway), while the AWD G80 2.5T is rated at 25 mpg combined (22 city, 30 highway). Among the G80’s four-cylinder rivals, the Acura TLX and Mercedes-Benz E350 earn 25 or 24 mpg combined (the latter figures with AWD), while the Audi A6 and BMW 530i do about 1 to 3 mpg better. Lexus’ ES Hybrid earns a best-in-class 44 mpg combined but it’s also the least powerful car in the group.

While the G80 3.5T is faster, it also uses much more fuel. In my tests, I saw about 25 mpg in combined driving (about 70% of which was highway mileage) which seems to indicate slightly better than anticipated results, but the EPA rates the 3.5T at just 19 mpg combined (16 city, 25 highway), which is way off from the most likely six-cylinder competitors. BMW’s M540i xDrive and the Mercedes-Benz E450 4Matic will both do 25 mpg combined, and even the Acura TLX Type S will return 21.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 15/15

The 2022 Genesis G80 earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), ratings which will carry over into 2023. The G80’s rivals from Audi, BMW and Mercedes earn similarly high ratings from IIHS, though the 5 Series hasn’t been tested by NHTSA.

Beyond the crash structures and the G80’s ten airbags, Genesis also offers a host of standard active-safety features. While chip shortages have played havoc with many automakers’ offerings, the G80 gets a laundry list of helpful systems. 

Automatic emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection is standard, but it also comes with junction turning, crossing and lane side detection. Evasive steering, lane departure warnings with lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts and safe exist assist are all included. The G80 also comes with adaptive cruise control and the automaker’s Highway Driving Assist II (HDA) system, which uses geographic data for semi-autonomous operation on highways, complete with automatic lane changing. 

These systems are world-class in their execution and smooth and reliable in everyday use. HDA II is similar (but not identical) to the advanced systems from the Germans and GM’s Super Cruise. The Korean automaker, however, bundles this even on the base model, while its competitors charge extra, sometimes $1,700 or more.

Comfort & Room: 15/15

At 196.7 inches long, the G80 is just shy of being a full-size machine (though the G90 is much larger), and it puts its size advantage over other posh midsizes to good use in the cabin. With 42.5 inches of legroom and 41.1 inches of headroom, almost any driver can get comfy up front. The backseat isn’t quite as capacious, but at 38.1 and 38.7 inches of maximum head and legroom, only the Lexus ES has it beat among midsize rivals. 

However, the stats don’t convey the comfort levels in this car properly. Passengers are surrounded by soft-touch materials that look and feel expensive. Every seat in the house is supportive and cossetting. Four passengers could cruise in the G80 for ten hours and not walk away feeling tired. Genesis must have filled every crevice in the car’s structure with sound deadening too, because this is one of the quietest gas-powered cars on the road. Even the V6 G80 Sport’s 20-inch rims don’t transmit harsh noises or vibrations into the cabin.

Infotainment: 14/15

A lot of luxury makes increasingly rely on touchscreens for every control and feature. It’s easy to see why: screens look great and their software can be updated via over-the-air (OtA) updates. But it often makes for complicated menus and a less-than-ideal user experience. Happy, Genesis retains lots of physical controls while providing an infotainment system that isn’t too hard to master or needlessly complicated.

G80 drivers are greeted by either an 8.0-inch digital cluster with analog gauges or a big and crisp 12.3-inch digital driver’s display (standard on V6 models and for 2023 on the 2.5T Sport Prestige). In all cases, a 14.5-inch infotainment screen perches atop the dash. As at BMW and Mercedes, the system can be controlled via the steering wheel, a big dial on the console or the touchscreen itself, although it’s a reach for drivers of smaller stature.

Genesis’s software is easy to use once you learn it, and both the voice commands and navigation system work well. For drivers who want the more familiar interfaces of their phones, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. Every G80 comes with three years of complimentary access to Genesis’ connected services. The car can connect to your home Wi-Fi (and download OtA updates), but doesn’t have its own hotspot.

Cargo Space & Storage: 12/15

At 13.1 cubic-feet, the G80 and Mercedes E350 have exactly the same trunk dimensions. This isn’t a huge hold, but it’s not bad by the standards of the class and it’s a pretty easy-to-use space. The Cadillac CT5 has just 11.9 cubic-feet and the Electrified G80 just 10.8. Acura’s TLX has 13.5, while the BMW 5 Series, Lexus ES and Audi A6 have 14.0 cubes. Jaguar’s XF gets the biggest in the class at 17 cubic-feet. Those who really want more space might want to check out the Audi A7 hatchback or the A6 Allroad Wagon. 

Small-item storage in the G80’s cabin is good and there are plenty of traditional bins and pockets, but most of the alternatives are similar.

Style & Design: 10/10

With its muscular fastback shape, low beltline, distinctive lighting and pretty details, the G80 looks like it’s in motion even standing still. Unlike some other fastback designs, like the Audi A7, it also sacrifices no rear headroom for flair. The only controversial element is the grille, which is gigantic but not as visually dissonant as some recent BMW designs. The G80 is a fashion statement and a very tasteful one in general.

The finely-crafted detail approach also permeates the cabin, which gives off a Bentley-like vibe with its high-touch surfaces. Beautifully stitched seats, exquisitely detailed speaker covers and knobs, and soft-touch materials are everywhere, particularly when the Prestige packages are selected. The G80 is easily the equal of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the gold standard for interior opulence among cars this size, in this area.

Is the 2023 Genesis G80 Worth it? Which G80 is the Best Value? 

Starting at just $51,125 (including a $1,125 destination fee), the rear-wheel drive, four-cylinder G80 2.5T is one of the best values on the luxury market. That’s more than the Acura TLX, Cadillac CT5 or Lexus ES, but the G80 is just more luxurious, powerful and distinctive than they are, at least in four-cylinder form. Beyond that, the rear-drive 2.5T undercuts its German rivals $5,000 to $7,000 while also being faster and better equipped than they are.

The value also extends further up the line. Upgrading to the 2.5T adds $3,150 to the bill, but that’s still a whole lot less than the Audi A6 or the Mercedes E350 4Matic. 

There are two major packages on the 2.5T, the $4,700 Advance and the $10,800 Sport Prestige. The former adds a 21-speaker sound system, a panoramic sunroof, rear sunshades, ventilated front seats and a few more goodies. The Sport Prestige adds power closing doors, surround view monitoring, reverse automatic braking, remote parking assist, the digital instrument cluster and even more. Yes, it inflates the price, but it still comes out below BMW or Mercedes if you’re ticking boxes on their lengthy options lists.

The 3.5T Sport (which includes the gear from the 2.5 Advanced) starts at a loftier $66,875, which puts it right up against the top-trim (non-S, AMG or M) A6, E-Class and 5 Series variations, but here again, many nice features included on the G80 still cost extra on those cars, so the price advantage persists. With the Prestige package ($6,000 and boasting even more gear than the 2.5T Sport Prestige, including Nappa Leather) added, the 3.5T tops $71,000, but it feels worth it. 

Genesis includes three years or 36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance and the longest warranty coverage in the luxury segment (5 years or 60,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper and 10 years or 100,000 miles of powertrain coverage); given how complex modern luxury cars are, that’s certainly helpful reassurance. 

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the Genesis G80?

The Genesis G80’s insurance costs are similar to or lower than its competitors. According to our data, the average 30-year-old female driver with a good record can expect an average annual premium of $2,844 on a G80 2.5T or $3,072 for a 3.5T Sport. A similar BMW 540i would run $3,136, an Audi A6 Quattro Prestige $3,292, a Mercedes-Benz E450 $3,378 and a Lexus ES ES300h $2,637. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, see our car insurance calculator.